Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, October 10, 2019 11:17 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB COUNCILMAN DEREK S. GREEN COUNCILMAN WILLIAM K. GREENLEE COUNCILWOMAN HELEN GYM COUNCILMAN BOBBY HENON COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN CHERELLE L. PARKER COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN AL TAUBENBERGER MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting October 10, 2019
Good morning, everybody. And I note that the hour has come and that a quorum is present at this Council and Council session will come to order. Members, would you please take your seats. Visitors will retire in the seats outside of the rail before the proceedings will begin. And I ask all those present to please be mindful of your cell phones and any other devices that will have any kind of interruption in our proceedings today. Today to give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes Chaplain Deborah Thomas of Bethesda Presbyterian Church. She is here today as the guest of Councilman Greenlee. And I would like all members and guests to please rise. (Councilmembers, visitors, and guests rise.) CHAPLAIN THOMAS: Good morning. (Good morning.) CHAPLAIN THOMAS: Let us pray. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 God, first we want to thank you for the opportunity to come to you on behalf of this body of government here in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. We ask for wisdom, guidance, and discernment for these public servants as they go about doing the people's business. We know what happens here affects every person in this city and surrounding suburban neighbors, that this Council represents the least and the greatest of us. We pray that they may be able, if need be, to disagree without being disagreeable, knowing that they are elected by the people to represent them. Bless their staff, who is the backbone of their offices. As we close out 2019, let them realize that the decisions made here will have long-lasting effects into the next decade. We want Philadelphia from this Chamber to shine like a beacon to other cities and towns, that others will want Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 how Philadelphia handles their crises, their expansions, and their day-to-day concerns. All these things we ask from you, who has always been and will continue to remain involved in the affairs of all your children individually and collectively. Amen. (Amen.)
The Chair thanks the Chaplain on her invocation today. Council may be at ease. (Council at ease.)
The next order of business will be the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, October 3rd, 2019. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 3rd, 2019 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, October 3rd, 2019 stand approved. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The Journal is approved. The next order of business will be for leaves of absence. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On behalf of the majority, there are no requests for leave of absence today.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair now recognizes Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Oh, leave of absence on behalf of the minority.
On behalf of the minority, there are no requests for leaves of absence. Thank you.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. Now we will dispense of regular business and the Chair recognizes all guests and visitors who are joining us here in our Chambers today. On behalf of the members of City Council, we all want to welcome you and welcome to our session of Council. We appreciate you taking the time to join us here and participate in our legislative affairs, and we certainly, certainly invite you to join us again. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell, who will present a resolution recognizing Dr. Walter Palmer. Would Dr. Walter Palmer and those accompanying him please join the Councilwoman at the podium. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 (Councilmembers and guests approached podium.)
Thank you very much, and thank you all for being here. We note that for the remainder of the Council session, if you all want to talk among one another, the Caucus Room will be available. After Council, of course, Blondell Reynolds Brown has a meeting, but that will at least give you time to talk one with the other while we are here. My goodness. Yes, it is amazing. I think he thought he was having another class in a school. This is a great privilege for me, a great honor for me. I apologize for the Honorable Stanley Straughter, Chairman Emeritus of the Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs and Echoes of Africa, because he is in DC today, but he sends Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 love, respect, and his apologies for not being here. Resolution honoring and recognizing The Palmer Foundation for all the great work they have done to bring recognition to African American stories and fight racism in America; and
Whereas, The Palmer Foundation was created by Professor Walter D. Palmer in 1955 to collect information on African American History and American Racism; and
Whereas, the Foundation created the Black People's University of Philadelphia Freedom School to develop strategies to fight against racial injustice in America which included desegregating Band Stand at 46th and Market and Paul Whiteman Dances and the Mummer's Blackface; and
Whereas, over the last sixty years, Black People's University of Philadelphia founded, organized, sponsored, and supported Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 in education, community law, business and politics, as well as fighting against racial segregation; and
Whereas, BPUP protested racial discrimination in Philadelphia schools, government, colleges, hospitals, public transportation, news outlets, the U.S. Post Office, Fire and Police Departments, banks, stadiums, Out of Chinatown, Penn, Temple and Drexel's expansion; and
Whereas, BPUP founded the original Philadelphia Freedom Theatre, the First Black Independent Political Party, "COPE 46," the Walter D. Palmer Leadership Partners Charters School, Black People's Unity Movement, City Wide Black Community Council, Society for Preservation for African History, National Association of Black Social Workers and Philadelphia Citywide Council and Human Rights; and
Whereas, Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 of Philadelphia organized the November 1967 student strike, Black Power, Black Panther, anti-war African Diaspora conferences, as well as Temple and Penn Black Studies, Jesse Jackson for President, anti-gang activities, Penn Hospital and CHOP desegregation, Civil Rights, Afro-Centric Free Mandela Movements; and
Whereas, BPUP co-sponsored the Black United Fund, Odunde, African American Museum, Congressional Black Caucus, Black Teachers' Roundtable, Pennsylvania's Black Political Caucus, Temple and Penn Community Mental Health programs, African American and Puerto Rican Day Parades, Black Oak Park and Cobbs Creek Civic Associations, North Philadelphia Model Cities and Public Health Centers, the SNCC dynamite case, Black Panthers, Move 78, Move 85, Community Legal Services, police abuse, school choice, housing Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 rights, and Charter Schools and -- I know Cody Anderson is going to be proud -- the first WDAS Unity Day; and (Applause.)
And whereas, over the last sixty years, thousands of Philadelphians have benefited from the work of The Palmer Foundation and Black People's University of Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, it does hereby honor, recognize, salute, lift up, and celebrate The Palmer Foundation for all of the great and important work they have done to bring recognition to African American stories and fight racism in America. Further resolved, that an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Philadelphia's own Dr. Walter D. Palmer as a sincere expression of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, our gratitude, admiration, Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 are to be congratulated, Dr. Palmer. (Applause.)
