Ogbonna Hagins, fourth generation chattel slavery survivor. I'm speaking on the resolution extending approval to the 2025-26 Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) program budget. I support the housing program, but in this city we need safe and stable places to live, right. One of the things that undergirds this housing program is structural racism. Y'all familiar with that. You know, there was a Roadmap to Safer Communities that said the root cause of gun violence is structural racism and the solution is large scale investments, and this body hasn't put into large scale investments that's necessary. There is a need right now for structural racism to be recognized, for people to understand what structural racism is. So we have these months for this and for that. Why isn't there a month that deals with letting this city know exactly what structural racism is? How is that -- your study said that the root cause of gun violence is structural racism. So if that's the case and that's causing all the gun violence and the people are being affected by it, to me it's just sensible governance, you know. That's what I'm about, sensible governance. To me, we already know what to do. And the Freedmen have the right to exist. Over and out.
Good afternoon, City Council President. My name is Anthony Fullard. Glad to be here in City Council really just to give thanks to a number of Councilpeople that I'll represent that I have worked with through the years. And I just want to take this time out to name a lot of them. First, of course our champion up in the 8th District, Councilmember Cindy Bass, Curtis Jones. I take my hat off to Councilmember Quetcy who works hard for her district and speaks very clear about where she's at about supporting development in her district. Jeff Young, worked with him, Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier, Councilwoman Gilmore. Councilman Harrity, known him before he became a Councilmember, out there just working for the people. So I'm speaking here for town hall thanking Councilmember Cindy Bass for supporting this development. We are now ready to proceed with this development. We are in support of the community of whatever their concerns are. We go before the committee, the community. We update them on a regular basis, but we support their push back, their concerns. But finally, we have this development that is going to move forward. Finally, it's about a $13 million development and we are very confident that we can make this development happen. So I just want to thank all of you for your hard work, for all of your support for Black developers in the City of Philadelphia. You guys know my track record. I've been out here for a long time fighting for African American businesses in the City of Philadelphia. (Applause.)
Keep up the great work. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Thank you. Without my glasses, I can see farther now. Eye surgery, that's good for me. Anyhow, good afternoon, Council President, Councilmembers and those who are assembled here in the City of Philadelphia. There is someone who we don't often speak of. I dedicate myself to John Adams, a man who believed that everyone should get paid the wage. Thank you. So anyhow, in regards to Council President and Councilmember Gauthier, thank you very much for Resolution 260437 extending the approval of the 2025-2026 Housing Opportunities Made Easy, acronyms H.O.M.E. I know as a Council assembly you all work very hard and I know that you all have been to the drawing board so many times in regards to this, and that's because of the current administration. We in Philadelphia, because I've heard it more than once so I can speak for we, the people, know this to be the fact. Thank you very much. Oh, and I suggest that you use and circulate the John Adams coin and how about a John Adams stamp, so people will then get the message: Free labor, free people, freed men and women. Thank you. (Applause.)
Shout out to Thera Martin Connelly. Welcome to City Council, Thera Martin and guests.
Good afternoon, City Council. My name is Jacques Louis representing the Allegheny West Foundation, and I am going to defer my time to Thera Martin.
Good to see all of you this afternoon. We are in support of 260063 and we thank Councilwoman Cindy Bass for introducing that. We're proud to be here on behalf of the Allegheny West Foundation. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded back in 1968 and incorporated in 1974. One of the things we're honored to do is to oversee operations at the Panati Recreation Center. We've done all kinds of educational and positive programming there for at least the last two-and-a-half decades. Allegheny West Foundation is an integral part of our North Philadelphia community, and it's been our privilege to keep the Panati Rec Center up and operating for all of these years. It is our privilege to have the opportunity to ask Philadelphia City Councilmembers to be in support of renaming the Panati Recreation Center to Allegheny West Recreation Center and we thank you, Councilwoman Cindy Bass, for doing this with us. Thank you. (Applause.)
