STATED MEETING 1 2/2/2023 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, February 2, 2023 10:40 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN MICHAEL DRISCOLL COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN JIM HARRITY COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILWOMAN QUETCY LOZADA COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILMAN ANTHONY PHILLIPS COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS COUNCILWOMAN SHARON VAUGHN MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK STATED MEETING 2 2/2/2023
Good morning, folks. We're going to get started. Sorry for the delay. Thank you. Everybody is seated. We're going to get started. We've established our quorum, so we're going to start out with our invocation today. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes Imam Farid W. Rasool, Amir and President of Majlis Ash-Shura of the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley and Imam of Masjid As-Sabiqun. He is here today as the guest of Councilwoman Gauthier. I would ask all members and guests to please rise. (Councilmembers and guests rise.)
Peace be unto you. As-salamu alaikum. I'd like to say to all of you in remembrance of our Mayor. So today is actually the one-year anniversary of us STATED MEETING 3 2/2/2023 year, and to be here today is a great honor. But before I say the prayer, I'd like to say this to you. I'd like to tell you something to think about while we're praying and, that is, there was a little boy who was an only child, and his parents were doing very well and he moved out into the suburbs. And so when he got out to the suburbs, he had a big driveway and a swimming pool and everything in the back. And at the same time, he had the basketball court to play with, but he had nobody to play with. So he was always playing catch by hisself, catch by hisself, throw the ball, try to run and catch it. And after a while, he got tired. So when his daddy came home in the driveway, he ran up to the car and said, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, please play catch with me, please play catch with me. So the daddy had all his work STATED MEETING 4 2/2/2023 said, son, I can't do it right now, but I promise you tomorrow when daddy comes home, daddy promise you he'll play catch with you. And so the next day the little boy was out there waiting for daddy to come to the driveway, and when daddy came up to the driveway and pulled up, he ran to the car and said, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready. And the father forgot that he promised him to play catch. So he said, oh, yeah, we supposed to play catch today. He said, okay, well, walk here in the office with me so I can take my briefcase in the office, son, and then we'll go play catch. He said, okay, okay, daddy. Okay, daddy. So the father was trying to figure out how can I buy some more time, because I need to get this work done for the office. And so then the little boy said, dad, dad, are you ready? STATED MEETING 5 2/2/2023 -- he holds his briefcase up and blew all the papers out. He said, well, listen, listen, daddy got to just put these papers together, and when daddy put these papers together, while he's doing that -- there was a map of the world on the desk, and he took the map of the world up and he tore it up in all these pieces, and gave them to the boy and said, while daddy is putting these papers together, you put these papers back together, you put this map back together, and then we'll go play catch. He said, okay, daddy. Okay, okay. So the little boy came back 15 minutes later saying, daddy, daddy, daddy, I got it, I'm ready. Let's go play catch. And he said, son, you can't be ready yet. So he walked in the other room and looked, and the map was put together. He looked at his son. He STATED MEETING 6 2/2/2023 said, I didn't know I had a genius. Looked back at the map, said, it's really put together. Then he said, son, how in the world did you put that map together? He said, daddy, there was a picture of a man on the back of it, so I figured if I put the man together, the world would be in place. So today I'd like to offer this prayer and invocation based upon us trying to make the world be in place and know that we can only do that by helping every man put himself together. I will first say the prayer in Arabic and then I will say it in English so you know what I've said. ) Oh, Lord, we pray that you would bless this body of assembly. We pray that you will fortify their hearts and swell their hearts with purity of intent. We pray that the goodness that will come from them by the way of the duty for which that they do to others STATED MEETING 7 2/2/2023 a brightness in the eyesight of your view. We pray that you will make them have the courage to stand for truth in the presence of falsehood.
We pray that you will have them to -- give them the courage that they would knock their brains out of falsehood with the truth that they hold. And we pray that their footsteps will be fortified in the way that is beneficial to humanity and pleases thee and make all of them successful in the way that pleases thee and make them successful in this life as well as the hereafter and make them die like (unintelligible) of willful submission to you. Ameen. )
Thank you so much, Imam. We appreciate your spiritual guidance today. Thank you so much. STATED MEETING 8 2/2/2023 be at ease. (Council at ease.)
Again, thank you. Thank you, Imam. And our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting on Thursday, January 26, 2023, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, January 26, 2023 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, January 26, 2023 stand approved. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? STATED MEETING 9 2/2/2023 (No response.)