Thank you very much, Councilmembers. I want to thank Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell for initiating this resolution, and I want to thank all the Councilpeople who signed off on it. And I just want to note, you have to realize what life was like 60, 65 years ago. There just was not what you see today. There was not the diversity. Blacks were shamed in many, many places. There weren't black conductors on the trolleys and the trains, et cetera. So it's been a long journey. I won't recap it. What I will tell you is this, that those 65 years legacy and materials, two file cabinets have gone to University of Pennsylvania archives so Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 able to study particularly the displacement that Temple, Penn, and Drexel and all the universities have done. Eight file cabinets are going to the Charles Blockson Collection, the largest African American collection. She's here. Dr. Turner is here. (Applause.)
We have six interns working on a number of publications. One publication is called Africa's Gift to the World. That's the African Diaspora. Another is called Everything You Need to Know Before Having a Race Discussion If You're For Real. Then another one is Who Were the Indigenous People of the World on All Seven Continents. Another one is Teaching Young People How to Organize for Social Change. And, finally, a number of artists got together, black artists in this city, and have put together a program, a calming book, using me as the Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Marvel Comics put this together. Kinsey Brown was the prime author. (Applause.)
But what I want to do is, I want to thank people today. This is not for me as much as it is an opportunity for me to thank so many, many people. And in my travels, there are thousands and thousands of people that I have been engaged with who have allowed me to help teach -- to teach them, but I've also learned from them. Okay? And I shout out today -- and I hope some of them are here. I want you to take a look. Sherri Darden, where are you? Put your hand up. Sherri Darden is that young black woman here, who is the publisher of the Scoop magazine. We need to save that magazine. Linn Washington, where are you? Linn Washington, a writer for the Philadelphia Tribune. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Fighters, where are you? Freedom Fighters are here with Girard College. PAAN, where is the PAAN group? Okay. These are folks fighting against drugs and violence in Philadelphia. Black Men at Penn, Black Men at Penn, Black Alumni Activist Council, the John Hope Franklin Society, Molefi Asante's Africology, the House of Umoja with Falaka Fattah. Lest We Forget, the museum, the African Holocaust Museum, Legacy Pathways, Charles Blockson Collection, the Black Women's Health Alliance, Locks Conference. Where is Dr. Sabree? Dr. Sabree. The Uptown Project. Where's Linda? The Uptown Project. The National Association of -- NAN, the group that Al Sharpton started, people supposed to have been here today. African American Museum, the Alliance of Black Social Workers. On the Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 side, students, where are some of the students that are here from the University of Pennsylvania and other places and these young beautiful children that are down here in front of us right now. (Applause.)
The Soldier of Love Foundation fighting against violence against women. Girard College was here. Are they still here? Jubilee School was right here. Echoes of Africa, Asian Americans United, Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Affairs, the 1619 African Slavery Committee, which I'm also on, Odunde, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. We're on an advisory board there. The Black Comic Book Association with Yumy Odom and all the other different artists we named. The African Alliance of North America, Joffrey Satoli from South Africa, who was a band out of South Africa in the 1960s, came here to Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 to hook up with me. For 25 years, we fought the Free Nelson Mandela right here on Philadelphia. Also be sensitive and supportive of Black Lives Matter as well as MeToo. Now I want to say something else to you. I'm a strong believer in community and the elders. No society survives if you don't have the elders. No society survives unless the elders reach down to the youth. We have got to rebuild our communities around the basis of family and community, and children and elders are essential to this. (Applause.)
Vanessa, oh my God. I was on the political side. Vanessa, Curt -- him and Chaka, I got them involved in their first demonstrations and picketing, right, with the Black Caucus in Pennsylvania, most of those guys, right? Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 say to you that this is four generations for people who knew me. This young woman over here in the orange shirt, that's my daughter, my oldest daughter. She's 59 years old. She's 59 years old. (Applause.)
Where is my son? Where's Walt? Where's Walt? Oh, get out of here. Come over here. Come out of there. This is my oldest son, Walt, Jr. He's 64 years old. (Applause.)
On Monday I have my birthday. I'm 85. I'm five years away from 90. (Applause.)
But today I invited somebody who knew me. There's an old saying that if you live long enough, there won't be anybody to remember you when you were in elementary school. She remembers me when I was in elementary school. Cora Hill was born and raised in Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 she is 100 years old in August. (Applause.)
That's the connection. That's the connection. She wants to say a couple of words.
All I want to say is there's only one Walt Palmer, and he encouraged me to go back to school, to go to Harrisburg, get my license in those days just to be a practical nurse, but he has always been behind me as a young man and he has been a fighter. He'll fight -- he would fight for anything, whatever the cause. If it was dog watch, he would fight it, and he is really to be honored. (Applause.)
Thank you so much. Thank you. I also want to make a note. Remember, during the MOVE crisis, I was the chief negotiator in MOVE in the first shootout they had in '68, and I was also Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 resolve the issue in 1985 in the Osage shootout. I was there, and now some of the MOVE members after 40-some years are coming home. I can tell you that I was there. MOVE did not shoot the first shot. (Applause.)