We want to also thank Allegheny West for feeding thousands of individuals across the City of Philadelphia with tons and tons and tons of produce, groceries as well as meats as well. And so, we thank y'all for supporting those most in need. Very fitting recognition.
Good afternoon, everyone, Council President, and especially -- oh, my name is Regina Smith. I am the President of Allegheny West Civic Association. I have been Chair of the Civic Association since '05. I would like to greet everyone here in City Council and thank Councilmember Cindy Bass for initiating this proposal. As a representative of the Allegheny West community, we have been in there since '05, doing programs and engaging the community and we are invested in the recreation center, and we are so happy that it's going to have our name, as we have many programs planned upcoming to be in there, and we just want to thank you so much. We are very grateful and happy for the name change. Thank you, Councilmember. (Applause.)
Hello. My name is Lori Waselchuk, and I am a proud member of the Board of Trustees of Spiral Q. And I want to thank Councilmember Landau and this body for honoring the year 4 legacy of the Peoplehood Parade. 5 Impossible colors and impossible 6 times, I was so struck by that 7 beautiful poem by one of our 8 founding members, Matt. 9 Peoplehood Parade is a 10 space and time for everyone. It is 11 a day when we express our hopes, 12 our resistance and our creative 13 souls. Peoplehood Parade is 14 radical acceptance, radical love 15 and is one of the most beautiful 16 expressions of our humanity I have 17 ever experienced. It is an 18 expression of our solidarity with 19 one another and our shared 20 responsibility for all things that 21 we share on this planet. 22 Last year there were 23 three glowing white egrets with 24 wingspans 20-feet wide, made of paper, operated by three humans. It was a sight that I have -- I couldn't even prepare myself for, floating through the bowl at Clark Park. Y'all, it was amazing. And I want to just congratulate Liza, who is our master puppetmaker. Can you please stand, Liza, for the beautiful work you do. (Applause.)
Jennifer Turnbull leads the parade, and I've never seen anybody so inexhaustible in my entire life. I would like to just have Jennifer Turnbull stand up and say hi. If you haven't experienced the Peoplehood Parade, I want to invite you all to come to our next one, Saturday, November 7th. We start at Paul Robeson House, one of our longtime partners, at 1:00 p.m., and we end at Clark Park for an amazing pageant. We are the people. We are the dream. (Applause.)
Council President, this concludes our listing for the public comment today.
Thank you very much. That concludes today's public comment period. Before moving on to the Calendar, I would like to acknowledge Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson for a motion to consider additional communications.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit consideration of an additional communication at this time. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit consideration of an additional communication at this time. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion passes. The Clerk will please read any additional communications that she has in her possession.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am pleased to advise you that on May 7, 2026, I signed the following bills, which were passed by Council at its session on April 30, 2026: Bill 7 Nos. 260213, 260214 and 260215. And then also on May 7th, I signed the following bills, which were passed by Council at its session on April 23, 2026: Bill No. 12 250329-AA, 250330-AA, 260056, 260057, 260058, 260059, 260061 and 260062. Bill No. 260060 was returned unsigned. There are no further additional communications, Council President.
Thank you very much. We will now turn to the regular order of business. We will now consider the resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar. 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING Would the Clerk please read the title of Resolution No. 4 260436.
A resolution approving the appointment of William Snyder as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Philadelphia Housing Authority.
Chair recognizes Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson for a motion regarding Resolution No. 260436.
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Resolution 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING No. 260436 be adopted. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The 12 motion carries. The resolution is 13 adopted. 14 Will the Clerk please 15 read the title of Resolution No. 16 260437. 17
A 18 resolution extending approval of 19 the 2025-2026 Housing Opportunities 20 Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) Program Annual 21 Program Statement and Budget, which 22 addresses expenditures by various 23 agencies in the first year of the 24 H.O.M.E. Program, to constitute 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING approval of spending in Fiscal Year 2027, pursuant to that same Program Statement and Budget.
Chair recognizes Councilmember Katherine Gilmore -- no, I'm sorry. Chair recognizes Councilmember Jamie Gauthier for a motion regarding Resolution No. 12 260437.