The ayes have it, and our Journal is approved. And our next order of business is requests for leave of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the members of Council, there are no requests for leaves of absence today.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. And I recognize Councilman Squilla for a motion concerning certain legislative matters that may arise during the course of the Council session that were not listed on the Calendar today prior to our session. Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that any of the following matters, if considered today, may be added to the agenda for this STATED MEETING 10 2/2/2023 Council and, as required by law, subsequently published on an amended agenda after the consideration of those matters: resolutions authorizing hearings, amendments to bills on first reading, reconsideration of a bill vetoed by or re-called from the Mayor, amendments to bills re-called from the Mayor, resolutions taking substantive action to be voted on in this session, a motion to withdraw a bill or resolution that is not on the Calendar, and a motion placing a bill or resolution on or returning a bill or resolution from the Suspension Calendar that is not listed on today's Calendar. The purpose of this motion is to provide the public with notice concerning possible actions by Council that arose too late to be included in the Calendar that was published prior to today's session.
Can I get a second? STATED MEETING 11 2/2/2023 (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the legislative matters stated by Councilman Squilla may be added to the agenda for today, should those matters arise during the course of the Council session. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion granted. And our next order of business is communications. I would ask the Clerk to please read the messages from the Mayor and any other communications that he may have in his possession.
From the Mayor to the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am STATED MEETING 12 2/2/2023 of your honorable body a resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2252 Hope Street and 2309 Palethorp Street located in the 7th Councilmanic District; and A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon situate in the Third Councilmanic District; and A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Independence Mall Urban Renewal Area, Unit No. 4, identified by house number and street address as 217 through 253 North Ninth Street; and An ordinance amending Section STATED MEETING 13 2/2/2023 14-300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Administration and Procedures," by changing the language pertaining to quorum for public hearings of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. That concludes our communications, and our next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. And I would ask the Clerk to please read the titles of the bills and resolutions offered by our members today.
Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson offers a privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to hold hearings examining the COVID-19 pandemic's impacts on Black-owned businesses and the disparity in rates of closure.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to hold public hearings on the creation of the 21st Century School District of Philadelphia CTE middle and high school focused on careers in trades and technology.
And a privileged resolution recognizing February 2023 as Career and Technical Education Month in Philadelphia.
And a privileged resolution recognizing February 2023 as Environmental Justice Month in the City of Philadelphia.
Councilman Thomas offers a privileged resolution honoring STATED MEETING 15 2/2/2023 and congratulating Champion of the Week, Anthony Caple of Mercy Career and Technical High School, for his success in founding, promoting, and managing his own clothing brand, 5 Star Clothing.
And a privileged resolution honoring and congratulating educator Marvin Dutton, for celebrating his organization Marvin's Education Services' 10-year Anniversary servicing the youth of Philadelphia.
Today's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Thomas.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. I wanted to take a moment to welcome Marvin Dutton of MES Services and congratulate them on ten years of service. As this is the first Council STATED MEETING 16 2/2/2023 session for Black History Month, I thought it would be important to recognize a Black business that's not only thriving here in the City of Philadelphia but also offering free programming and free services to young people all across the City of Philadelphia. Can we take a moment to just ask all of the young people who have benefited from Marvin's Education Services that's here in City Council today just to stand up and welcome them to our Council session.
Please stand up. Thank you. (Some audience members standing.) (Applause.)
Thank you, Council President. I also want to say STATED MEETING 17 2/2/2023 congratulations to our Champion of the Week. It's important that we continue to highlight and recognize young people who are doing positive things across the City of Philadelphia. Thank you, Council President, and thank you, colleagues.
Thank you, Councilman. And welcome and congratulations. Thank you guys.
Councilman Jones offers one bill and four resolutions. On behalf of Council President Clarke, an ordinance authorizing the construction, installation, ownership, use and maintenance of a sidewalk cafe at 425 through 449 Spring Garden Street.
Thank you, STATED MEETING 18 2/2/2023 Mr. President. The resolutions that are being offered today, particularly centered around education, are inspired by our Chair of Education, Member Isaiah Thomas, who Herculeanly had a hearing, a marathon hearing, diving deep into some of the issues centered around education, public education in the City of Philadelphia. What he allowed us to recognize is that all of us support the School District, support our education, but we do have questions as to when and how things are done and holding people accountable, and sometimes we have to ask uncomfortable questions to get to a place where we get comfortable solutions. So I want to thank him for co-introducing these resolutions today.