I was standing in the middle of the street right in front of their house when I heard a shot or what sounded like a shot coming from over my shoulder. At that point, I dropped and hit the ground, because I knew that all hell would break loose. The place was surrounded. And momentarily right after that, the shooting took place, and the police in front of the building were shooting down into the building. I was watching Sergeant Ramp, who was on the corner by a pole in Pearl Street. MOVE could never have hit him, because the guns were projected at me or in my direction, not at me personally. So the bullets could not have gone around the Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 said that this is the largest, the greatest travesty in American jurisprudence. They went to jail for 40 years for something they did not commit. Maybe you didn't like them because they ran their dogs. Maybe you didn't like them because they ate garlic. Maybe you didn't like them because they had the compost. Maybe you didn't like them because they didn't have glass in their windows. That's a code violation. That's not a bombing violation. And we must take that into account and realize the fact that we have to take responsibility for everything we do. And I'll close by saying this: I would be remiss if I did not note Councilman Lucien Blackwell and his wife Jannie Blackwell for 40 years of constituent service in the City of Philadelphia. (Applause.) Stated Meeting October 10, 2019
Jannie Blackwell, you are the epitome of constituent services. Your attitude, your demeanor, your approach, your way in which you deal with people, you will be sorely missed, but you'll never be forgotten. The work that you and Lu did, the groundwork you did, hopefully it's a model for many to come after you. On the political side, I did not purposely forget about Vanessa, but we did a lot of work in getting a lot of people elected, blacks elected in the town. Andrew Carn was one young man we worked with. He became a state legislator for 18 years. David Richardson became the youngest person in the history of Pennsylvania to become elected to the State Legislature, and we have more and more. A lot of guys in here -- Curt will often times tell you about me, like I said before, blast on him and pulling him into demonstration and picketing. Yes, a lot of picketing. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 demonstration. And I'll tell you something, I went to jail in '67 for closing down the School District of Philadelphia to save our children, and at 85 or 90, I'd be willing to go to jail again to save our babies. We must all chime in to save our children. (Applause.)
So Council can do its business, I would ask any of our guests that are here to walk across the hallway into the Caucus Room for a few minutes so we can convene. Okay? Thank you, City Council. Thank you, Mr. Chair. (Applause.)
At this time, the Chair now recognizes Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Blackwell, who will present a resolution recognizing Christian Dunbar. Would Mr. Dunbar and those accompanying him please join the Councilwoman at the podium. (Councilmembers and guests approached podium.)
Thank you very much. This is a special pleasure and privilege for me. We have the first African-born -- he's from Liberia -- Treasurer for the City of Philadelphia. Yes. Let us honor. (Applause.)
And let me say that he worked with the African community and the entire City even before becoming our City Treasurer. He's active in Echoes of Africa, the Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs, that we co-founded these in 2000 and 2005, and he is a person that you can call on for any issues. He understands, he's down to Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 earth, and he's willing to help anybody with any issues, and certainly it doesn't have to be technical finance issues, but any issues with regard to City financing. We've called on him many, many times, and we are very, very grateful and blessed to be here for this presentation.
I too want to say it's truly an honor and a privilege to have this opportunity to recognize Christian Dunbar as the Treasurer here in the City of Philadelphia. He's also played a major role in helping the City of Philadelphia recover 30 million, something along those lines, 33 million to be exact. And so we thank you for your dedication and your public service. Recognizing and honoring Christian Dunbar on his appointment as the City Treasurer of Philadelphia. Whereas, on June the 17th of 2019, Mayor Jim Kenney announced his appointment of Christian Dunbar as City Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Treasurer, succeeding Rasheia Johnson; and
Whereas, Mr. Dunbar was the Deputy Treasurer for the City of Philadelphia since 2014. In this role, he was responsible for the issuance of all notes and bonds on behalf of the City's General Fund and Enterprise Funds used to finance capital projects; and
Whereas, additionally, Mr. Dunbar serves as a Mayoral appointee and Chairman of the Philadelphia Land Bank Board of Directors. He also serves as an advisor to the United States Agency for International Development, known as USAID, and the World Bank Group for the advancement of capital market development, structured product development, and governance in Emerging Markets; and Whereas, prior to joining the City, Mr. Dunbar was a Wealth Manager Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 So he is exceedingly equipped. In that capacity, he has managed investments and credit products for high net worth individuals, institutions, and public entities. Mr. Dunbar has also advised several African governments on fiscal and monetary policy; and
Whereas, Mr. Dunbar has presented at conferences in the U.S., Canada, Africa, and Europe on topics including capital market development, emerging market risk, and Environmental Social and Governance impact; and
Whereas, Mr. Dunbar earned his BA from Temple University. At Temple University, he was an athlete. He was named the Most Valuable Player and Captain of the football team; and
Whereas, Dunbar is of Liberian descent. His maternal grandfather, William V.S. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Tubman, served as President of Liberia for 27 years. And we did not know until today that Mr. Dunbar is also a descendent of American abolitionist and humanitarian Harriet Tubman. He lives in West Philadelphia with his wife and two children.
Now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the Council of the City of Philadelphia, hereby recognizes and honors Christian Dunbar on his appointment as City Treasurer.
Most importantly of all, it's further resolved, that an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the City Treasurer, Christian Dunbar, as a sincere expression of the Council of the City of Philadelphia's gratitude, admiration, and recognition. (Applause.)
The Chair now recognizes Mr. Dunbar for remarks. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019
Thank you very much. First off, I want to thank Councilwoman Blackwell for honoring me. I want to thank this whole body as well for honoring me. And I'd be remiss not to thank Dr. Palmer, who was just up here. It is his shoulder that many of us stand on to allow us to do what we do today. I would also like to thank the Mayor and Rob Dubow for entrusting the City's -- their portfolio, investment portfolio in my hands. I'd also like to thank really the tremendous staff that we have in City Treasury. As the Councilman mentioned, we were available to reconcile the $33 million, and it was really through their hard work over time that we were able to do that in a timely manner. I'd also like to thank my predecessor, Rasheia Johnson, who really led that effort and who is now in the private sector, but I want to thank her for her many years of counsel that we Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 and to do all the things we did. I certainly also want to thank many of the members of Council who I have leaned on throughout the years for some level of counsel, Councilman Johnson, Councilman Green, Councilman Squilla, Councilwoman Parker, Councilman Domb, Councilwoman Bass, and all the other Councilmembers who really have taken my calls over the years whenever I've had an issue or needed to talk to someone. And I'd also be remiss if I did not recognize Sade Lewis, who was a previous City Treasurer, who is of Nigerian descent, you know, and she -- I think many of the members of this body know her very, very well. Lastly, I'd like to thank my wife and my two little ones.
