Thank you, Madam Chair and Mr. Chair. Councilman Goode is chairing 137 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 the Transportation Committee. On that particular issue I just had one thing I wanted to ask, if it was okay. The SEPTA representative, it's in concert with the point that you raised. First, whether it's with regard to the CDC or even West Market Village Association, we did have a conversation out at 63rd and Walnut and talked about this whole issue of, kind of a different version of community policing, where there should be discussion and then implementation of an opportunity to hire people in the neighborhood to monitor what's going on down at the site, daytime and nighttime. Provide additional level of service. Again, a lot of ideas, a lot of conversation and no implementation leads to frustration and a disbelief that anything is going to happen. That meeting was two or three weeks ago.
You talked about community advisories and flyers and some kind of newsletter to convey information, all of those kinds of things. Councilwoman raised the issue about 138 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 lighting. Well, we know that it's dark out there and we you know that you check the lights and everything that's out there is working. Unfortunately, because of lack of traffic, it is inadequate. The response I received two weeks ago was, "We checked the lights. They all worked. Be happy about it." Now, you did put on the record earlier today that there are continuing conversations. The question is, again, when? I mean, this is not -- there's no incredible design element to running a string of lights down the center of Market Street and attaching them to the superstructure.
And that's what we're working with the Streets Department to do.
I understand that. What we need is for these kinds of issues -- and I think the only thing that's going to lead to any repair, possibly, of a relationship is concrete deadlines for when certain things are going to be done. So we know that you're working on the lighting issues, somebody needs to say, "By May, whatever, they're going to be up and working." Then people can -- they'll judge you based on that. And 139 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 if you meet the deadline, they'll say, "Hey, they said they were going to do it, and they did it." And you can just keep going down the line with that stuff. With regard to -- the Reverend made mention of the whole issue of the Church and whether the Church can get money. You know, at least on the national level, we certainly know that when the federal government wants to give churches money, they go through incredible gymnastics and jump every hurdle and hoop to figure out how to support faith-based initiatives when it's in their interest. Now all of a sudden we can't do anything with churches. So I think we need to re-examine that whole issue. But beyond that, have you determined any estimates to -- we talked about financial relief for the businesses in the community. Has SEPTA looked at this issue from a "if we had the dollars available, it would take X amount of money to try to provide some amount of relief to the businesses out there." Have you done any of that kind of work?
Yes, we have. We started on that probably about four or five months. We 140 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 understood the issue with the businesses and we've been having ongoing discussions with Congressman Fattah's office to identify -- and it is a line item in the appropriation, some dollars to provide.
What's your estimate on what a pool of distress relief dollars would be? How much?
We're continuing dialog and conversations with the Congressman's office to have it included in the budget so that we can have dollars available to provide relief to businesses. But it's an ongoing process. And we've had meetings and conversation with him in that regard.
Well, I understand that. And I'm certainly no expert on the federal budget process, but I think they're in October September 30th cycle, so at best you'd be looking something in the post-October time period --
-- I'm assuming, 141 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 unless there's some other special dissertation.
What contact or conversation has there been with our City Commerce Department or PIDC or any of our other various agencies? I mean, this is an economic development issue. We're talking about the potential termination of a variety of businesses. Now, when we have businesses that we think are going to move, we'll jump out of a second-story window to try to put every possible package we can in front of them to assist them in retaining those businesses. And it seems to me that, at least from a City side, if not from a State side, and given the fact that SEPTA is actually a State authority, some combination of City and State response to a business retention problem. It's not that they're trying to move to New Jersey. It's that they may just literally go out of business. No one's playing a game here. We've actually had people act like they were thinking about moving. We give them what they want, and they had never even contacted a moving company. These folks won't need to contact a moving company. They 142 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 just won't come back one day, and that's going to be the end of the conversation. So I'm asking you, what avenues have you explored? In a similar situation, if we have distressed businesses, we start putting dollars on the table -- I know the City does. I know that this is a capital project. What was that total again, $567?
$567 million. If I know construction projects like you know construction projects, one, you're not going to spend $567 million, because within that budget you probably have, at a minimum, a 10 percent contingency.
So you're at least going to spend that. But all of those budgets usually have a contingency in them, which you may or may not actually use. So the total dollar amount, whatever the total is going to be, there are always some dollars set aside because some of the contracts are going to come in a little higher, some are going to come in a little lower. 143 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 (Applause.)
And I understand because they're capital dollars you may not be able to do distress relief. On the other hand, SEPTA does have its own operating budget. And you have to anticipate in this project that you're going to these issues. You also have no way of anticipating -- although you can estimate -- for instance, how many accidents you're going to have with buses and trolleys and trains and other claims against the system. It's all an estimate. And when you have to pay, you pay. You're now in a situation where bad things have happened or are in the process of happening. And when people make their claims, you always figure out how to pay them. We're in the same kind of distress situation. The system has got to identify some amount of funding. And I appreciate you going after the 4.5, and if we can get it all out of the Feds, that's wonderful. But if that doesn't happen, somewhere between the system, the State and the City of Philadelphia, some pool of dollars have to be identified for relief, and they have to be identified soon. Because the federal process is 144 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 long and generally convoluted.
I need to say on the record that we've had ongoing conversations with PCDC and will continue to have ongoing conversations with PCDC, Philadelphia Commercial Development Corporation, because their charge is to deal with small minority and female business owners, and particularly on commercial corridors such as 52nd, 60th and 63rd. I think 52nd and 63rd -- I think 60th Street also -- are one of the corridors -- those corridors are corridors that they deal with. It's my understanding that at some point there were dollars that could be used for transportation-like activities; however, at some point those dollars frozen. We are working with PCDC currently to figure out a way to have those Department of Transportation dollars liquid so that we can have a relationship with PCDC to help the distressed businesses.
Councilman Nutter, we don't want to interrupt, but we have a lot of people testify. And Councilman Cohen has judges in the hallway ready for his one o'clock hearing. 145 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607
I'm about to exit myself. But I did want to find out why they couldn't do a contract with the CDC, for instance. So if you could check into that, I'd appreciate it.
Councilman Nutter, thank you very much. Thank you, Pastor Barnes. . Please identify yourself. Thank you. Thank you all for your patience.
