COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, February 12, 2010 10:35 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN BILL GREEN COUNCILMAN WILLIAM GREENLEE COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN MARIA QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO MICHAEL A. DECKER,
Good morning, everyone. I note that the hour has come and that a quorum of this Council is present. Council will please come to order. Members will take their seats, and visitors will retire to the seats outside the rails. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes Pastor Willie Singletary of the City of Refuge Church. He is here today as the guest of Councilwoman Blackwell. I would ask all members and guests to please rise. (Members and guests rise.)
Let us bow our heads. Most gracious and eternal wise God, we come this morning to say thank you. We thank you for another opportunity to come before you. We thank you now, God, for this body of legislators who have come to our city, to make it safer and enrich our communities. We pray now, God, that you will bless each and every one of them that they may handle their councilmanic district with dignity and integrity. We pray now, God, that you will anoint them and bless them and keep them. We pray for our city as we go through this clean-up process of this snow that you have blessed us with. God, we love you, we praise you, we magnify you. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen. (Amen.)
The Chair thanks Pastor Singletary for his invocation. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, 4th, 2010. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, February the 4th, 2010 stand approved. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, February 4th, 2010 stand approved. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The next order of business is requests for leaves of absence, and, again, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. On behalf of the majority, a leave of absence is requested for Councilman DiCicco.
The Chair thanks the gentleman, and leave will be granted. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Madam President, on behalf of the republicans, leave of absence is requested for Councilman Rizzo.
Leave will be granted. The Chair will dispense with the regular order of business to recognize guests and visitors joining us in Chambers this morning. On behalf of all members of City Council, I welcome you to our Council session. We appreciate your taking the time to join us as we attend to the legislative affairs of our city. We certainly invite At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill, who will present a resolution on my behalf declaring February 14th, 2010 as "Firefighters Recognition Day." Will Mr. Bill Gault and those accompanying him please join the Councilman at the podium.
Madam President, I think it should be noted that while Council was continued for a day because of the snow and while we heard so much about the wonderful work being done by our public servants out there fighting this snow and ice, we forget sometimes that at our time of greatest need, when there's a fire in our house or around us in someone else's, these firefighters are there all the time ready to come out regardless of the circumstances, regardless of the weather, and it's a nice time for us to remember that on the heels of these two storms. were there 24/7. This is a resolution declaring February 14th, 2010 "Firefighters Recognition Day." Whereas, Philadelphia's Firefighters and Paramedics are on the front lines of defense against a variety of disasters that threaten life and property. Thousands of citizens owe their lives and safety to the dedication and professionalism of our City's 2,243 Fire personnel; and Whereas, in 2009, the Philadelphia Fire Department responded to 448,007 total runs. Due to increased publicity, continuous public education, excellent service and fire safety announcements, Philadelphians were able to defend against the tragedy of fire; Whereas, we recognize the courage and commitment with which these individuals perform their duties, despite the dangers, stress and frustration which We encourage all Philadelphians to take the opportunity to thank all Firefighters and Paramedics for the excellent job they do. Therefore, be it resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that we hereby express our gratitude to all Firefighters and Paramedics in our City and formally declare February 14th, 2010 as "Firefighter Recognition Day" in Philadelphia. Further resolved, that an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Bill Gault, President of the Philadelphia Firefighters Union, as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body. And it's co-sponsored by every member of Council. (Applause.)