If it wasn't for her support, I would not be allowed to be the public servant and put all the Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 -- all the hours that we're able to put in to serve the citizens of Philadelphia. And with that, I just want to thank everyone here, and I really appreciate it. I'd also like to just quickly thank some of the professionals in the industry that really help the City do what the City needs to do. It's a complicated market, a complicated industry, and the professionals that we work with on a daily basis help make the market efficient. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
The next order of business is communications. The Chair requests that the Sergeant-of-Arms please deliver the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk. Mr. Decker, would you please Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 the Mayor.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am submitting herewith for the consideration of your honorable body an ordinance amending Chapter 17-1400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Non-Competitively Bid Contracts; Financial Assistance," by making revisions to definitions; to contract and reporting requirements; to exceptions; and to enforcement provisions; and making related changes to Section 20-613 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Ethics-Related Matters Incorporated as Part of this Chapter"; and An ordinance amending Chapter 17-1400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Non-Competitively Bid Contracts; Financial Assistance," to provide for regulations and for special provisions for certain small-dollar contracts, all under certain terms and Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 conditions.
Thank you. The messages will be printed in the Journal. Mr. Decker, will you please read any other communications in your possession.
Thank you. The next order of business will be the introductions of bills and resolutions. Mr. Decker, would you please recognize Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown.
Good morning. Good morning. I offer no bills or resolutions this morning.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 you. I likewise have no bills or resolutions this morning.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On behalf of Council President Clarke, I offer one bill.
An ordinance amending Section 9-205 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Sidewalk Sales," by prohibiting vending along certain portions of Spring Garden Street.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Henon, which is myself. I have no bills or resolutions. Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have one resolution and Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 two -- one resolution and an ordinance on behalf of Councilman Johnson.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Morris Street, 26th Street, Moore Street, and 27th Street.
And a non-privileged resolution also naming Sigel Street, between 21st and 22nd Streets, "Vendetta Grimes Way."
Next week's Calendar. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez. (No response.)
Thank you. On behalf of Councilwoman Sanchez, I have Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 two privileged resolutions. On behalf of the Administration, I have two bills, and on my behalf, I have two bills as well.
Thank you, Councilman. Mr. Decker. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That was just my resolution being signed off by Councilwoman Brown.
A privileged resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on Aging to hold public hearings examining solutions to prevent the ongoing displacement of senior citizens with fixed incomes due to rising rental costs.
Resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Mr. Decker.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," to provide for a height allowance for certain solar collectors.
And an ordinance amending Subcode A of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, to provide for fees for solar panel projects.
And an ordinance amending Chapter 17-1400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Non-Competitively Bid Contracts; Financial Assistance," by making revisions to definitions.
And an ordinance amending Chapter 17-1400 of The Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Philadelphia Code, entitled "Non-Competitively Bid Contracts; Financial Assistance," to provide for regulations and for special provisions for certain small-dollar contracts.
And a privileged resolution recognizing and honoring the dedicated and loyal service of Romulo L. Diaz, Jr. to the City of Philadelphia.
And a privileged resolution recognizing and honoring Rebecca Rutstein for her dedicated service through art to the City of Philadelphia.
Will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have two Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 resolutions today, different from what was noted during caucus, Mr. Chair. One is privileged and one is non-privileged. The non-privileged is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Sanchez, Johnson, Jones, Green, and Greenlee, and the privileged is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Clarke, Johnson, Henon, Jones, Domb, Gym, Taubenberger, and -- just those two. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
It will be reflected on the record. Thank you, Councilwoman.
And, Mr. Chairman, after the title of the non-privileged resolution is read, I wish to be recognized. And then after the titles of both resolutions have been read, I wish to be recognized again to speak on them.
A non-privileged resolution calling for a fair contract for commercial office cleaners and Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 building service workers in Philadelphia.
That will be placed on next Council session. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit consideration of this resolution on today's Final Passage Calendar. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded. All in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. It will be placed on today's Final Passage.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Labor and Civil Service to hold hearings Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 regarding service providers and employers honoring existing and prior worker contract agreements.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First, I want to again thank co-sponsors Sanchez, Johnson, Jones, Greenlee, and Green for the resolution that calls for a fair contract for commercial office cleaners and building service workers in Philadelphia. Prior to us starting Council -thank you, Council President -- we had a press conference with them today just to note that we stand in solidarity with them. The second authorizes the Committee on Labor and Civil Service to hold hearings regarding service providers and employers honoring existing and prior worker contract agreements. Unfortunately, these resolutions are related around a common Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 theme relative to employers and their efforts to cut costs and make a profit at the expense of their employees. We know that yesterday the 3,000 commercial office cleaners and building service workers took the courageous stance and they took a strike vote, and if they don't get a fair contract by this coming Tuesday, they will strike. Their demands aren't extreme. They just want what all working individuals want, and that's fair wages with good healthcare and retirement security. The second resolution is one that I hope folks have been paying attention to, and there have been three recent high-profile cases that brought this issue to the forefront. An example, one, Vita Healthcare Group assumed ownership of the Somerton Center and Spring Garden Center Nursing Home facilities. As the new owners, they Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 slashed wages by more than 30 percent for some workers and made healthcare practically unaffordable by instituting a $10,000 deductible. After many months and much activism by the nursing home workers and public officials, Vita Healthcare Group and the workers were able to reach a fair union contract that made access to healthcare attainable and set fair wages. The second example is Sodexo, a major facilities management corporation with contracts throughout Philadelphia. They had a contract to provide environmental services at Hahnemann University Hospital. According to the contract, the workers, who are also members of District Council 1199C, they had a right to earn both sick and personal time. However, when Sodexo lost the contract in 2018, they refused to pay out that earned and sick time to the members of District 1199C. According to calculations, the Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 workers are owed over $218,000 in compensation from Sodexo in connection to both earned and sick time. And in the most recent example, which was just brought to my attention in the past week or so, members of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, PASNAP, they are currently facing uncertainty at Saint Christopher's Hospital for Children. The hospital's new owners, Tower Health and Drexel University, have indicated that they do not intend to recognize the collective bargaining agreement. In particular, they have conveyed that they plan to alter the staffing levels that the members fought hard to achieve and which are critical to providing the kinds of care that the children at the hospital need. In all of these examples, they're all in the healthcare realm. This practice is unfortunately happening across many industries. In the era of Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 frequent outsourcing acquisitions and mergers, it is increasingly common for service providers and employers to refuse to honor existing and prior worker contract agreements despite already having existing laws on the books. We need to explore if, how, and under what terms can these laws be better enforced and/or strengthened to protect workers.