Good afternoon, Councilwoman Blackwell, Councilman Cohen, Goode and Councilman Nutter. My name is Deborah McGregor. I am a retired physician with a masters in public health. I live in West Philadelphia near the 63rd and Market Station. I have companies that service health needs statewide. I have one client that deals with global nutrition. I do my work on the Internet and by long-distance phone. I'm not impacted directly by the obstruction of traffic. However, my neighbors have allowed me to speak today 146 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 because of a unique perspective I have. In 1997, I was working as a physician at Frankford Hospital when the El construction was going on. I worked at Work Health. It was street level. The construction project was in front of our door. Our patients, our clients, were required to come to the door of that facility by rail, car, ambulance and by foot. For the entire year of 1997-1998 we had no problems servicing our clientele. I've also been the Commissioner of Health of the United States Virgin Islands. In 1987, I had to assess the hospitals for contract fraud. In doing so, we required a forensic assessment of work done. That meant that all of the subcontractors and the contractors had to report their scope of service. We had the forensic firm compare what they promised to do and what they did and how much it cost. We found out we had $10 million worth of hospital for $60 million in funding. And I went after the $50 million that didn't show up in construction. So that word, "forensic assessment," I'd like to be a major part of my presentation. 147 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 We've also recognized that if, in fact, there were funds available, we would ask, as a business community, for a different array of services than are being provided by current consultants. I commend the work of Baker Company, their field team, Michael Tucker and Carol Smith, and their president, James Baker. What we have seen, however, in meetings is somewhat of a flat-footed, tin ear approach to marketing, to providing services specific to the business needs, and we would like a review of the scope of services of the communication companies that have been providing services. The final point is I have provided a proposal to support any company providing services to the businesses. And to this date, I have not had a response to the proposal to assess the needs of companies that may be either doing well and need just a little help -- we put that in the green category. Struggling, but may be able to hold on. And then what we found out one consultant calls, "obsolete businesses," meaning that somebody has already made the decision that these businesses are not worth saving. We don't want the cherry picker 148 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 phenomenon, where the good businesses are held and the others are kicked to curb by a construction project that makes it easy for the land and the "business of the week" business to be speculated or to be purchased or to used by people waiting in the wings. We would like the City plan for West Philadelphia to come to the table now so that any dollar spent for signs, frontage, security can be used as a beginning point for the next dollar that will come at the next SEPTA project. So no dollar would go wasted because someone doesn't have the bigger vision. We would like that vision to reside with Council or with a Council-determined commission so that somebody keeps up with the plan that involves both the businesses and the community. In summary, we want a forensic assessment of the work already done. We'd like to know what was promised, what was delivered, what they paid for it and how much is left in the budget. For the next wave of contracts being given, we want community involvement so that the community and the businesses can determine their needs. This is not an issue of loco parentis.
These are mature 149 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 businessmen who already have businesses who do not need to have help with a beginning set of services. And finally -- and I'm going to represent the community by saying this -- there are young people in that community who will ask for me jobs this summer. They will want to sweep, clean, paint, deliver brochures and the like. They are not affiliated with a formal organization. But there is no consideration for the seasonal needs of the community, as it relates to the snow, when this pregnant woman had to walk across snow drifts to get to the ambulance to deliver her baby. There was no 14 consideration or any consideration for the trash pick ups. When people who live in the middle of the block cannot get their trash to the end of the block, and it looks as though we don't care, and we really do. And finally, for the children who will want summer jobs who will be underage, who will not be assigned to another organization, and the neighborhood will have to pay them the $5, $10 or $15 it takes to keep them engaged. I thank you for the opportunity to represent a very honorable neighborhood, a very honorable group of businessmen. Thank you, again. 150 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. )
Thank you very much. We are happy to -- we are requesting that you submit us a copy of your proposal. We will ask SEPTA to respond to the forensic assignment portion. We're happy to meet with the full community to talk about the City's part of the plan. And also that, if you get together for summer jobs, we'll meet with SEPTA and we'll also ask the City Recreation Department and any other area partnership. The West Philadelphia Partnership is taking applications for summer jobs, so we'll work with you on that. We'll work with the partnership, West Philadelphia Partnership and Recreation, for summer jobs. We'll have a full meeting with the community to follow-up on the City's part of the plan, and ask SEPTA to respond to the forensic part. Thank you. All right. Mr. Thurman, East Parkside. And we have Anthony Fullard from the African American Chamber of Commerce. Identify yourself for the record. Either one of you can begin.
Councilperson Blackwell and fellow Councilpersons, Mr. Thurman, East 151 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 Parkside Residents Association. The reason that we're here today is because -- and I concur with all the testimony I heard today regarding the 52nd Street El renovation. We have a problem from 38th Street to Belmont Avenue with the light rail construction of SEPTA for the light rail trolley. It's a safety hazard in the making. We've already had several crashes there. Total regard for safety. Total regard for the neighborhood. The only new signs they've put up is in front of the zoo. Nowhere else on the 40th corridor. As soon as someone gets killed there, mauled -- and I have pictures of accidents that already occurred there. It's improper lighting. There's no markers there. The traffic needs to be slowed down. There's 100,000 cars that pass that corridor daily going to the suburbs. But nothing is done. I've met with SEPTA several times. They continue to do what they want to do. In addition to that, over $7 million in capital subsidized assistance has come to that project and not one job has been allocated for any Section Three resident of the neighborhood. I'm not talking about subcontractors that they have 152 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 manipulated the numbers. I want to see actual Zip codes stating that they're residents that have a job there. Not one economically disadvantaged worker has been placed on these job sites. And I think with all this federal subsidized money that goes into SEPTA through the City of Philadelphia -- and I concur that, in fact, the CEO of SEPTA cannot even address the public and the City Council. Why should we subsidize these so-called improvements? In five years we're going to get a rate increase. Most of them don't even ride the buses. (Applause.)
We're talking improvement for what? Standing in the bus line longer? Ineffective transportation? It's not transportation friendly. They talk about putting up canopies with no rails. They talk about -- there's no access for senior citizens, and we have a big senior citizen population here. And I am here to put a notice to the SEPTA that if federal government monies have been allocated for the capital improvements for the infrastructure and expansion of several SEPTA transportation services, that I agree to veto all that money. Let's put our teeth into it and stop it 153 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 right now. Don't give them anything else until our labor issues are satisfied, until our transportation becomes transportation friendly, and we become the users of a system that works for us. We work for them now. They don't even want to show up to talk to us about it no more. I feel insulted. (Applause.)
Thank you, Mr. Thurman. He represents East Parkside Residents Association and Parkside Historic District Coalition. Thank you very much. The next gentleman is Anthony Fullard, African American Chamber of Commerce. We work with him regularly. He's always on the case, and we appreciate his commitment in this area. Thank you, Fullard.
Thank you, Madam Chair and Councilman Goode and also Councilman Cohen as well. And also, Councilman Nutter, even though he isn't here, but I really appreciate your efforts and formulating this hearing, which I believe that is long overdue. I don't know where do I begin. We've been fighting this fight for, I will say about two-and-a-half years, trying to bring some real 154 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 tangible economic development with SEPTA to ensure that African Americans and also minorities will be able to benefit from this economic development. Madam Chair, let me begin to say that I feel the pain and also the insult to this Committee and to our Council leaders for Faye Moore, who is the General Manager of SEPTA, to not to be present, no matter what her prior commitments were. We received notices of this hearing well in advance, and for her presence not to be here is unacceptable.