Thank you, Council President. On your behalf, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted, Resolution 22 No. 260437. All those in favor signify by saying aye. 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. The resolution is adopted. Would the Clerk please read the title of Resolution No. 12 260447.
A resolution approving the reappointment of Abby Pozefsky to the Philadelphia Water, Sewer and Storm Water Rate Board.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson for a motion on behalf of Councilmember Mike Driscoll on Resolution No. 260447. COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING RICHARDSON: Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of Councilmember Driscoll, I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Resolution 11 No. 260447 be adopted. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. The resolution is adopted. Would the Clerk please read the title of Resolution No. 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING 260448.
A 4 resolution also renaming the corner 5 of E. Collom Street and Wakefield 6 Street "Herbert 'Drum' Burch Way," 7 to honor and recognize the life, 8 service, and enduring legacy of 9 Herbert "Drum" Burch, a devoted 10 community activist, veteran, 11 healthcare professional, and 12 political leader in the City of 13 Philadelphia. 14
The Chair recognizes 16 Councilmember Cindy Bass for a 17 motion regarding Resolution No. 18 260448. 19
20 Thank you, Mr. President. 21 I move for the adoption 22 of the resolution. 23 (Duly seconded.) 24 COUNCIL PRESIDENT 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING JOHNSON: It has been moved and properly seconded that Resolution 4 No. 260448 be adopted. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. The resolution is adopted. We will now consider today's bills on the Consent Agenda. I will ask the Clerk to read the titles of all the bills on the Consent Agenda. After each title is read, any member may object to the inclusion of the bill 23 on the Consent Agenda. Upon such an objection, 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING and without debate, the bill will be immediately removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on our regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars. The Clerk will now read the titles of the bills on the Consent Agenda. Before you read the titles of the bills on the Consent Agenda, the Chair recognizes that Councilmember Mark Squilla would like to be recorded as aye on all resolutions?
Thank you very much. Chief Clerk, could you now please read all of the bills on the Consent Agenda.
Bill No. 23 250806, an ordinance authorizing encroachments in the nature of a 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING sidewalk cafe in the vicinity of 1811 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130, under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 250836, an ordinance authorizing encroachments in the nature of a sidewalk cafe in the vicinity of 1444 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia PA, under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 250918, an ordinance authorizing encroachments in the nature of a sidewalk cafe in the vicinity of 161 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19122, under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 251067, an ordinance authorizing real estate transactions by the Commissioner of Public Property, the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority and the Philadelphia Land Bank necessary to permit the City of Philadelphia to 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING acquire property bounded by Island Avenue, Elmwood Avenue, South 77th Street, Buist Avenue, South 78th Street, Cobbs Creek waterway, the vacated section of South 75th, and the former Grays Avenue, including property known as Cibotti Recreation Center, all under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 251100, an ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into an amendment to a sublease agreement with the Philadelphia Municipal Authority for use by the City all or a portion of the premises located at 1600-26, John F. Kennedy Boulevard, under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 260026, an ordinance amending Section 12-701 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING "Designation of Bicycle Lanes," to authorize a bicycle lane and removal of parking on Columbia Avenue, under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 260063, an ordinance renaming and designating the properly commonly referred to as Panati Playground, located at 3100 North 22nd Street, to the "Allegheny West Recreation Center" in recognition of the community and neighborhood that it serves. Bill No. 260216, an ordinance authorizing the installation, ownership and maintenance of a dumpster encroachment in the vicinity of 509-19 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 260217, an ordinance authorizing various 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING encroachments in the vicinity of 2655 South Juniper Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 260240, an ordinance removing the parking lane and prohibiting stopping on the south side of Cinnaminson Street, from Mitchell Street to Pechin Street. Bill No. 260242, an ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver a deed to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, conveying fee simple title to a certain tract of City-owned land with buildings and improvements, situated on 5928-30 Germantown Avenue in the 8th Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia. Bill No. 260267, an 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING ordinance authorizing an encroachment in the nature of a staircase in the vicinity of 611 South 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 260337, an ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into lease or sublease agreements with the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development for all or a portion of the premises that includes certain parcels of land, generally referred to as Victory Gardens and Emerson Landfill, for environmental remediation of the land, development of a facility at said premises, and use by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 542, all under 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING certain terms and conditions. Bill No.