We also know that we have a long way to go in ensuring that we have economic justice in our great City of Philadelphia, but both of these resolutions we believe are a step in the right direction, and we look forward to getting the facts on the record. So thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, colleagues, for all of your patience and allowing me to communicate very specifically so nothing is misunderstood what the goals and objectives of both of these resolutions are. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019
Thank you so much, Councilwoman. And this resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Domb.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have one privileged resolution today.
A privileged resolution recognizing the 95th Anniversary of the Curtis Institute of Music, its part in training the world's finest musicians, and for its contributions to the rich cultural fabric of the City of Philadelphia.
This resolution will be placed on today's Final Calendar. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Gym.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I have one Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 bill, and I'd like to be recognized after the reading of the bill.
An ordinance amending Title 6 of The Philadelphia Code, the "Health Code," to add a section establishing requirements for hospitals that anticipate closing.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Over the summer, the for-profit hedge fund owner of Hahnemann Hospital rocked this city with the abrupt closure of a vital Philadelphia institution that served tens of thousands of patients and employed thousands of workers. The closure announcement was made in mid June, and Hahnemann was basically closed by September. Today, ten of us introduced a bill to make sure Philadelphia will never Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 again be left out of critical decisions that impact the lives of our neediest residents. I want to thank Councilmember Henon and my Council co-sponsors Greenlee, Parker, Johnson, Blackwell, Squilla, Jones, Domb, and Green for backing this. This bill effectively codifies into law an existing 1969 Board of Health regulation that required advanced notice for closure of hospitals and medical facilities. What we want to make sure is that the time that we get, this bill will require six months advanced notice and require hospitals to work with the City on planning that ensures the appropriate and safe transition for patients and help staff members land on their feet. In the poorest large city in the nation, Hahnemann was a critical safety net hospital, which saw 50,000 patients a year going through its ER. It was one of six maternity wards left in Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 the City of Philadelphia. When it announced its maternity ward closure with only days notice, it left 800 moms-to-be with precious little time to find other options. Thousands of patients were also left in the dark. Thirty-five hundred employees, some of whom had been with the hospital for decades, lost their jobs. Hundreds of doctors who had trained for years for a placement at a major city institution had to scramble to find other options. And it's a telling sign of the downward spiral of healthcare in America today that a hedge fund owner named Joel Freedman teamed up with a real estate company to buy Hahnemann in the first place. Over the next 18 months, he quickly drained it of its assets as he extracted every ounce of profit. And it's worth noting that Mr. Freedman, as he readies the Center City hospital for a massive sale, has already bought a $7 million Los Angeles home -- it's his second in that city -- Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 as a bonus. But the harsh realities and destructive practices of a ruthless for-profit healthcare market means cities have to step up in our protections and demand for transparency. There are dozens of hospitals across the State of Pennsylvania that are in worse financial shape than Hahnemann right now. National statistics indicate that one in five rural hospitals will close or consolidate in the coming years. It is my belief that we need Medicare for all and an end to the ruthless for-profit mentality around healthcare that puts all of our lives at risk, but in the meantime, we're offering this bill as a reminder that Philadelphians can't afford to wait this out. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilwoman. This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Councilman Taubenberger.
Thank you, Chairman Henon. I have one resolution, which after the title is read, I would like to make comment.
A privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Streets and Services to hold a hearing regarding the reconstruction work on Interstate 95, and the entire Revive I-95 plan.
Thank you, Chairman Henon. I would like to thank the co-sponsors here of Councilmembers Domb, Bass, Squilla, Greenlee, Parker, Gym, and O'Neill. And basically why I'm doing this, this work is far behind schedule. The construction is frustrating many, many people. I would hope these hearings alleviate some of this so we have a clear understanding. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 The considerable delay in completing the much-needed repairs and improvements of I-95 is inconveniencing thousands of commuters on a daily basis, some of which don't even live in the City of Philadelphia. The gridlock is leading to many accidents, road rage, and much frayed nerves. It is my sincere hope that these hearings will serve as a catalyst to get the work done. And, finally, all of us who sit on I-95 traffic every day deserve better than this. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilman. This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Councilman. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. Leader. I have one non-privileged resolution.
A non-privileged resolution also naming the 200 block of West Coulter Street as "Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller Way."
That will be placed on next week's Final Passage. The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much. I introduce one non-privileged resolution co-sponsored by Councilmember Bass, and I'd like to be heard after the title is read.
A non-privileged Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 resolution authorizing the establishment of a "Special Committee on Child Separation in Philadelphia" to review child separation in Philadelphia's child welfare system and develop recommendations to ensure compliance with State Child Protective Services Law to protect children and due process rights of families and prevent the unnecessary break-up of families.
Thank you very much. I'd like to move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit consideration of this resolution on today's Final Passage Calendar. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Opposed? Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 (No response.)
The ayes have it. This resolution will be placed on today's Final Calendar.