Thank you very much. I'll be brief. Councilman Verna, members of Council, guests and friends of Philadelphia firefighters and paramedics, on behalf of the more than 4,000 firefighters, medics, retirees and all of the families represented by Local 22 of the International Association of Firefighters, let me express our deep thanks for this resolution marking one day, February 14th, as Firefighters Recognition Day. The resolution and your unanimous support of it is a small testament that expresses the gratitude of all Philadelphians for the life-saving services our members provide every day. It is a thoughtful and touching action and appreciation. I assure you that we will read the resolution at ceremonies we will hold Sunday at our hall when we host our brothers and sisters in ceremonies to honor them and all of our fallen members and their families. I encourage all Council to attend these services. in his most famous remarks at the dedication of Gettysburg, "It is altogether fitting that we do this." Yet, as Lincoln said, "It is not up to us to neither consecrate nor hallow the memories of those who have given the last full measure of life with their utmost effort so that others may live and be safe." Firefighters and medics do that every day through their actions, their devotion and their bravery, every day, every week, every month, every year. Except contract years, firefighters and medics are viewed as heroes. They go about their duties every day without second thoughts nor complaint. Last year, against our advice, 148 positions were eliminated. Engine and ladder companies, against our advice, were closed. And during 2009, we suffered an increase in both civilian and firefighter injuries. Today, as both the firefighter representative, let me remind you of Lincoln's challenge at the close of his remarks. He stated, "Let us here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us." This resolution is a wonderful gesture, a kind remembrance that will be appreciated by those families of the fallen and injured, by those who serve every day. But the resolution cannot be an end; it must be a beginning if we are to carry on. Today, I challenge you to act in support of the men and women who serve this great city. I ask you to be a firm resolve to plead our covenant with these civic heroes, be earnest for their families. Help me protect their many sons and daughters who will follow in their footsteps and serve as heroes in the future. Give them the tools to perform their abilities. Reject furloughs that will slash their wages, reduce their abilities and diminish their will. Provide them with the necessary when they are hurt. Guarantee an adequate pension to aid them as they age. Provide widows and widowers with the strength and the means to carry on without their partners. Think of them, help them every day in spirit and in action. Make every day Firefighter Recognition Day. City Council, thank you very much. (Applause.)
Thank you. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Tasco, who will present a resolution honoring the legacy of Carole Smith and recognizing February 14th through February 20th as the 11th Annual Black Family Technology Awareness Week. Will Ms. Wallace and those accompanying her please join the I see that Councilwoman Tasco is being joined by Councilwoman Miller, Councilwoman Brown and Councilman Jones. Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. We're here today to recognize the Black Family Technology Awareness Week. I see Stan Straughter in the audience. Would you please join us. We would have had our Executive Director of the Mayor's Commission on Technology with us today, but God, in his infinite wisdom, called her home on January the 4th, and we will certainly miss Carole I. Smith, because she brought a lot to the City. She was a very good friend, my traveling partner, my pinocle partner. Through all of those activities, never stopped talking business. She was always on. So I am pleased to share with her daughter, Narissa, her friends and this resolution honoring the life and legacy of Carole I. Smith and recognizing February 14th through the 20th as the 11th Annual Black Family Technology Awareness Week. Whereas, on Monday, January 4th, 2010, Carole I. Smith, Founder and Executive Director of the Mayor's Commission on Technology, departed this life as a true public servant dedicated to empowering the citizens of Philadelphia through technology; and Whereas, in 1996, Ms. Smith founded MCOT and has received various awards for focusing the City of Philadelphia on the importance of technology in shaping the City's 21st century economy; and
Whereas, Ms. Smith has served three Mayors as Executive Director of MCOT, was the President and CEO of Workforce 2000 Initiative, was a columnist for The Neighborhood Leader, a community newspaper, hosted a weekly radio program, Carole's Corner on Technology, on 900 AM WURD, and produced and hosted MCOT's weekly webcast/cable TV program, "Philadelphia's Got IT" on Comcast, the City's and the School District's cable channels, and MCOT's website; and Whereas, in 2006, Carole was selected by the Pennsylvania Commission for Women's Inaugural Role Model Book, "Voices," and was inducted into the 3E Institute's Educator 500 Program at West Chester University as an entrepreneurial educator, and she was inducted into Temple University's League for Entrepreneurial Women's Hall of Fame in 2004, and in 2002 appointed a Fellow at Temple University's Fox School of Business and serves as an Adjunct Professor at Lincoln University; and Whereas, with an MS in Public Administration, Ms. Smith was educated at Yale University, Occidental College and Temple University, and she was the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Urban League Fellows, Inc., Community College of Philadelphia, American Women's Heritage Society, Wireless Philadelphia, WYBE Channel 35, the Mayor's Office of Community Services, the Mayor's Task Force on Reintegration, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority Oversight Board and the Executive Advisory Council of the CIO Forum and Executive IT Summit; and