And so I just wanted to ensure that the African American Chamber of Commerce was on record in saying that. We've had similar problems with her before when we had devised meetings with the Mayor, as well. We've had about three meetings with the Mayor, with SEPTA at the table. And I don't want to undermine the efforts of Lillie Claitt, Frances Jones and also Cecil Bond, who have been really receptive to all the things that we have tried to do, but we are -- but we know well that they can only do but so much because this whole thing is steered by the board of SEPTA. This 155 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 is where a lot of these issues -- and they are not sensitive to the concerns of West Philadelphia. They are not concerned about what our issues are. And this has started from the very second bid with Driscoll, when we had went to the board and when they got reports back from their staff of how Driscoll was reluctant to come to the table with some tangible participation goals. They had to almost pull Driscoll's teeth in order for them just to reach those goals. Now, I just want to add this here -- because I have a few points here, and then I have some things that I would like to put on the table for SEPTA to do. First thing, you had about -- you had the switch gear building package come out, you had the ductbank package come out, and then you had two guideway packages come out. All of these packages have been awarded thus far. There's only one more package left to be awarded, and that is the station package. So I just want everybody to be clear on that, that this station package which is set to be let on the 9th, there are no more packages left to be awarded. So SEPTA is moving on with their 156 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 agenda. Out of the packages that have been awarded, I know of about two packages that have had change orders added to their packages once it has been awarded. I know of one package, when they bidded the package, it was $68 million. There was only one bidder that bidded this project, and it was 8 percent over the budget bid for that package. And 9 SEPTA still accepted that bid. So now they have to 10 pay 20 percent more for that. Then the Driscoll 11 package was added a change order and they received 12 extra money for whatever that change order was to 13 cover. 14 So we have to also be mindful, when they 15 say that they don't money for our businesses, when 16 they don't have money for the accessibility for our 17 senior citizens and all, but they can always find 18 money to ensure that they get their project done. 19 They can always pay change orders for when these 20 contracts are let to ensure that they get their project done. So I have a problem with that. Also, we have been working with SEPTA, as I said, for over two-and-a-half years -- but to no avail -- to ensure that we have the right amount of participation in West Philadelphia, to ensure 157 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 that we have local businesses. Now, another fact is, all of these packages that were let are all owned by white male contractors. Every last one of these prime contracts went to white males. Secondly, that a large amount of the subcontracting work that is let out on these projects goes to everybody else except local firms, as far as Virginia. They go and find subcontractors all the way outside of the City limits. So now Philadelphia is not even -- they don't even benefit from the economic development that is even being spent inside their own City. And you have other people from other places, other cities benefiting from this economic development here. People that even live here, have their businesses here, do not even benefit from that. And this is in a large scale. They will all the way as far as Maryland, Virginia, down to -- I believe we even had some contractors North Carolina doing work here in Philadelphia. So we cannot even benefit from that aspect.
So that's a major concern. To add to that, as far as the unions and the labor. When we hear numbers about them meeting 158 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 their goals, number one is, when you say union, when you say union in this City, and you're saying that this is a union job, number one, this is not a union job. This is a prevailing wage job. But when you say union, you are saying that this is exclusively white males. Because white males make up the whole constituency of the union labor. So when you say that this has to be a union company, you are saying, on the other hand, that this is only for white males. Because African Americans and minorities only make up about four or five percent in the unions. So you are going to employ the majority of white males. That's what you say when you say that you have to go to the unions and you have to do this with the unions. But that is not so, because this is not union job. This is prevailing wage job. So a subcontractor does not have to be union. He would have to pay the prevailing wage on that job. Also, when they bring forth numbers to our Council leaders, and they say that we have reached these goals, the large goals -- especially when they're dealing with African American labor -- we are only speaking about just the labor trade, which is the lowest paid trade on the whole union 159 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 scale. So any other trade, such as electricians, plumbers, mechanical workers, et cetera, none of them represent any African Americans in those trades. When they say that we have reached these numbers, they are only speaking about the labor trade, because that is approximately -- the labor union has about 85 percent African Americans. That's why. So there's another concern as well. Now, you have the lighting problem there, which as we see it that that is a prime opportunity for one of our local electrical companies that could solve that problem for SEPTA. As far as the escalator problem, there are many ways of how that can be resolved. They have project lifts, elevator lifts, that could get our people up to that level. They do that on all job sites when they have multi-storied levels. They have a specific elevator lift for that purpose. Also, when -- there was mentioned that the escalator parts could not been found. I really, really would like to see those facts, and I would really like to see which of those parts could not either remade. There are machinists throughout this whole tri-state area here that probably can make 160 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 anything that you need made. So I really would like to see more facts on that. But as I have brought up, Madam Chairwoman and our Council leaders that are before me, there are a lot of concerns, these concerns. And we were trying to head off these concerns two-and-a-half years ago with SEPTA. I went to Atlanta myself to bring a reputable African American company here that would have been sensitive to all of these concerns here. They did a Power Point presentation two-and-a-half years. SEPTA said that they could not consider that. They had people in place. But here we are this day having hearings to an ineffective operation that is going to include people that should be included into this process. What I ask from this Council right now is for, number one, for us to really consider that the El is a vital part of SEPTA, of how they generate their money. The people that ride the El, especially our African American women, ride that El day in and day out, all weekend long, as well. We do not have any representation on the board level and we are the ridership that is on that system there. I really think that the City really needs to 161 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 look at what your legal rights are as to claim the El and that system there of what you can use to say, hey --
Just to tell you, we own the Frankford side. They own the Market Street side.
We own the Frankford side. They own the Market Street side.
Thank you. I'm sorry that I'm rushing everybody, but they've got people from out of town for another meeting. I'm sorry. I didn't realize we were so tight in time, but we've got to give everybody their respect.
Councilwoman, I just have two more things and then I just would like to --
Is there any formal relationship between the African American Chamber and SEPTA with regard to this project, in terms of monitoring compliance? Are they formally involved 162 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 in the African American Chamber in any way?
No. All of this that the Chamber has done thus far is volunteer. All of the work, all of the going back and forth talking, we don't receive one dime.
I'm asking, is there any formal share of information? Are you involved in the pre-bid process, bid process, monitoring compliance process? Mr. Bond, can you approach?
Let's all try to move forward quickly. We're really under pressure.