The next order of business will be reports from the committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for a report from the Committee on Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Committee on Finance reports out two bills with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Mr. Decker, would you please read the report.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Philadelphia, the Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 190509, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-200 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'City Funds - Deposits, Investments, Disbursements,' by revising the list of City depositories"; and Bill No. 190706, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the issuance from time to time of one or more series of general obligation bonds to provide funds to refund certain outstanding general obligation bonds of The City of Philadelphia; authorizing the Mayor, City Controller and City Solicitor or a majority of them to sell bonds at public or private negotiated sale; setting forth the purposes for which the proceeds of the bonds will be expended; providing for the maturities and for other terms and conditions and for the form of the bonds; providing that the bonds may be redeemable prior to maturity; providing sinking funds for the bonds and for Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Fund Commission for the payment thereof; authorizing agreements to provide credit enhancement or payment or liquidity sources for the bonds and certain other actions," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Nos. 190509 and 190706. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit the first reading of this day Bill Nos. 190509 and 190706. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 (Aye.)
The ayes have it. These bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla on any bills or resolutions for introduction today.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you, Councilman. The next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bills just reported from the committee with suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. These bills will be placed on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for the next session of Council. If there are no additional Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee for a motion considering the bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the following bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars: Bill Nos. 160026-A, 190608-A, 190130, 190714, 181047, 190101, 190552, 190556, 190561, 190609, 190642, 190643, 190646, 190647, 190648, 190656, 190657, 190705, and 190703.
It's been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the bills just read by Councilman Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 2ND READING Greenlee. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, the motion carries, and we will consider the Consent Agenda shortly. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Greenlee for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In addition to the bills being considered on the Consent Agenda, the following resolutions and bills are being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars. They are Nos. 190769. All other bills and resolutions are being held.
Thank you, Councilman. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 That brings us to our public comment. Before considering the resolutions and bills, we will consider the public comment as follows: Your public comment must concern the matters of the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars for today's actions in today's Council session. All speakers must sign up to testify. If you haven't already signed up for today's session, please do so to my left by giving your name to the Sergeant-of-Arms at the table. You will be called in the order in which your name appears on the sign-in sheet, and you will have two minutes today due to the amount of volume, two minutes today to speak. In order to be fair for all those wishing to speak, I intend to hold faithful to the two-minute limit. When you begin speaking, you will see a green light at the podium. There will be 30 seconds remaining to Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 your time when the light will then turn yellow, which is a reminder to conclude your remarks. Once your two minutes have passed, the light will turn red and the Sergeant-of-Arms will disconnect the microphone. At that point, please yield the podium to the next speaker, because we do have a lot of speakers on today's public comment. I will also reserve the right to our rules of Council to limit the repetitious comments on the subject matter. I will ask the Chief Clerk please read the name of our first speaker.
Harry Barnum, commenting on 170408. (Witnesses approached podium.) MR. BARNUM (through translator): Good morning to everyone, to the Council, to the President, to the members here and the people in the audience. My name is Harry Barnum. I'm Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 a death advocate at Liberty Resources. I'm here to mention something on 170408. This resolution I don't want to complain about, but I think this resolution has been waiting for a year and the Committee has done nothing about it. You must finish the old business. It's been put off far too long. It's been a year, and as I look to that goal, I say what's happening? (Applause.)
What are you doing? What is happening? I don't want to complain, but I feel it's my job to behoove you to do something. It is old business and it's been waiting too long. I just keep hearing you say over and over talking about different numbers and this one has never been resolved. Thank you. (Applause.)
Our next speaker, please. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019
Daniel Symonds, commenting on 170408. (Witness approached podium.)
Hello, members of City Council. My name is Daniel Symonds. I'm an educator at the Franklin-SLA campus of the Philadelphia School District and a PFT member of the Caucus of Working Educators. I want to teach today. Education is my life's work. My students ought to be in class right now, but that's not possible because the Philadelphia School District has led our campus into a preventable crisis due to mismanagement, lack of transparency, and failure to meaningfully engaged stakeholders over the course of the entire project, as our asbestos cloud of a school is but one example of the citywide toxic schools and unequal treatment that brings me here today. What can we do to heal? I have three simple requests. I call upon City Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Council to investigate the mishandling of the Franklin-SLA project that has more than 1,000 students out of school for two weeks.
Excuse me. I'm going to have to interrupt for a second, and this is a good reminder for all those who are coming for public testimony. Would you please state the number of the bill in which you are authorized to speak on.
The school suspension bill, because the School District has suspended us from school. Let me look it up. 174048 [sic], I think.
Thank you. All right. So my three recommendations are quite simple. We need a hearing to investigate what's gone wrong in our project led by the City Controller that includes after-school public hearings, and taxpayers should know how $37 million Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 and counting has been mismanaged by this School District. A second simple request, there should be an establishment immediately of a Special Committee on School Facilities to address lead and asbestos in all of Philadelphia's schools. District and state officials should be made to answer questions to develop plans to prevent cancer and other endangerments that pervade the buildings students and families and teachers are told to trust is safe. The School District clearly worries about bad press, but has not done the work of admitting to and solving the actual problem. Lastly, Council, I urge you to visit schools in your own districts and in the poorest zip codes of Philadelphia. Shadow a child, learn their experience, and then ask me if my request for a truth-telling investigation is unreasonable. Some problems are complex, take a lot of time and money to solve. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Telling the truth doesn't cost a dime. (Applause.)
Elizabeth Cesarini, commenting on 170408. (Witness approached podium.)
I'm commenting on 170408. Monday is indigenous people's day. So I'd first like to take a moment to honor the fact that we are here on (unintelligible) Lenape lands. My name is Elizabeth Cesarini and I'm here to support Councilmember Reynolds Brown and Gym and their resolution calling on and urging the School District of Philadelphia to permanently prohibit the suspension of elementary-aged students from first through fifth grades. Kindergarten too maybe. And keeping young people in their schools should be all of our first Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 priorities. I'm also here because we have heard that our neighborhood school is in danger of being uprooted. I work as an ELL coordinator at Olney Charter High School. In the nine years I've worked here under ASPIRA, I've seen the English language learner program grow from about 40 students in 2011 to 678, as of now 681 as of today, an increase of 1,595 percent in nine years. This is due to the strength of our students and our programming, our dedicated unionized teachers, our amazing staff, and the choice more and more families continue to make every day to trust their students to grow in our school. Our students and families have been uprooted by climate change, economic devastation, trauma and war from the Caribbean, Central America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and across the United States. They have since put down roots in the Olney neighborhood and Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 across Philadelphia. Our students and families cite programs like College Access, Peer Mediation, our ELL program, our athletic department, band, music, art, our large special education department, all of our caring and compassionate teachers and staff as the reason they enroll and keep coming to school. These roots have not been easy to cultivate. In a city, state, and country that would often rather raise what exists and nurture what is already growing, we at Olney Charter High School urge you to support our efforts to put down strong roots in our land and create a better life for our students, families, staff, and community. Thank you for your time.