Councilman Jones offers a privileged resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on STATED MEETING 19 2/2/2023 Education to hold public hearings examining the levels of learning loss as well as attendance trends as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and to understand how the School District of Philadelphia plans to address these issues.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on Education to hold public hearings to examine the top performing magnet schools in Philadelphia, understand their strengths in relationship to underperforming schools, and to develop strategies for future success.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on Education to hold public hearings to evaluate tracking for post-graduation pathways including STATED MEETING 20 2/2/2023 college retention rates, career alternatives, military opportunities, and the school-to-prison pipeline.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on Education to hold public hearings to examine the progress of the school safe corridor program, to understand its effect on violence reduction.
Councilman Johnson offers two resolutions, a privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings to examine the Philadelphia Water Department request to increase water, sewer and stormwater rates and charges and its impact on the citizens of Philadelphia.
This STATED MEETING 21 2/2/2023 week's Calendar.
And a non-privileged resolution urging the U.S. Congress to pass House Resolution 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021.
Thank you, Council President. I just want to make brief remarks on my resolution I introduced. S. House and Senate to approve the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. S. S. Senate. The drafting of the federal legislation was preceded by a series of protests against the deaths of numerous African Americans at the hands STATED MEETING 22 2/2/2023 of police officers, including the 2020 deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. The passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act would address a wide range of policies and issues regarding policing practices and law enforcement accountability, including combatting excessive force and racial bias in policing. The bill increases accountability for law enforcement misconduct, restricts the use of certain policing practices, enhances transparency and data collection, and establishes best practices in training requirements. It would limit qualified immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement officer. It would establish a framework to prevent any remedy racial profiling by law enforcement to federal, state, and local levels. It also limits the unnecessary use of force and STATED MEETING 23 2/2/2023 restricts the use of no-knock warrants and chokeholds. As Vice Chairman of the City Council Public Safety Committee, I support the hard work of our Philadelphia Police Department. It understands it is necessary to have -- I understand it's necessary to have police officers, but I would never support any law enforcement officer that abuses their power. According to the non-profit organization Mapping Police Violence, at least 1,176 people were killed by law enforcement officers in the United States in 2022, the most of any year since at least 2013. That is an average of more than three people a day or nearly 100 people every month last year, according to Mapping Police Violence. These are reported deaths at the hands of law enforcement, including people fatally shot, beaten, restrained, and tasered. One of the latest incidents happened three weeks ago when 29-year-old STATED MEETING 24 2/2/2023 Tyre Nichols was brutally beaten by Memphis, Tennessee police officers. The graphic video of the beating shows the officers punching, kicking, and beating Nichols, even after he lay helpless laying on the ground. " Davis, for her decisive action so far in this case. The five police officers have been fired and charged with murder. Their specialized unit has disbanded. Two more officers have been suspended. Two Memphis Fire Department emergency medical workers and a lieutenant was also fired, and more discipline is expected to happen in the future. At Mr. Nichols' funeral, he was remembered by family and friends. It was a celebration of his life, but there were also calls for police reform, not just in Memphis but throughout the nation. Our Vice President, Kamala Harris, attended the funeral and delivered an impassioned STATED MEETING 25 2/2/2023 speech calling on Congress to approve the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Even Tyre Nichols' mother, Ms. RowVaughn Wells, called for reform as she fought back tears and spoke lovingly of her son. She said, and I quote, "We need to take some action, because there should be no other child that should suffer the way my son and all the other parents have lost their children. We need to get that bill passed, because if we don't, that blood, the next child that dies, that blood is going to be on their hands. The only thing that keeps me going is that I truly believe that my son was sent here on assignment from God, and I guess now his assignment is done. He's going home," end quote. Tyre Nichols joins a long list of Black men and women that have been killed by law enforcement nationwide.
There are the names you know, George Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Philando STATED MEETING 26 2/2/2023 Castile, Freddie Gray, Michael Brown and others. Philadelphia and the Greater Delaware Valley region is not free from people losing their lives due to actions by law enforcement. In June of 2017, we saw that 30-year-old David Jones was shot three times in the back by then Officer Ryan Pownall as Jones was fleeing during a traffic routine stop. , Terrell Mitchell, Stanley Cochran, and James Alexander at the hands of law enforcement officials. Let's say their names and never forget their names. Again, as Vice Chairman of the City Council's Public Safety Committee, I support the hard work of the Philadelphia Police Department every day. I understand it is necessary to have police officers protecting and serving, but I would never support any law enforcement entity that abuses their power. STATED MEETING 27 2/2/2023 Thank you very much, Council President, for your time and consideration. )
Thank you very much, Councilman. That will be on next week's Calendar.