Probably three or four years ago we set up an African American Chamber SEPTA taskforce to determine and to review the issues around small business and small business development. In fact, that occurred in 1997. And out of that we determined that there were some concerns and some things that we could do; i.e., when the bids were let, that the African American Chamber would be a part of the mailing that would automatically get bids that come out. We also determined at one point that 163 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 they would get the bids electronically, by fax, also. And that we would keep a communication going with the African American Chamber to ensure that, as much as we possibly could, that the playing field would be level; i.e, making sure that they did get the bid information. In fact, two-and-a-half years ago when the contractors did come into Philadelphia and we met with them regarding the Market Street project, at that particular point in time, we gave them the information about subsequent contracts and bids that were coming down the pike. However, at that point that company was more or less interested in the program management contract, which had already been let, since that was their area of expertise.
Just one more point. In fact, based upon conversations and dialogs we had with the African American Chamber, we did extend the bid for the most recent package that is expected to come in on May 9th. And so we've tried as much as possible, understanding the climate and conditions, to work along with the African American Chamber. I don't want to in any way taint 164 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 Mr. Fullard's testimony in any way, but we'll continue. We will have conversations and will continue to work with groups to make sure that we do what we need to do in a way that would be representative of SEPTA and the community.
Yes. And we do receive notices. We are also plan holder that we do receive plans from SEPTA. And we did ask for an extension of the bid, and I would also request that before this last bid package -- because it is the final bid package -- is for that to also be held up one more time so that we can do whatever we can to ensure that this package represents the local contractors and also prime contractors to give them the opportunity to bid on this package here, okay. Because I do get calls to extend it. But because there are so much concerns, because there has been so much money being let out with nine local firms, I think that we need to do our due diligence to ensure that we have done everything that we can to ensure that our firms locally benefit from this package. Also, we also would like for the Committee to -- well, that was my request, that we hold up that station package because that is the 165 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 last final package. And that will conclude my testimony, Madam Chair. (Applause.)
Thank you so much, Mr. Fullard. I'm sorry to rush everybody. Pat Evans, Mr. McKinley, we thank you all for your patience. This has been excellent testimony. We are going to ask SEPTA to be prepared at the conclusion of these hearings, which will be shortly, to look into these various issues and to consider the report submitted by the Commerce Department. Thank you so much. These are my great friends and community leaders. Thank you for you work at Turner. Thank you for Bernice Arms, named after my mom, for all you do. Please identify yourself and begin your testimony.
Can I defer to my collaborative, and then I'll wind it up after his statement?
Absolutely. Mr. McKinley. 166 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607
I'm Gregory McKinley. I'm a member of the Angora Station Riders Association, which is a small group of riders that SEPTA identifies as the loyal riders of the Angora Train Station. The issue around closing the Angora Station is very sensitive, and Ms. Pat will get into that in more detail around our development issues that we have in the community. I'd like to thank this Committee and this Council for inviting us here to speak on behalf of our community. The Angora Train Station is the number one hub and the fastest piece of transportation that we have around the 58th and Baltimore Avenue transportation hub. It allows us to get into the City within 17 minutes. There's no other way to get into the City by taking the G Bus over to the El when we have the El lying right in our own in neighborhood. It's under-ridden, but it's under-advertised by SEPTA. The key to the advertisement was addressed in an earlier attempt to shut down the train station in 1996 by SEPTA. They claim that they did a marketing door hanger in the 167 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 neighborhood in, I think, 2000 or 2001. A one-time attempt to market something in the neighborhood is really not an attempt at all. No one in the neighborhood I know of actually will admit receiving anything, because I'm not sure that it actually happened. I haven't been able to receive the materials upon request from SEPTA or the individual at SEPTA, Harry Garforth (ph), who claims that this was done. So I would assume that it really wasn't done because somewhere along the line there would be materials lying around that would represent what was allegedly hung on these doorknobs. One other thing that came up here today, Ms. Frances Jones mentioned that she has worked with us in the neighborhood. And she has, and I will commend her as a person. But I couldn't give the same compliment to this company called SEPTA. I think maybe we are closely approaching the time that we may need to have SEPTA sell itself off. They don't have the wherewithal and they are steadily decreasing the ridership and cutting stations and closing rails when we are entitled parid to rail transit the same as everybody else here in this region when we ultimately subsidize it at our fare box. 168 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 What we need from SEPTA is a commitment to partnership with our neighborhood, partnership wholeheartedly and not come to us at a last minute necessity. The hearing that we had in our neighborhood was a last minute thought for the most part because they didn't have a location and we didn't receive any of the materials. For a hearing that was on the 24th of April, we got the materials on the 9th. That's basically when we got the notice that the transportation was going to be cut at that station. They want to close that station so they can go by rapidly. I have some material here that are examples of flyers that -- I only got them off the Internet when I became aware that the transportation was going to be stopped at the Angora Train Station. Everybody in our neighborhood is not going on the Internet looking out for what's going to happen or supposedly happen in our neighborhood under these proposals. One of the main things I would like to say is, they allege that they do surveys and they count people's heads as they ride on the train 169 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 station. They had listed in the service plan as riders with s 50 ridership as a minimum. I question some of the counting and some of the techniques that they used. It came out at the hearing that we had 37 riders. So that's very close to 50. With a little bit of marketing, we could probably exceed the minimum. The community is willing to do the leg work. But some of the ideas have to come from the community on how to market to our community.
I 11 think SEPTA falls short in actually talking about 12 what it is that they have as a system here to serve 13 our communities. They really don't want to blend 14 ridership, I was told in 1996, so we couldn't 15 advertise on the G Bus that rides over the train 16 station, which does not stop at the train station. 17 People are riding to get to the El when the train 18 station is right there and could facilitate all of 19 their needs and probably accomplish their needs even 20 more effectively, if they knew about the ridership. 21 One of the other under-advertised facts 22 is that when they rezoned the station from being a 23 Zone One station to a City zone station, you could 24 use the transpass. And we did petitions -- which we 25 have over 400 signatures. And along with out 170 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 petitions, we surveyed each signer of the petition and asked them, did they know they could a transpass. We increased our number of petition signatures to reflect 100 percent more than ridership. So we went from 300 petitions to 400-plus signatures. And we asked the people did they know about the transpass issue. 90 percent of the people who signed our petition did not know they could ride that with a transpass. They thought they would use their transpass and would have to pay an additional fare, along with whatever transit they would have to take. That lack of marketing no way in that hub, that transportation hub, you can effectively advertise. You can't put it on the trolley. You can't put it on the G Bus. You can't tell people any other way. There's a large billboard. We have poor signage addressing where the train station is. People didn't even know a train station was there. People assumed it was only there for our convenience during a SEPTA City transit strike. I will submit 400 signatures and the Power Point presentation into the record today.