Before I ask the Chief Clerk to read the next three speakers, again, I just want to remind Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 everybody we do have a lot on our agenda here today in the public comment. Please, we're giving a little bit of flexibility on subject matter. Stick to the subject on the bills that you are speaking on Final Passage. So, Mr. Decker, please read the name of the next three speakers.
Claire Cynthia Louischarles, Sharon Bryant, Sherrie Cohen. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, everyone. My name is Claire Cynthia Louischarles. I'm talking No. 170408 and a resolution calling and urging the School District of Philadelphia to permanently prohibit the suspension of elementary-aged students from the first to fifth grade. I don't think that's fair because they are little kid and I don't think they know what they doing. They just like -- the first to fifth grade. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 And also I'm here to talk in favor of Olney Charter High School. And I love this school because you get an opportunity to learn whatever you want to do, and there's a lot of club. You could (unintelligible.) At Olney Charter High School, the teacher always look at you in the same way as others. They never discriminate you and they're not bias. I'm in 11 grade right now and I've seen a lot of changing going in the school. I can tell because I'm in that school since ninth grade. For example, there's something we call children. Something happens to them -- I said that because when I was in ninth grade, there is only ten children. Other students see that. The children have more good stuff so they make it for to become one. A student -- they used to let us fight, but not anymore. The students are changing from bad to good. Before we were the worst school of all, but not Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 anymore. Second example, just transportation. Student that live near Olney Charter High School are happy because they don't have to take like buses. I was asking many student if change from Olney to other school, it would be difficult, they say yes because they have to take train to get out of school. And I don't think they should close the school because the teacher love their student. Thank you for your attention. (Applause.)
Thank you. Mr. Decker, our next speaker. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon, citizens and honorable Council. My name is Sharon Bryant. Thank you for this opportunity. As a longtime Philadelphia School District educator, I want to testify on Resolution 170408 regarding Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 school suspensions. Under normal circumstances, I'd oppose excessive suspensions of students because we know it's critical for them to physically be present in school in order for them to be able to learn, but unfortunately, my students and colleagues being physically present at the Lewis C. Cassidy Elementary School, number one in disrepair in the School District, is like sending them to the slaughterhouse. I just found out this morning that there are now students wearing doctor-ordered masks. So, again, in the Inquirer's Toxic School series and in Shades of America's Environmental Injustice series, this morning I come crying out to you to suspend everybody from Cassidy, both the students and the staff. Put everybody out. (Applause.)
They should have been out of there really a long time ago, Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 long before I arrived in 2016. Now it's almost 2020 and they're still over there breathing toxic air, being exposed to mold, lead, and asbestos. I hear that my classroom, 302, may have been condemned. My exposures there caused me numerous respiratory illnesses that I've never had before a day in my life. There are now only seven teachers remaining at Cassidy from the time I went out injured on duty a year and a half ago. They left due to illness, early retirement, and a plethora of voluntary transfers. The job with teaching nowadays is hard enough in and of itself, so suffering under both toxic environmental and psychological conditions proves to be too much. I already know your answer, there's no money. So that's the task at hand. We have to find the money. We have to figure out a way to address the toxic lead and asbestos conditions across all affected schools in our aging Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 society. I thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you. Mr. Decker, our next three speakers, please. Or let's go next two.
Minh Tran, followed by Joshua Block, followed by David Ivory. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, Councilmembers. My name is Minh Tran at Benjamin Franklin High School, class of 2017 alum and was also a youth coordinator at Ridley. I'm here to speak on Resolution No. 170408 about school suspensions. I think we need to give students more time in the classrooms, not taking it away for suspensions. Speaking of taking away student time in classroom, I'm sure that you all have heard about the thousands of students from Benjamin Franklin High School and Science Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Leadership Academy missing school for more than ten days due to asbestos in their schools. The School District of Philadelphia has spent 37 million on a project to merge Benjamin Franklin High School and SLA into one building. The project did not meet any tainted deadline and was rushed through the process so that students can be in the building by this school year. As a result of that, students from Benjamin Franklin High School had to attend school days during construction for the past 18 months, but the problems have existed long before. So I went to Benjamin Franklin High School from 2014 to 2017. As one of many neighborhood schools across the City, we don't get much funding, attention, and transparency from the School District. When I was a student there, every day I would be in the classroom, lunchroom, and hallways that have peeling lead paint falling from walls and pipes. There are water Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 fountains that have "do not drink" signs on it, and I learned that later on that asbestos has been present in the building at an alarming level. At first I questioned myself, what is this problem and no one has done anything about it. Over the years, I learned that because we are used to crumbling conditions and having to survive in the least amount of resources, we normalize these conditions, and the people in power also normalize them. In fact, Dr. Hite repeatedly cited that Philly is an old city and old buildings have lead. And if we didn't have noticed already and have been reminding from people, we don't even spend much of their time in the toxic school conditions. As an alum from Benjamin Franklin High School, I urge you to, one, pass a resolution for an immediate investigation at the misleading of the District and the multi-million taxpayer dollars, construction power in the SLA Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 building that left more than a thousand students out of school for more than ten years.
Thank you for your testimony, sir. We're going to have to stick to our timeline.
And pass a resolution to establish a Special Committee on School Facilities to address -(Microphone turned off.)