Councilwoman Lozada offers an ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Penn Street and Wakeling Street; Griscom Street and Orthodox Street; Leiper Street and Pratt Street; Saul Street and Pratt Street; Penn Street and Harrison Street; Saul Street and Sanger Street; Margaret Street and Torresdale Street; Granite Street and Darrah Street; Margaret Street and Duffield Street; Dyre Street and Darrah Street.
Next week's Calendar. STATED MEETING 28 2/2/2023
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2252 Hope Street and 2309 Palethorp Street located in the 7th Councilmanic District.
Councilwoman Brooks offers a privileged resolution honoring and recognizing the dedicated service of Betsy "Ms. Betty" Beaufort, whose determined advocacy on behalf of her South Philadelphia community has strengthened her neighborhood, as well as the City of Philadelphia.
Councilman Driscoll offers a privileged resolution honoring and celebrating the 2023 Saint Patrick's Day Parade.
And a privileged STATED MEETING 29 2/2/2023 resolution honoring and celebrating the career of Joseph T. Ashdale.
Councilman Squilla offers a privileged resolution recognizing and honoring Clarena I.W. Tolson on the occasion of her retirement from public service.
And a non-privileged resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Independence Mall Urban Renewal Area, Unit No. 4, identified by house number and street address as 217 through 253 North Ninth Street.
Councilwoman Bass offers four resolutions, a privileged STATED MEETING 30 2/2/2023 resolution recognizing February 2023 as American Heart Month and honoring the American Heart Association of Philadelphia for their work in providing health resources in Philadelphia, emphasizing the importance of heart health, and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.
And a privileged resolution recognizing, honoring and celebrating Imhotep Institute Charter High School on its 25th Birthday.
And a privileged resolution honoring the Philadelphia Tennis Club for being the second oldest Black-owned tennis club in the country.
And a privileged resolution honoring the Woodford Tennis STATED MEETING 31 2/2/2023 Club for being the oldest Black-owned tennis club in the country.
Councilman Oh offers a privileged resolution recognizing and honoring Rodney Little for his exemplary and outstanding service as a dedicated public servant, police officer, union leader and military veteran.
There are no other bills or resolutions being offered today by the members, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. That concludes our introduction of bills and resolutions by our members, and our next order of business is reports from committee. And the Chair recognizes Councilman Jones for a report from the STATED MEETING 32 2/2/2023
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee of the Whole reports five resolutions with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read that report.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee of the Whole, to which was referred Resolution No. 220689, entitled a "Resolution appointing Miquon Brinkley to the Board of Directors for the Old City Special Services District"; and Resolution No. 220690, entitled a "Resolution appointing Jeffrey Brown to the Board of Directors for the Old City Special Services District"; and Resolution No. 221036, entitled a "Resolution appointing Paul Badger to the Board of Directors of the Center City STATED MEETING 33 2/2/2023 District"; and Resolution No. 221037, entitled a "Resolution appointing Valerija Beares to the Board of Directors of the Center City District"; and Resolution No. 221038, entitled a "Resolution appointing Anna Bonie to the Board of Directors of the Center City District," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached resolutions to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Jones. Excuse me. Resolution No -never mind, Councilman. It's on me.
Resolution No. 220689, Resolution No. 220690, Resolution 221036, 221037, and 221038 will be placed on our Final STATED MEETING 34 2/2/2023 2ND READING Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. And that concludes our reports from committee, and our next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. As there are no additional bills on our First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilman Jones for the purpose of calling up resolutions and bills on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today.
Thank you, Mr. President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up from Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today: Nos. 210434, 230039, 230044, 230045, 230046, and 220918. All other bills and resolutions are being held.