Thank you. 171 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 We will also note again that we have both posters that advertised some new and some old advertising between the El and the SEPTA buses. We would ask SEPTA to consider that. We will also make that part of the record and ask them to not close Angora Station due to all these various reasons, from the 400 names to the false advertising, that is, advertising different things on different SEPTA vehicles. And we're asking them to also respond to not closing Angora Terrace Station. Ms. Evans.
Councilwoman Blackwell, what I'd like to do now is -- after the meeting of the 24th, basically the same things were said at our meeting that were said here. We took it and put it in writing as a letter to you. But after I read the letter, there's some things that I heard here today that I would like to particularly address myself, if that's possible. Dear Councilwoman Blackwell, if allowed, the shutting down of the above train station, which is the Angora Train Station, would shatter the dreams and hopes of a community on the rebound from decades of neglect. It is not just a train station 172 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 that would be closed. It would destroy the community's vision of revitalization. As you know, the supporters of our Community Civic Association Incorporated, also known as Socca CDC, are on the threshold of redeveloping parts of two vital gateways in Southwest Philadelphia. Known as Project BARD, the Baltimore Avenue Revitalization District, begins at 53rd and Baltimore Avenue, west to 61st and Baltimore Avenue, the county line or gateway one. Project BARD also incorporates 58th Street and Baltimore Avenue, and Cobbs Creek Parkway south to Kingsessing, gateway two. Beginning at 57th Street to 58th and Baltimore Avenue, we have the Cobbs Creek Shopping Mall, and the back of the entire mall is adjacent to and connected to the Angora Train Station, separated only by a cyclone fence. Through the RDA, Socca was able to secure the rights to 1135-37 South 58th Street, the old Club 51, for economic development. This building, too, is adjacent to and connected to the Angora Train Station on the southeast side. In the fall of 2002, as part of Project BARD, and thanks to you and Mayor Street, a junk yard at the rear of 1135-37 South 58th Street, Club 173 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 51, was cleaned up after years of neglect. This land, too, is also adjacent to and connected to the Angora Train Station. The Angora Train Station, operated by SEPTA, accesses a connection between Philadelphia and our surrounding counties. We believe this resource is not fully utilized because of a general ignorance of its existence. When various members of the community were polled, they cited lack of security, lighting, signage, seating, antiquated steps, lack of parking and aesthetics as valid reasons as to why they do not ride the train. These same issues were also cited almost seven years ago when the issue of closing of the Angora Station first emerged. The proposed closing of the Angora Station has led the community to the question, how serious is SEPTA's commitment to our community, our concerns and our values. The model of SEPTA we thought was better than driving, not driving communities to lose their vision. A new market owner with a new commitment to our community all hinge on the Angora Train Station being revitalized. Partnership with our community is paramount. It benefits SEPTA and its 174 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 ridership. Therefore, it is our sincerest hope that SEPTA will reconsider its position to close Angora Station, and it will partnership with the Angora community, as it has done with others. For example, the University City and 49th Street Chestnut Avenue Railway Station, have certainly demonstrated that reinvestment in our communities certainly benefit SEPTA, its riderships, our communities and the City of Philadelphia. Thank you.
Thank you so much. We appreciate all you do, and for coming here. We agree with you, and we will ask SEPTA to respond. Thank you both.
I would like to ask some further questions that I heard brought up today. Coming from Councilman Nutter, who questioned minority participation and who was monitoring that. SEPTA said it allows its contractors to do that. Well, I thought that quite strange, because when we took on the Bernice Arms Apartment Building in partnership with the developer, it was incumbent upon Socca to monitor the minority participation. We too worked with 175 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 union cardholders, non-employed members on the streets. So what we would like to propose, since we are thoroughly experienced in that area, that Socca commit to a partnership with SEPTA, and SEPTA with us, to allow us to recruit and get them the people that they need, since we have experience in doing it. Now, another thing I don't understand is, for years I thought it was just the communities that SEPTA never gave answers to. But what I found out here, from being here since early this morning, they don't give you answers either. So who has the answers? Where is the president, the CEO or whoever she is? Who can give the answers? Where is the board? Where is the board that comes into our community from suburbs? And when we get up to speak, they've got the nerve to say, what building are you talking about? They don't even know what we're talking about. So who are they to sit back and dictate the policies of how our lifestyle should be adjusted to fit SEPTA's needs? All along it's the land value that was involved. They see no worth in our communities, except when they feel it's worth revitalizing. 176 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 Now, in fairness to Frances Jones -- now, we'll go back to that meeting of the 24th. Socca knew nothing about it. Yet still we have a resource center right in the school they gave the meeting at. I called you. You were shocked. If it hadn't been for Greg, I wouldn't have known. But now, in fairness to Frances, Greg had a meeting with her that following week, and I asked her, would she please come out and see what we are trying to do with our area, because it's actually the radius of four blocks. She walked it. She liked it. She talked it. But the bottom line, she couldn't do it. So then we're saying once again, why are we all here? If there are going to be no forthcoming, then I have to be in agreement with some of the people who testified at our community hearing, which is that SEPTA needs to be investigated. We're is the money? We're not getting flyers. We're not getting jobs. We're not getting contracts. So who's getting all the money? I'd like to thank Charles Gibbs. He's a member of our community. This young boy stood up. All we're asking for is a chance to live our own dreams in our community, but to be a part of the 177 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 system, not used by the system. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you very much. Ms. Bazemore. Mr. Jerry Jordan, owner of Jerry Jordan Restaurant. Joseph Lee, owner of AQ 1 Hour. Dave Pak. Would you please come forward. Then we will have one other group, and then we are done. While they're coming forward, let me say that Jetty Newkirk on the board, works with our community, as does Mr. Babcock. They are members of the SEPTA board who have been responsive to us, and we want the record to reflect that. Thank you very much. Mr. Jordan.
Thank you. We're very happy to have you. You can, in any order, identify yourself and speak. 178 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 And we thank you for your patience.
My name is Joseph Lee. I'm here on behalf AQ 1 Hour Photo, which is located at 5213 Market Street on the north side.
Thank you, Mr. Pak, for all you do in the community. You've been a blessing.
My name is Vincent Koh, representing 52nd Street Korean Business Association.
Mr. Koh is head of the 52nd Street Business Association. We thank him. Thank you for staying all day. Mr. Pak, these are people who give over and over, who support their community, who are business owners and a blessing on the strip. And we thank you, Mr. Lee, for being here for Hour Photo. You can begin your testimony.