Mr. Decker, could you please read our next speaker, please.
Good afternoon, esteemed members of the Council. My name is Joshua Block. I'm a parent of two School District students. I'm a teacher at Science Leadership Academy, and currently I stand before you instead of teaching my students, because today that is not an option. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 I'm speaking in response to 170408, and like many before me, I would like to express that removing students from school does not move people closer to education goals. And like many people before me, I need to connect this issue to what is going on in every -- not every; in many other places in our School District. The most recent crisis is not an isolated incident, the conditions of something that many school communities are dealing with at this very moment. This is a problem of infrastructure, but it is also a problem of governance and oversight. There is no denying the funding issues the District faces. There is no denying as well the dysfunctional ways decisions are currently made and the deliberate ways the School District avoids transparency. For these reasons, I ask you to step in by investigating the enormous Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 public health and infrastructure failure of the Ben Franklin-SLA campus project. We need to know why this was handled so incompetently. We need to know how many children in Philadelphia -- how many children currently in Philadelphia have construction going on in their schools. We need to know how many young people are continually exposed to toxic conditions in their pursuit of education. Finally, we need you to visit schools. We need you to spend time with students during their days and be more connected to the reality of schools in our city. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Good morning. My name is David Ivory. I'm a Grammy-nominated recording engineer, a music producer, and the Director of the Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Sound Recording and Music Technology program at Montgomery County Community College and, most importantly, the Chair of the Philadelphia Music Industry Task Force. I'm here to testify on Bill 160026-A with regards to musicians having access to load in and out of certain venues without getting ticketed. The music community has many struggles, including performing in the City. We have a strong musical heritage here in Philadelphia, but musicians and artists of today that will create that future musical heritage are consistently in danger of being muted with policies that face them, from lack of local venues to perform in, to feeling among most people that music is free, musicians and artists facing a daunting challenge to make a living in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. One of the low-hanging fruit that the Music Industry Task Force identified to help the music community is Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Bill 160026-A. This bill would provide some relief to musicians trying to start their careers here in the City. How? Well, for a start, often times bands and individual musicians get a parking ticket just for loading into their gear to perform their show. The little money that they will make that night becomes the payment for the parking ticket, which then makes their performance essentially free, if not in the red. This bill would provide loading zones to make it safe and free from getting a ticket just for loading in their musical equipment to the venue. I've been a music producer and music professional for more than 35 years, and the ability for start-up bands or just independent musicians to play and perform in the City have been made harder and harder year in and year out. This bill would provide at least some relief and be a great step forward to helping these start-up artists and musicians Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 perform in this great music city. I urge the City Council to vote to make this bill a reality so we can show that the City still supports our great heritage as well as the future music makers. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you. Mr. Decker, our next three speakers, please.
Jesse Lundy, followed by Dr. Louis Anthony DeLise, followed by Joe Danihel. (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Jesse Lundy. I've been a concert promoter here in Philadelphia for 24 years. I book over 200 shows a year in the City in a variety of venues. I'm here to testify today about Bill 160026-A with regard to what Mr. Ivory said just before. This bill will offer relief to the musicians who often aren't making enough money to Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 pay the parking ticket that they might get. We, with the Music Industry Task Force, are interested in helping continue the pilot program that was started before our organization formed to create spaces outside of venues in a few of the venues here in town basically just to see how it works and to help streamline and make that process work for both the City, the Parking Authority, the venues themselves. This will not only take weight off of the shoulders of the musicians as they hurry to get their equipment into the venues, it also takes weight off of the venues' staff who are otherwise standing watch for Parking Authority people to come along and write a ticket. So we urge you to please help us make this a reality. We at the Music Industry Task Force are interested in keeping musicians coming to Philadelphia and keeping them happy while they're Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 here. Thank you. (Applause.)
Good afternoon. This is an official decree of the people in writ of mandamus quo warranto and, as such, requires immediate action and remedy. Every week, Council, Mayor, Governor, and others transfer private property to the government, probably unlawfully. Last week, I heard multiple testimonies of government officials taking children without permission. I testified the government is stealing my home, stealing my just compensation. Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 Council's response was to unlawfully reduce public testimony from five minutes to two minutes. If committing one crime one time would land persons in jail, why haven't officials been prosecuted? If officials lied to God in their oath of office, how can constituents reelect them? The constitutions require immediate remedy of this breach of law, breach of close, breach of fiduciary duty. Your oath of office requires you to act or face prison. 42 USC 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987; 18 USC 241, 242, 2381, 2384; PA Constitution, Article I, Sections 1 through 28; 26 PA CSA 703, 705, 708, 709, 711, 712, 713, 716, and other laws listed in SCOTUS 15-8965, 14-1330, 14-4056 appear violated. I call on the federal and Commonwealth governments to perform their constitutional obligations to investigate Stated Meeting October 10, 2019 and prosecute all involved in the theft and illegal deed transfer of my home, 1038 West Wyoming Avenue. The denial of God-given 42 USC 1982 property rights for 25 years is egregious, extraordinary, oath-violating, and requires immediate remedy. A just government must obey the rule of law. This color of law government must have its Charter to govern revoked until a constitutionally compliant government is installed. I remind Council, it takes a lot of cooperation to create and allow this weekly monumental corruption. (Applause.)
Mr. Decker, will you please read our next three speakers, please.
Commenting on 190779, Antoinette Richardson, Cortez Johnson, Adelaida Morales. Please approach the podium. (Witness approached podium.) Stated Meeting October 10, 2019
Hello. Hi. I would like to thank this opportunity for speaking on behalf of 190779. I also want to thank Councilmembers Oh and Bass for bringing this up to -- this resolution up for DHS to be accountable for what they actions. Now, my daughter has been taken from me six years ago, and they have committed so many crimes against our children that our children and parents are dying daily. So this needs to be -this needs to be brought to senses. So the welfare system needs to be accountable for what they have done to our children. (Applause.)