260338, an ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to grant PECO Energy Company an easement for the purpose of accessing, installing, maintaining, and repairing underground transformers and supporting infrastructure along and adjacent to a portion of the Pennypack Path in and about the area commonly known as 7801 State Road, under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 260339, an ordinance amending Bill No. 241031 (approved January 15, 2025), entitled "Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into a sublease agreement with the Philadelphia Municipal 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING Authority, for use by the City of a portion of the premises located at 1 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under certain terms and conditions," to authorize the lease of additional space within the premises, under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 260341, an ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into a lease or sublease agreement with the Philadelphia Municipal Authority for use by the City of a portion of the premises located at 9353 Krewstown Road, under certain terms and conditions. There are no further bills on the Consent Agenda.
The bills having been read on two different days, the 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING question -- Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
Council will resume. A bill will be removed from the Consent Agenda on behalf of Councilmember Cindy Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I make a motion that Bill No. 260063 be removed from the Consent Agenda. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor of the bill being removed from the Consent Agenda signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Anyone opposed? (No response.) COUNCIL PRESIDENT 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING JOHNSON: The ayes have it and the bill -- please recite the bill no. 4 specifically, Chief Clerk.
Will be removed from the Consent Agenda. These bills haven't been read on two different days, the question for each bill now is shall the bill pass finally. Chief Clerk, call the roll. And upon being 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.
Councilmember Gilmore Richardson. COUNCILWOMAN GILMORE 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING RICHARDSON: Aye on all bills.
Aye on all bills. The ayes are 15. The nays are 0. Majority of all members having voted in the affirmatives for each of the bills, the bills on the Consent Agenda are passed. We will now consider the bills on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars. Will the Clerk please read the title of Bill No. 251029.
An ordinance amending Title 12 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Traffic Code" to provide for designated transportation network 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING company vehicle stands definitions and prohibitions, clarifying penalties related to bus, taxi cab, and TNC vehicle stands, amending violations subject to camera-based parking enforcement, and amending parking violations subject to towing, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Chief Clerk, please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 15 and 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING the nays are 0. Majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Chief Clerk, please read the title of Bill No. 251070.
An ordinance amending Section 12-926 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Center City Parking Regulations," to confirm regulations adopted by the Department of Streets that establish and revise loading zone regulations in additional portions of the Center City area, and to reauthorize changes and additions to such regulations, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Chief Clerk, please call 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING the roll.
Aye. The ayes are and 10 the nays are 0. Majority of all 11 members having voted in the 12 affirmative, the bill passes. 13 Council will be at ease. 14 (Council at ease.) 15
Councilmember resumed. Will the Clerk please read the title of Bill No. 260134.
An ordinance amending Chapter 12-923 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Smart Loading Zones," authorizing the Philadelphia Parking Authority to install Smart Loading Zones in 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING the area of Center City, bounded by Spring Garden Street, Bainbridge Street, the Schuylkill River and the Delaware River, for the purpose of improving the appropriate use of loading zones and reducing traffic congestions, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Chief Clerk, please call the roll.
And, 5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING Council President Johnson.
Aye. The ayes are and 5 the nays are 0. Majority of all 6 members having voted in the 7 affirmative, the bill passes. 8 Will the Clerk please 9 read the title of Bill No. 260265. 10
An 11 ordinance amending Title 12 of The 12 Philadelphia Code, entitled 13 "Traffic Code" to amend certain 14 requirements applicable to buses in 15 areas designated for use by buses, including applicable penalties, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having me read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Chief Clerk, please call the roll.
5/7/26 - STATED - 2ND READING Councilmember Gilmore Richardson.