Basically, I'm not here to speak for a long time. A lot of the points that I'm about to say are things that were already addressed 179 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 earlier by Mr. O'Connor, and are also the same concerns of Mr. Jordan, who had to leave due to prior engagements. He happens to also be our next-door neighbor, at 5211. All we ask for as business owners, and our fellow business owners, is that -- 52nd and Market is a major hub. It's a very fertile when watered by the El, and the passengers can produce an enormous amount of revenue for everyone there, as well as the people buying things of that nature. All that we ask -- we realize that this project is going to affect business. You would be stupid to think othererwise. We realize that. We're not asking for anyone to move heaven and earth. All that we ask is that, if at all possible, when there is no construction going on, that we have some kind of lane opened or some kind of traffic to feed the area where the businesses can flourish, people can get to buy what it is that they need, and things of that nature. Like we said, we realize that we have to take a hit, and everyone is going to have to take a hit and everyone has to work together to get this thing done, and we're not ignorant of that. We just ask that maybe, if there's a better way to 180 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 reorganize sometimes the flow of traffic or the recircumventing of traffic, if that's at all possible, that that can be done to allow the passengers and the commuters and people looking to purchase things, or just to get to school or whatever it is, to do so. Thank you.
Thank you. We agree. We want SEPTA to respond today to opening one lane. (Applause.)
I have been there almost 16 years, on Market Street. I understand this is a 17 SEPTA project. I understand, really understand. A 18 couple years ago, with the construction that time, that is almost the same station. I understand this project is to be one year, two years long, maybe six years, this project. As Mr. O'Connor said for his association, for our association too. Why can't the president of SEPTA get new programming? We need to have it. Thank you. 181 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607
Our Korean Association has 55 members. Two-thirds of them are located nearby, within one block from the construction. Today I came here to introduce how that construction is affecting us. We all heard how bad influence to each of the merchants around Market. We at 52nd, two-thirds of them lost 50 percent or more daily visitors. Some of them lost 70, 80, 90 percent. As of the end of last April two business merchants closed their doors. He was letting three employees go. When he was leaving, with tears in his eyes. That merchant has been there more than years. 17 That is located right at the intersection of 57th 18 and Market. 19 While we all understand SEPTA's 20 modernization plan is very important, that we need, the problem is ongoing and inevitable that we are all aware. However, we would like to see our suffering minimized, so today's I have a couple of proposals to City Council, especially Councilwoman Blackwell. She's covering our district. 182 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 I strongly urge SEPTA to extend the work in shifts. Currently they are working Monday through Friday, 7:30 to 3:00 pm. That's it. I know that there's a certain of work to do. If they extend the shift, our ordeal will be overcome sooner. That's what we are strongly proposing. Secondly, since all traffic and delivery trucks, they are all prohibited from there. Not only are merchants, those people are equally suffering too. So we'd like to have more eased up parking regulation nearby on 53rd. They require a parking permit number two and three for residential only. I'd like to ask that that regulation be eased for other people too. We also badly need of lighting after sunset because of bad conditions on walkways and so on, and the lighting is dim. Many people are chaes out during the daytime because of noise and dust flying. In the afternoon, many people can come, but the area is so dangerous and hazardous and dark, dim, they are scared to. So please install more lighting and also more signs, detouring signs. Some businesses are open at a late hours, so kind of more visible signs, we'd like to have. So I have just a 183 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 few proposals to Council this morning. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Koh. We've heard you, as all of the other business leaders have said, that your business is off by 50 percent. You mentioned more detour signs and more lighting. And you're saying the easing of parking regulations. So there are "No Parking" regulations that are hurting you, as well, in that block, in your community; is that right?
So we are SEPTA to respond to these issues as well. We can deal with it from the Streets Department's side, but we're asking SEPTA to respond to these issues, as well. We thank you and we totally support you. Yes, Frances?
Again, we've been working with the Parking Authority and the district, the police district that represents 52nd Street, but we absolutely would welcome your assistance in working with the Parking Authority and the Police Department in easing ticketing on 52nd Street. But I would be 184 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 remiss if I didn't say that Mr. Baker and Baker and Associates have made several attempts to meet with both these gentlemen, and we will continue to --
They're the presidents of our association leaders there. And we're happy to work with you with the Police and the Parking Authority.
Yes. And we will continue to make attempts to meet with them to deal with their issues. But where there are problems with getting deliveries, that's not a problem. We have a staff person that is there and is available to do mitigation, to assist with deliveries and all the other issues that they have on 52nd Street. But we need to have a working relationship and have them agree to meet with us. We're fine with getting their issues taken care of.
Thank you. Finally, since I know my colleague -- we asked him for a half-hour, 45 minutes ago. We have Ms. Bazemore, Ms. Tate and Mr. Gibbs. And then we'll ask SEPTA to respond, hopefully to agree to what we've asked to do. And then we will let the next hearing go on. I see some of my friends in the 185 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 D&A community back there. Ms. Ruth Bazemore, please identify yourself. She's block captain from Haddington.
Thank you. Thank you for all you do as committee person, as well, and block captain.
I represent the Haddington Block Captain Coalition. Basically, we formed about four years ago, and our boundaries are 52nd Street, from Market over to Race, and 52nd through really through 56th Street now. And all of our block captains basically formed the Coalition because we understood that, basically, working together, we all have our same problems. Within our boundaries we have made coalitions with Adath (ph) Church, which is Reverend Sherman, Pastor, and the Salvation Army, which is Lieutenant Lewis. So when -- and I have also been a very active member of, basically, the El project. And my biggest problem that happened was, when I was over at Haddington and we first talked about the El project, it was really 186 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 welcomed because it was told that it was going to bring economic development into our community, and that it was going to basically hire a 27 percent black minority in our Zip codes. And then there have been meetings and meetings and meetings, and all the good positive things -- I have folders, I have training guides, et cetera, et cetera. I am very disappointed to find out basically that these goals have not been met. And I also would like to put on record that I went to the board meeting when they gave the contract to Driscoll. And we were there, a small group of community people, and the meeting was postponed by the SEPTA board three times. And we finally met, and it was to give the rewarding of the contract to Driscoll. And I would like to go on record to say, at that time, there was a controversy about them going forward with the contract because it seems like he was not basically in compliance. And with all the things that are going on and what not, I think there should be more of a study to find out basically how some things that we are told that SEPTA cannot do to our black minority as far as jobs and constructions, and when we know that when the 187 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 awards of the contract, there was only two people from Philadelphia that was awarded the contracts. And the other contractors came from Virginia, Delaware, Washington, and New Jersey, which means that, in those terms, those people were allowed to bring their own people. So we have no black. And I would like to go on record as to say, I support any progress that's going to enhance, but I do not support us being victimized in a sense when we see and we have to go through all these things that we're going through as a community, and we see no 13 future for us as employment or anything, and that's not going to be permissible. When I saw in the paper that they were going to re-route the buses through our neighborhood, and we were not even advised, I was outraged. And so I made several phone calls. And then I contacted our Councilperson. And I called all the different departments in the City, and I was amazed to find out that the City was not in control of what SEPTA did. Like I said, that cannot happen, because we have to hold the City responsible. So, therefore, the City has obligation to put SEPTA or anybody else that really comes into our City to work 188 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 on notice, that they have to be accountable and we also must know exactly what they're doing and when. The problem with rerouting the buses, they called a meeting one day, and four days when we voiced our concerns and all the different things that rerouting the buses would have an impact upon us, March 17th, they ran the buses. And it has been a disaster. And I thank our Councilperson, Ms. Blackwell, because she called a town meeting so that we would have basically the City people there, plus SEPTA, to really come together because it's something that the community, SEPTA, and the City must work together, but we all must know and respect each other on what is going on.