Thank you, Councilman. Thank you very much. Before we consider these resolutions and bills, we will consider STATED MEETING 35 2/2/2023 public comment. Your public comment must concern matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for possible action today. All speakers must sign up in order to testify. If you have not already signed up for today's session, you may do so now at the table outside of the Council Chambers with the Sergeant-at-Arms. Once you have signed up, you will be called in the order in which your name appears on the sign-up sheet, and under ideal circumstances, which we apparently do not have today, we have a significant list, today's time limit will be two minutes, but we want to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to testify. So I'd ask that you please adjust your testimony to reflect a two-minute time limit. In order to be fair to all those wishing to speak, we intend to hold faithfully to the established time limit STATED MEETING 36 2/2/2023 when you begin speaking. When you go to the podium, you will see a green light. It will be your time to speak. When the light turns yellow, you will have 30 seconds remaining on your time, and when the light turns red, we would ask you to please adhere to our guidelines and conclude your remarks, and you will then be disconnected, and please yield that to the next speaker. We also reserve the right pursuant to Council rules where we may limit repetitious comment on the same subject matter. We actually do have that today, but because of the issue relating to the significant testimony on 18, we will hopefully try to get everyone in in their testimony. If we're ready, Mr. Decker, can you please call the first name on the list.
The first speaker today, Mr. President, is Rachel Kemp offering comment on behalf of Stacey STATED MEETING 37 2/2/2023 Phillips, commenting on 220918. (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Rachel Kemp. I am here on behalf of Dr. Phillips, the CEO over at WPACS. I have been working there for about two years now and I've lived in the West Philadelphia community for 20-plus years. WPACS is very excited about the Cobbs Creek Foundation and what they're doing in the community, the Cobbs Creek Golf Course and what that means for our community so that our students and families will have a place where it will be safe. For the first time in decades, this historical landmark is being revitalized, and it deserves the STATED MEETING 38 2/2/2023 recognition. Even though the actual educational center will not open until 2024, their educational team volunteers have been running excellent programs within WPACS, which is known as the West Philadelphia Achievement Charter School. I'm sorry, you guys, if I didn't state that. These programs have been supporting our children and families. Our children have been doing math tutoring programs, which they love. Also, the Cobbs Creek Foundation has been coming in to donate different baskets and stuff for the holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Also, they've been doing social-emotional program learning with our students as well, and the educational -- the staff, I'm sorry, the staff from the education center have been working closely with the school to ensure that programs reflect the needs of our community. STATED MEETING 39 2/2/2023 Thank you. I see there's a red light, so I'm going to end and just say that we are greatly appreciative of the Cobbs Creek Foundation and I look forward to many more. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. Mr. Decker, hold on one second. Before we proceed, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just really briefly, during the part of our program in which we recognize or actually when Mr. Decker was reading the bills and resolutions introduced today, I did want to make mention that we have in our presence Imhotep Charter School, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and we have some folks here, if they could stand, from Imhotep Charter School. All right. And so we want to -- STATED MEETING 40 2/2/2023 (Applause.)
We want to recognize their achievement in excellence. I remember when Imhotep started and they started in lots, actually in module units, we'll call them, on lots in Northwest Philadelphia. And so here we are 25 years later, and it's a wonderful example of excellence. And I also wanted to just very briefly recognize the Woodford and Philadelphia Tennis Clubs as being in the 8th District and also the first and second oldest Black tennis clubs in the nation, and we wanted to just recognize that we have that distinguished organization within the City of Philadelphia. Thank you, Mr. President.
Awesome. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. STATED MEETING 41 2/2/2023 (Applause.)
The next speaker is Asmeret Easley, commenting on 220918. (Witness approached podium.)
Hi, everyone. My name is Asmeret Easley. I'm a proud native of Philadelphia, which encouraged me to aim to be where I am today. I am one of the proud principals at Overbrook Educational Center, also known as OEC, here in the School District of Philadelphia in Overbrook. We are a K to 8 school that serves one-third of visually impaired students in our district. Thank you to City Council for listening and ensuring access to share my STATED MEETING 42 2/2/2023 viewpoints as an educational leader in the community. Every generation leaves behind a legacy. What will the legacy be is determined by the people of that generation. What legacy do you want to leave behind? I'm in support of Bill 220918 because of the relationships that have been built with my students through the Cobbs Creek Foundation community. My students will attend a safe, state-of-the-art educational facility that promotes self-esteem and positive racial identity. The relationships have been built, from supports from funding for 8th graders, volunteering and providing support for graduations, weekly academic after-school clubs, and monthly Saturday programs, and I can't forget our mentoring programs with our middle schoolers. Investing in the revitalization STATED MEETING 43 2/2/2023 is an investment in the community. Many students have a vision with their own eyes that their community is worth an investment now. Why should I have to search for the exposure for my students outside of Philadelphia for an example to experience golf or safe havens to take part in hobbies that they deserve? I recall one of my third graders saying to me one day, noticing contractors and backhoes, are we getting something new across the street from our school? I shared, this is our hope. He smiled and said, we can do it. The current climate in Philadelphia is deserving of this. Children deserve to be safe, especially with the gun violence in our city that we experience, and have access to beautiful, brand new space. The project will create hundreds of job opportunities for residents and boost local economic values and partnerships and small local businesses to collaborate with the STATED MEETING 44 2/2/2023 exposure. Think about what I said, the legacy. The legacy starts here. As I close today, consider what we stand by at OEC. We need to do what is best for children, not what is best for adults. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it. (Applause.)
