Thank you, Council President. Thank you, colleagues. And thank you, Colleague Harrity, for that want to make quick remarks about what happened on Eid holiday yesterday, which was so horrific. And I would call on the state to give us the power to control guns in Philadelphia. All eyes are on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as we do have a case that is still pending that challenges the preemption law. They're not reading it properly. We should be able to control guns ourselves and we are just hoping for a good decision on that, but I got all hands on deck. It is a state of emergency and Philadelphia and the state need to do everything it can. As far as my resolution today though, I just want to take a note, just a minute, to congratulate Jesse Ito, the mastermind behind Royal Izakaya for finalist for the 2024 James Beard Award. Jesse's culinary journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in the culinary arts. Following in the footsteps of his father, Jesse has elevated the art of sushi bringing a worldclass dining experience to our City. His nomination for the prestigious James Beard Award is a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication to his craft. I'm really excited to celebrate Jesse Ito's remarkable achievement and acknowledge the profound impact he has made on Philadelphia's culinary scene. And, Council President, they have some delicious vegetarian choices there. Second, it's great to present a resolution recognizing School as the first accredited circus school in the United States. Since its inception, Circadium has not only provided a comprehensive education in technical circus disciplines but has also fostered a creative environment where students from across the nation can thrive and innovate. With its recent accreditation by its Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, Circadium solidifies its position as a pioneering institution in the realm of circus education. I end with a thank you to my colleague Cindy Bass who allowed me to co-introduce her bill to create an eruv in Germantown so that the members of Germantown Jewish Centre will be able to more freely experience the neighborhood on the Sabbath. Thank you.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cindy Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just a couple of things. And thank you, Councilmember Landau, for your work on the eruv as well. A couple things I just wanted to touch on. And Mr. Weedon who was here earlier, I went to his son's funeral. He was killed on his way to school at Gratz, and they have a very large family, it was a huge turn-out, not just of family, but other Simon Gratz students who really love this young man. He played on the football team. He was very active. He was very engaged. He was not in any way, shape or form involved in any sort of foolishness that we see so And he was killed on his way to school doing what he was supposed to be doing. And when we think about just what happened yesterday, listen, the person who killed Devin is likely a young person and the people who were involved in this shooting yesterday were young people. And so, I just really want to go back to something, a phrase that we coined and we say all the time, What do you do when the shooter lives with you. You have got to be engaged and I know that Councilman Phillips in terms of being engaged in the lives of young people, the young people under your care and in your charge and not even necessarily in your care, but as parents we know when there's a change of behavior, when there's a different crowd that our kids are hanging out with. We much, much, much more engaged. And I also have to say we acknowledge, I call her Mighty Myesha Massey today on her promotion. But we have to recognize, thank God for the Philadelphia Police Department for being on the scene because I think things could have gone so much worse if the police weren't front and center and present. I just wanted to make note of those items. But I want to end it on a positive note. I'm looking forward to working with our new Deputy Commissioner Mighty Myesha Massey in our new role. She did a fantastic job working in the 35th and I know she's going to do a great job now with her job and community partnerships. I also just really briefly wanted to mention that we passed a Allegheny West Foundation and also Nicetown CDC for their fantastic work in our communities. Allegheny West and Nicetown CDC are both my go-tos when I'm working in the community, when I'm trying to get things done and we're trying to make things happen. And we work together as a team. I want to thank Allegheny West for so many things, including the food program which is one of the largest in the City and most consistent. They've been giving out food since the pandemic started in March of 2020. It started on Friday the 13th I think, and then that following Monday we were all out there. When City Hall closed, we were all out there giving away food, doing things for the community. We were even making and it was such a crisis, but they've been at the forefront. They've been building affordable housing. I can't tell you the hundreds of units that they've built around North Philadelphia to make housing affordable in the community, and not just affordable but quality housing so that as our Mayor talks about affordable luxury, the standards that everyone wants and should have. Allegheny West does a fantastic job on that. Also, they are instrumental in making sure that Panati Playground is going to be rebuilt. It wouldn't be happening without Allegheny West Foundation rebuilding that playground in North Philadelphia, which is a hub for the community on North 22nd Street. M. Peirce School Philadelphia, which was loaded with lead and asbestos. M.
Peirce which was the first school built in North Philadelphia in over 50 years, wouldn't have happened without the Allegheny West Foundation and we were working hand-in-hand very closely to make that happen. And beyond that, I could go on and on about the work that they do. But I did also want to mention their senior housing that they did just recently. They cut the ribbon on I want to say in later 2023. I can't remember exactly when, but very recently just opened more affordable housing units for our seniors. Nicetown CDC hosts annually a huge giveback festival bringing the community together. They've revitalized the Nicetown Commercial Corridor, built affordable housing If you drive through the area now, it's affordable housing that looks like quality housing that any one of us would want to live in and obtain a unit in. They're just beautiful. And the work that they've done doesn't end there. They clean and cut lots in the community. They work very closely with Youth Build when we talk about involving youth in getting them in productive activities. And also, they are instrumental in making sure that Barrett Playground, which is in the Logan section, is going to be rebuilt very, very soon. So I just really wanted to shout them out, both of them, for all of the hard work that they do, great community partners and we need to recognize them because we have so much work to do, and we their flowers and say thank you to them for all that they've been doing. So thank you, Mr. President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Lozada.