And what we are finding out is that we have to make the solutions on problems that really shouldn't even be problems in the first place. Had there been meetings and plannings of different things, there could be some things that -- the project itself would work a lot more smoother. We find that the contractors don't know about our City, so they don't even understand when we were telling them that blocking off a street would not allow the people to go and have trash collections, even some of the City people didn't 189 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 understand what blocking off the street meant because they don't know the area, and there should be basically surveys and people actually walking through the neighborhoods, talking to the people and understanding exactly what it curtails. Now, one of the things that happened at the last meeting. I talked about an open sewer that was there where they put up the emergency bus stop. I called. I called. I called. Finally I was able to get Mr. Ferraro from the Water Department, he came out right away and he fixed the problem. He's still fixing the problem, but the problem still exists. Because at 53rd and Arch, the buses -- which has never been a bus stop -- they have to make a turn, and because they haven't seen fit to put no parking buses, then the cars are parking there, so the buses cannot make the turn. So they're running over the man hole and breaking it. And then when buses cannot go and make the turn, they're coming through my block, which is the 100 block of North 53rd. We told them at a prior meeting, that in the middle of our street is an indent, that the street is going to collapse. They did not adhere to that. They ran the buses on the 190 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 unit block of 53rd Street. What has happened is, in the middle of the block, that block has collapsed, but they're still running the buses. And then we have the problem with parking and streets closed and vehicles coming in, and it's just a little bit of sitting down, talking, putting up parking signs. It don't cost a lot of money. But it does cause insight on what the problem is, but everybody doesn't seem to really want to take responsibility. They blame it in each other, and it has to stop. Because we want to know exactly when the project is going to start, how are we going to be impacted by it, and when it's going to be finished. If it's going to be finished in six weeks, fine. But we don't want six weeks to be six months. Because there's a credibility thing. And, like, it's not being run as a business. All I'm saying is, we have to basically all come together and basically try, try very hard, because we're all going to be either losers or winners. But we need to make this transition as basically where we respect each other, welcome what we can do, and say to each other, and basically try to resolve our problems together. 191 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bazemore. And for start, impact and finishing in that area, we are going to ask SEPTA to respond to that, as well, when they respond. Ms. Tate, Urhuru Restaurant.
Hi. My name is Sherri Tate. Councilwoman Blackwell, good afternoon. I'm here representing my family's business. I'm at North 11 52nd Street. We've been in the 52nd Street corridor 12 for 26 years, on 52nd Street. We're not a new business. We're a business that has a lot of experience in conducting our business. And we don't need technical assistance, you know, which is really the only thing that SEPTA is offering us. Of course, any business can use more advertisement, but the problem is, that first the barriers, you know -- or the barricades on 52nd Street, that whole intersection has been blocked off since March 17th. There's been no work that's been done there. There's no reason traffic can't flow up and down 52nd Street, going north to south. There's no 24 reason one lane can't be open going east to west. It's possible for it to be done, and SEPTA needs to 192 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 listen and to be considerate of the businesses that there are. To be quite honest, I don't know if we're going to be able to stay in business throughout the duration of this project. And the reason I'm saying that is, just based on these last couple of months, we've lost over 60 percent of our business. I can tell you, I closed out April's books this week. We threw away $1,300 worth of food. That's just waste. That's not even a profit that could have been made. That doesn't even reflect lost profits. We're losing money big time, and I don't see any way we're going to be able to sustain these types of losses for more than a year, tops. And it's not fair to black businesses, to the African American community in general. It's really not fair. This the second business. I was on Lancaster Avenue a few years ago. I lost my business on Lancaster Avenue. At that time there were only four businesses; myself, the lumbar yard, the beer distributor across the street, and the plumbing business. And we had meetings with lawyers, not SEPTA. SEPTA didn't come to the meetings. SEPTA's approach towards the business 193 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 community on Lancaster Avenue a few years ago was totally arrogant. They didn't respond to us all. We ended up hiring lawyers who got very little accomplished. This situation is a little bit different in that it's such a busy financial corridor in West Philadelphia that it forces people to take a look at SEPTA's -- the only thing I can describe is an anti-people, anti-community approach. They have the attitude that they could really care less whether we lose everything. And that's just -- (Applause.)
Let me say thank you. We know of your business and businesses throughout the City. Lancaster Avenue is coming up again.
I'm sorry to hear that. And we agree that you shouldn't have to lose 60 percent of your business. Certainly that's what we're all about. We really really hope that you can try to hang in there while we try to work out something, because we know the businesses have to be subsidized to survive. 194 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607
We need subsidy, absolutely. It's only way we're going to survive. There's other things in addition to subsidy. There's things that can be done now to prevent businesses from being lost and to try to help those of us that are struggling in there to make it. Our customer's are very loyal during this process. People have been patronizing us on a consistent basis for many, many years. The thing is, we're getting complaints about parking. Our phones are ringing off the hook now because a lot of our customers call to order their food, and then they run outside and we have their food ready. We're having a -- as soon as they run in the store, the Parking Authority is there giving them a ticket, or the police are trying to beat them back to their car to give them a ticket, to generate additional funds for the City. It's not fair. We're being sucked dry here. It was the parking. Advertisement. We can always use more advertising. And it needs to be on the radios. People need to be encouraged to participate. BLL, they're doing as much as, I believe, they can do with the resources they have available. They need more resources. 195 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 They need more resources. Also, just in terms of general economic development in the community, to keep the African American community, at least moving forward. We're already underdeveloped. We're already underdeveloped. We need all the help we can get. The amount of work, the amount of resources that are being given to the African American community are virtually none. I live there every day. I don't see these African American companies benefiting from this project, which is a huge project. I don't see any benefits to the African American community at all by this project. SEPTA really needs to be held accountable for that. Thank you.
And her testimony is similar to that of Mr. O'Connor about existing work there that's hurting the businesses when nothing is going on there. Mr. Gibbs. Thank you.