Whereas, MCOT, in remembrance of Carole I. Smith, will be coordinating citywide activities on the 11th Anniversary of the Black Family Technology Awareness Week, February 14th through 20th; and Whereas, to promote this initiative, MCOT is partnering with the School District of Philadelphia, IBM, Sunoco, Black Data Processing Associates, National Society of Black Engineers, the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board and various local African American-operated for and non-profit organizations, to assure Philadelphians have technological skills and knowledge necessary to compete in the Digital Age; and Whereas, the purpose of the Black Family Technology Awareness Week is to change how African Americans perceive science, technology, engineering and math, STEM, and recognize that vigilance, education and exposure are necessary to ensure digital equity and that African Americans are able to qualify, compete and participate in today's knowledge economy; and
And whereas, the purpose of Black Family Technology Awareness Week supports and advances Mayor Nutter's goal of making Philadelphia the country's premier city, by reducing the high school dropout rate and increasing the number of Philadelphians with a four-year college degree; and Whereas, data from the United States Department of Commerce NTIA Report entitled, quote, "Digital Divide," end quote, show that even though all racial groups now own more computers than they did in 2001, blacks and Hispanics still lag even further behind in the levels of PC ownership and online access; and Whereas, during Black Family Technology Awareness Week, events will take place throughout Philadelphia to disseminate information and help African Americans understand the many ways in which technology will continue to have a major impact on how we learn, work, live and play, as well as understand the contributions they have made thereto. Now, therefore, be it resolved
By the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that life and legacy of Carole I. Smith as the Founder and Executive Director of the Mayor's Commission on Technology and recognize February the 14th through the 20th as the 11th Anniversary of the Black Family Technology Awareness Week. Further resolved, that an engrossed copy of this resolution is presented to Mrs. Narissa Wallace and representatives of the Mayor's Commission on Technology as an expression of the appreciation of this legislative body for her mother's extraordinary body of work to empower the citizens of Philadelphia. This resolution was introduced by all of those standing here and it's supported by all members of City Council. We thank you all so much for the life of Carole Smith and the wonderful work she gave to the City of Philadelphia and to young people in the School District, who she dearly loved. Thank you all so much. (Applause.)
Thank you very much, City Council President and City Council. It is truly my honor to accept this award on my mother's behalf. Although there was never a budget allocated for Black Family Technology Awareness Week, she did her best to make it happen every year through the support of organizations and corporations like IBM, Xerox, Comcast Corporation, BDPA, Drexel University, Temple University, among others, and so I felt as though the last thing I can do is make sure that this week continued again this year. So with that being said, despite the weather, hopefully everyone can come out and participate in this year's events and acknowledge contributions that African Americans have made in science, technology, engineering and math, and make this event successful Thank you very much once again, and God bless everybody. (Applause.)
Councilwoman Blackwell, did you want to be recognized?
At the appropriate time when I introduce a resolution.
The next order of business is communications. The Chair requests that the Sergeant-At-Arms deliver the messages to the Chief Clerk. The Chief Clerk will please read the messages from the Mayor.
Thank you. Do you have any other communications in your possession?
Thank you. The next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the first resolution.
A resolution recognizing and honoring the life of Representative John Patrick Murtha who was the first Vietnam combat veteran to serve in Congress and Pennsylvania's longest-serving House member.
Those standing will be voting in favor of the resolution. (All Councilmembers standing.)
The resolution is adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the second resolution.
A resolution congratulating the New Orleans Saints on winning the 2010 Super Bowl.
Madam President, I move dat, I move dat, I move dat resolution.
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. Today I introduce three resolutions.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the first resolution.
A resolution approving the University of Pennsylvania's proposed revision to its Institutional Development District Master Plan.
Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution calling on the nations of Africa and Haiti to provide free public education, free daily feeding programs, immunization and health facilities in all public schools.
The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. This resolution is co-sponsored by Councilman Jones and Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez, and I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution calling on President Barack Obama to extend for eighteen months beyond March 31, 2010 the deferred enforced departure status of Liberian immigrants currently residing in the United States.