Thank you, Council President. I think there's no need to repeat all the sentiments that my colleagues have shared this morning as it relates to the frustration and the sadness I think that all of us feel about the incident that occurred yesterday as well as the incidents that continue to occur across our City. My question to all of us though is, when are we going to turn our speeches into action? We have to do more. We have to step us on this legislative body are parents. I'm raising a young son and I am afraid for him, right. I don't tell him that, but I am afraid for him raising him in a city that I absolutely love. I love the City of Philadelphia, but I am afraid for my son and his friends as they try to go to school, to do afterschool activities or just to hang out. How dangerous it can become in a split second. And so, I want to encourage all of us to really sit down and think about what do we do, how can we do more, how do we turn our speeches into serious action. How do we shut this City down from functioning until our federal and state partners recognize that they have to come to the table. We have to do more. I'm ready. I'm ready. we are going to do so that we don't lose another young person. I'd also like to take the opportunity and ask you to help me welcome Abdoul Diallo who is a senior and is with me today from Springside Chestnut Hill. He's my son's -(Applause.)
-(inaudible) partner. Thank you. Thank you for joining us today and for your interest in learning about how government works for you. We need to hear from young people like you to tell us what do we need to do to make the City safer for young people in the community. I'd also like to make an announcement for you, Council President. Council President is hosting a housing workshop this evening in Southwest Philadelphia from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Place, 5736 Chester Avenue. This is a chance for neighbors in Southwest to come learn about City resources that are available to you to help with housing-related issues, including rental and first time homebuyer's programs, assistance with tangled titles and much more. Southwest neighbors, join Council President Johnson's office tonight at 5736 Chester Avenue from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. to learn more about these important resources. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Jeffrey Young.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just have a few comments. I want to join my colleague congratulating Dawn Staley on winning her third national championship. As a student at Temple University during my junior year, I had the privilege to witness her greatness firsthand as the manager of the Temple University's Basketball Team, so I know how hard she works in her craft and how hard she works and strive for greatness. I also want to say how proud I am to have orchestrated the renaming of Diamond Street after Dawn Staley a few years back, and look forward to continuing to celebrate our North Philadelphia hero. Second, I was proud to stand with UNITE HERE Local 274 in their strike against Aramark for fair and equitable wages and benefits. It was a great day to Philadelphians, proud workers standing up for their rights just to make a livable wage and to fight for benefits that are human rights, I believe. And to make matters worse, Aramark paid temporary workers more than what they pay their regular workers, right. And to me I think that's just very disheartening. And so, I will continue to stand with members of UNITE HERE Local 274 as they continue to fight for fair wages and benefits and equitable wages and benefits. Gun violence, right. We're 100 days in. On day 1 I've been speaking about gun violence because to me that is our number one issue in this City. And I'm going to continue to speak about the gun violence in our City, particularly as it affects our youth. And I'm willing to work with any and Councilman Jones in particular, I would love to work with you on reaching out to some of these Muslim faith leaders so we can begin to talk about gun violence in a different way. I just know for a fact that there have been more Janazahs of young folks than there has ever been due to this gun violence epidemic and I'm willing to talk to any and everyone. I'm outside on the ground, knocking on doors talking to people about what can we do about curbing this gun violence issue. Just talking to folks and different programming, it seems to be that there's no programming for our middle grades. That is where we can really connect with a young person. We have to connect with them in the middle grades. It forget once they turn 12 years old, it's like, okay, you're on your own now until you get to high school. And that's the problem. We have to grab their attention at that age so then we can continue them on the path of positivity. And, Mr. President, along the lines of our budget hearings we are having a community budget meeting with Council President Johnson on April 25th in North Philadelphia at the John Street Center. I'm urging everyone in North Philadelphia to come to this budget meeting so we can talk about how we can craft the budget that works for you. This is your opportunity to talk about the things that we need in our City to help curb some of these issues, particularly with gun violence and our education. So 25th at 6:00 p.m. at the John Street Center in West Poplar. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. And I am confident that -- and I've been in this body for a little while -- we will continue working together to move the City of Philadelphia forward in addressing some of the most pressing issues that are facing us. And so, I'm optimistic. This just takes the hard work of everybody working together on these key issues that are impacting all of us. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Thomas for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Council President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Council stands adjourned until Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. ) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I, hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence noted are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me in the foregoing matter, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. C. D. m. d. org. M. S.