Good afternoon. My name is Charles Gibbs. I'm a Committeeman for the 3rd Ward 196 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 16th Division. I'm one of the Democratic state committee people for the 8th Senatorial District. SEPTA, when it first began this project, I was excited that $400 million would be invested into our neighborhoods. However, as time has went on, I am not excited anymore. It has been tragic for the businesses and our community. I walk up and down 52nd Street and 56th Street and 60th Street and talk to the business owners, because I don't have a car. My only means of transportation is SEPTA. These business owners, their spirit is broken. They're suffering. We cannot -- we must not -- sit back and let this happen. I'm not going to go on and on, Councilwoman, and Councilman Cohen, about the things that you've heard already. The business people are hurting. They're young people who -- as a committeeman, I'm asked to go out and to bring home the party's ticket. When I've gone, I'd ask these young people to come out and vote. They would say, Charles, on that side of the fence, that eight-foot cyclone fence, there are people with New Jersey that that don't look like me, that come into this community, collect a pay check, and leave. And I sit here, and I watch them. Why should I vote? 197 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 Will those politicians help me get on the other side of that fence? I don't have an answer for them. I don't. We have our senior citizens, who I ride the bus with every morning, who have to get off at Chestnut Street and walk a full block to get to the El, and then when they get there, they have to walk up 40 steps because it's not economical for SEPTA to fix the escalators. That is absurd. That is absurd. (Applause.)
Councilwoman, SEPTA will come before you in a moment and they will answer the questions that have been placed before you. And today I submit a suggestion. The City appropriates from the General Fund $56.5 million towards SEPTA. The state government has cut their subsidy. I'm asking you, if SEPTA does not do what you ask them to do, to direct the Director of Finance to not give them their money. We have a voice. We have a voice and we can use it, Councilwoman, and Councilman Cohen. We have to hold their money. Because it's a republican-controlled board, and we all know that. 198 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 We all understand that. They're not here today, but they will be here when they don't get that $56 million. If they don't have that $56 million, I guarantee you that they will go out and find some more minority contractors. If they don't have $56 million, I guarantee to those young people that ask me all the time, Charles, can I get on the other side of that fence, they'll be on the other side of that fence. If they don't have that $56 million that they are so expecting from us, our children will be able to have free school tokens, because SEPTA will understand our issues. They have ignored us for too long. Now os the time for us to stand up and make our voices heard. Councilwoman, Council Cohen, I beg you to hold their subsidy if they don't meet the terms and conditions that you set forth. Thank you for your time and attention.
Thank you very much. Thank you all very much. We'd like to ask SEPTA to come forward. As they do, we want to thank Mr. Milton Montgomery for being here. Greg Spearman for his role on the strip, 199 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 and working hard to get everybody notified. We have these folks here. We thank you all for being here. Councilman Cohen's hearing was due to go on at 1:00. It's 2:35. People came from out of town. I owe him big time. I'm sorry, Councilman. We want to say among other issues mentioned, were foundations of properties, lighting, policing, having the special services work in these areas, as well as in cleaning, about the escalator at 60th and Market, or about buses near the Bargain Store. We heard from Urhuru and Bargain Store with regard to those issue. About delaying closing or rescinding the closing of Angora Terrace, because of false advertising, among other issues. About advertising, about parking and parking regulations. We're willing to work with you on that, to contact the Parking Authority and the Police. About minority participation and the monitoring thereof by Socca and Pat Evans and her group. About a forensic report. And about the parking regulations overall being eased, et cetera, et cetera. Those are just some that I happened to 200 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 note. And we wondered what you can respond to today, and what you need five days to respond to. In addition to which, when we leave this hearing, we will try to have another hearing shortly, and we'll advertise. We'll give you three days notice to advertise, and we'll take just an hour and a half to have a response to those issues that are not responded to today. So we'll ask all who can to come back to receive a public response on issues not responded to today.
What we did provide was a list of professional services contracts, and the list of the proposers and their ethnicity. So that information is here for distribution to the entire Council today. Those other issues that you specifically asked, we will get that information back to you within the next five business days. Some of the issues are issues, of course, that we've heard before, and issues that we will address and have addressed in the past. Again, we will continue to work with the businesses on the corridors and those that are impacted in the project area. The technical assistance will occur. But let 201 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 me just reiterate and underscore that we are working along with our Congressional delegation and, particularly Congressman Fattah to identify resources so that we can provide some relief to the businesses that are within the project area. We have grave concerns about economic development because we know that when the project is done, of course it will be an economic development spur. However, in the interim, we know that the businesses in West Philadelphia are hurting, and are hurting badly. I am not out there every day, but our consultants are out there every day. I am out there on a regular basis, and please be assured that I see these people on weekends in the supermarket. I get notes slipped at church. I see them at civic events. And understand that the problem is a dire problem and we're concerned about it, and we're committed to do what we can to assist the businesses that are being impacted, as well as the residents and our riders. We're concerned out every constituent that is impacted by this project. So we want to go on record and say that there is a commitment on our behalf to continue to work with the community. 202 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607
Thank you. And with regard to the report from the Commerce Director that gives the City's position, we ask you to consider that as well with response in five days. Councilman Cohen.
I've been sitting here now for a couple of hours listening to a tale of economic destruction, not economic rebirth. What I'm hearing is that this is not a program in which SEPTA cares even the slightest bit about the health of businesses. It seems to me that SEPTA said, whatever we're interested in is going to be the reconstruction of the EL. We don't give a hoot what happens to the business or to the community. (Applause.)
If Septa care the slightest bit, they would have a team working constantly to deal with the traffic problems, to deal with all the problems, and make the interference as little as possible. I think what SEPTA has done in this case has been to destroy a community, to destroy a business center. I think it's unforgivable. And I don't pay the slightest bit of attention to the words that are being spread 203 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 here about SEPTA's concern. I think all SEPTA is concerned is building something, and they don't care about the nature of the workers. They don't care about employing Philadelphians or employing minorities. They go out of town and run their own show. I think what SEPTA's done has been an absolute disgrace to the whole City of Philadelphia. (Applause.)
And if and when Councilwoman Blackwell proposes that we take the SEPTA budget and put it in the City Council budget and only permit withdrawals from it when SEPTA proves to us that they've changed. I will be strongly in support of that motion. Very, very strongly. Thank you, Councilwoman Blackwell. (Applause.)
Thank you. And again I apologize to Councilman Cohen. He had people from out of town and judges here to talk about the health issues that we also face, another big issue in this City. 204 05/07/03 - FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION - RES. 020607 So we will be in touch with you by flyer. Greg Spearman will help us with that, and we'll also advertise. So this hearing is now recessed, subject to the call of the Chair. Thank you all. (Council adjourned at 2:40 p.m.) - - - 205 C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of May 7, 2003, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND TRANSPORTATION ___________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR and Notary Public