The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. Before I call for its adoption, may I be recognized?
Thank you, Madam President. This is a very important resolution, and I'd like to introduce some people who are here today who are interested in its adoption. They are, of course, the Chairman of the Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs, the Honorable Stan Straughter. I'd ask them to stand. Mr. J. Shiwoh Kamara, President of the Liberian Association of Pennsylvania; Mr. Anthony Kesselly, National President of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas; Mr. Sam Slewion, Liaison of the Immigration Task Force for the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas; Reverend John Jallah, Director of the Agape Center for Senior African Citizens in Philadelphia on South 63rd Street; Mr. Francis Duwanz, Chairman, Board of Directors, Liberia Association of Pennsylvania; Mr. Dahn K. Dennis, Vice-President, Liberian Association of Pennsylvania; and attorney Mike Slotznick, volunteer at HIAS and Council working with the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas. We thank them and all who have come with them to certainly join in the request for the adoption of this resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. (Applause.)
Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Krajewski.
Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Madam President. I have four bills, two of them co-sponsored by Councilmen Greenlee, Green, Clarke, Krajewski and Reynolds Brown, and two resolutions co-sponsored by Councilmen Kenney, Clarke, Greenlee, Krajewski, Reynolds Brown, Miller and Rizzo.
The Chief Clerk will please read the first bill.
An ordinance amending Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Regulation of Individual Conduct and Activity," by adding provisions prohibiting the intimidation of witnesses and victims of crimes, providing fines for violations.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of a proposed amendment of The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, set forth in a Resolution approved by Council, to authorize Council to provide that fines imposed for violation of any ordinance prohibiting witness and victim intimidation must be paid into a special fund to be used only for assistance to victims.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by adding a new Section 14-1640, entitled "Ridge Avenue Special District Controls."
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located with an area bounded by 59th Street, Lancaster Avenue, 52nd Street, Woodbine Avenue, and Upland Way.
This bill will also be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to restore the cuts to witness relocation programs and the State-Local Firearms Task Force.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Madam President. Since the resolution was not circulated 24 hours in advance, I move for the rules of Council to be suspended to permit consideration of this resolution today. (Duly seconded.)
All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Councilman Jones.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to authorize Council to provide that fines imposed for violation of any ordinance prohibiting witness and victim intimidation must be paid into a special fund to be used only for assistance to victims and witnesses.
The resolution will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer no bills or resolutions today.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer one resolution today.
A resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings to investigate the emergence of national and local adult and childhood obesity as an epidemic.
This resolution will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman -- I'm sorry. Would you move for the adoption, please.
Thank you, Madam President. I would ask that the rules of Council be suspended as my resolution was not circulated within the last 24 hours. (Duly seconded.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the resolution will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the first resolution.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground, situate in the Twenty-Ninth, Forty-Third and Forty-Seventh Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution calling for the Planning Commission to investigate and determine means by which the City of Philadelphia can affect the placement of Satellite Dishes and Cable antenna on building facades.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kelly.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The next order of business is reports from committees, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney for a report from the Committee on Rules.
Thank you, Madam President. The Committee on Rules reports three bills with favorable recommendations.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report.
To the President Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Rules, to which was referred Bill No. 090704, entitled "An ordinance establishing a neighborhood improvement district in the area that generally includes Cheltenham Avenue with boundaries of Wadsworth Avenue on the west and Broad Street on the east, Ogontz Avenue with boundaries of Cheltenham Avenue on the north and 67th Avenue on the south and Wadsworth Avenue with boundaries of Cheltenham Avenue on the northeast and Michener Avenue on the southwest, to be known as the Greater Cheltenham Avenue Business Improvement District"; and Bill No. 090852, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 14-1800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning Board of Adjustment,' to provide that the Zoning Board of Adjustment shall require any persons seeking a variance from the terms of Title 14 to be current in payments of all taxes imposed under Title 19"; and Bill No. 090927, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Institutional Development District Master Plan of the Fox Chase Cancer Center, located at 333 Cottman Avenue, by allowing for the construction of a new building to be used as a comparative medical research facility," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Madam President, I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Nos. 090704, 852 and 927. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of the bills just reported from committee. All those in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the bills just read will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. Councilwoman Tasco, I think at this point we should ask for a leave of absence for Councilwoman Sanchez. I think there was some misunderstanding as to what time we would be having Council session today. Excuse me, Mr. DiBerardinis, she's in the building? MR. DiBERARDINIS: She's on her way in.
Am I 2/12/10 - STATED - 1ST READING supposed to ask for a leave of absence if she's on her way in?
She's on her way in. I don't know if people want to wait that long. How far is she? MR. DiBERARDINIS: I think we should ask for the leave of absence.
Madam President, on behalf of the majority, we ask for a leave absence for Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez.
Leave will be -(Councilwoman Sanchez entered Chambers.)
The next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. I note reported from committee with suspension of rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. The bills will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for the next session of Council. There are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar. Therefore, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for the purpose of calling up the bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar to be considered today.
Thank you, Madam President. All bills are being held today.
Thank you. Are there speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of the majority? The Chair recognizes
Thank you, Madam President. We tried to get your attention earlier. I neglected to mention that on both resolutions, one with regard to Liberia, the other with regard to Africa and Haiti, all three are co-sponsored by Councilman Jones, Councilman Kenney and Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez. Thank you.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Madam President. I overheard in the hallway a comment that I thought was cute. They said that hell must have froze over because City Council is working on a Friday, and I just wanted to thank you for being diligent and having us bring in a Council session on Friday in spite of the snow. to talk about and thank publicly the District Attorney Seth Williams for bringing us over for a lunch discussion last week. Lunch was important, but the discussion was even better. Food for thought. We talked about a lot of important issues, and one of them that came up that stuck was the problem that the justice system often has with witness intimidation and witness relocation, and when the subject came up, I noticed a lot of the Assistant District Attorneys nodding their head in understanding as to the gravity of that problem. One of the things that we have called for today as a body is the restoration of the cuts from the state on that important program going from 850,000 to be restored back to a million dollars, which is not enough money even though 60 families on average are impacted and relocated by that fund. What we're calling for this body and this government that program. Without that vital, essential tool, many witnesses don't show up. Many of the criminal element know this and are able to influence witnesses sometimes through cash considerations and sometimes through something more insidious such as violence. We need to increase that penalty. It is not cute. It is not nice. We will deal with it harshly in order for people to feel free to utilize the justice system to make sure that criminals are punished. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Madam President. I'd just like to note for the record today that today is the last day of my staff attorney and legislative aide, Lauren Vidas. She's City Council to go work for the Administration, and I'm excited for her, it's a terrific opportunity. She was instrumental in many of the things that my office worked on over the past two years - the dumpster bill, the cell phone bill. She took care of ethics issues, not just for my office but for many people in Council. She helped arrange labor and pension hearings which talked about the amount of deficit in our pension system and hopefully will eventually lead to some resolutions to that, and she assisted in Harrisburg on the passage of House Bill 1228, which is what gave us the sales tax for five years. She was up there working closely with the unions to get a bill that was acceptable to everybody. So I just want to thank her for her service to City Council and say I look forward to working with her in her new role.
We all thank her and wish her every success. (Applause.)
Thank you, Madam President. In Councilman DiCicco's absence today, it's my pleasure, it's my sad pleasure because he's moving on, but it's my pleasure to say a final farewell from this body to Brian Abernathy. I talked to him earlier before the session started and I didn't realize that he had worked here more than six years. I mean, that was an amazing stint of time. He is an extremely smart, capable individual, very hardworking, has left his imprint on this body and on this city, and we know he will move over to the private sector task force and continue to contribute to this government in so many ways. I will particularly miss him times can be a bit cranky and with him going, I may be the crankiest person again here. He really gave me a pass sometimes, he made me look good. But thank you very much, Brian, and congratulations, and congratulations on your new baby too, to you and your wife. Thank you, Madam President. (Applause.)
Are there any other speeches on the part of the majority? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, February 25th, 2010, 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, February 25th at 10:00 a.m. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m.) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on February 12, 2010, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)