The next speaker is Blain Stoddart, commenting on 220918. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, Mr. Chairman and to the Honorable City Council. My name is Blain Stoddart. I run BFW Group, which is a construction project management company. I am here to STATED MEETING 45 2/2/2023 support the Cobbs Creek Foundation and the Cobbs Creek Golf Course. It is formerly an abandoned 350-acre site that has been abandoned for almost 50 years, and the Cobbs Creek Foundation has come into the City to help to revitalize that property, working in tandem with the City Recreation Department. It is a public golf course, not a private golf course, and they will begin, Mr. Chairman, Mr. President, to take our kids off the street and build an education center so that our kids can do non-traditional sports and so that our kids can get educational enhancement. Some trees have been cut down, Mr. Chairman, but the trees should not have been there in the first place because it is a golf course. And so they will be replanting 1,500 trees and 15,000 native plants back on this property. Last, but not least, I'm going to say this: I got involved because, as STATED MEETING 46 2/2/2023 you know, for 30 years, long before George Floyd, I was advocating for Black and brown businesses to get work, and we are working with 200 Black and brown and Latino businesses, construction-related businesses, architects and professional services and contractors in the City to get work, and Cobbs Creek was kind enough to call me, because I'm an advocate for Black and brown businesses to get work on construction projects. And so the fact that they called me got me excited, because most times developers and non-profits don't even call us back when we are trying to get work. So I could go on and on and on. Some people said that it's going to affect the environment and cause sickness in the community, but it's a golf course. This is the last thing I'm going to say. Nice neighborhoods get golf courses, like Bryn Mawr and Ardmore and Bala Cynwyd. And so to have a public golf course in our neighborhood is a good STATED MEETING 47 2/2/2023 thing and adds value to our neighbors and takes the kids off the street and helps us against gun violence.
And I appreciate everyone's passion, but we have a significant list of people on the list today and we really want to be able to get everybody in to testify. So please limit your conversation. When you see the red light come on, please conclude your remarks. STATED MEETING 48 2/2/2023 Thank you.
Shawmar Pitts, commenting on 220918. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. My name is Shawmar Pitts and I'm a co-manager director at Philly Thrive, and I'm here to speak about the golf course and Cobbs Creek. So now, first and foremost, I would like to applaud the Cobbs Creek Foundation for any good work that they have done to help our community as people has just testified to, and at the same time, my opposition to the golf course is the way it's been done. As the gentleman has just STATED MEETING 49 2/2/2023 spoke, this has been abandoned for a long time. He said over 50 years. So now when we come to the City and we ask for pieces of land or anything of monetary substance to support the community and the youth in our community to stop the gun violence, we don't get any tread-way, right? But when -- and this is not just the Cobbs Creek Foundation. This is all over the City, because there's redevelopment and development going on all over the City. So I am opposed to it, because when people from outside the City come in the City, they are able to get the monies needed and the support needed for their projects. But when we, African American men, who have been in Philadelphia our whole lives, when we come and we ask for grants and stuff like that, we get met with things like we got reimbursement grants, right? You got to pay the money -- you got to bring your receipts for the money you spent. STATED MEETING 50 2/2/2023 Did the Cobbs Creek Foundation have to get reimbursement grants or did they get money in the City's budget? I think they got $3 million from Parks and Rec and a $3.4 million grant from the state. We ain't never got $6 million for nothing we tried to do. So I'm not against a golf course and diversity and things like that, but I'm for the youth. I'm for them. We've been cut out from the economics since I was their age, before I was their age, and we're going to be cut in. So when they came in, now they got a $60 million project going on. When they going to spend $6 million on them? When they going to spend $6 million and spend it on them? That's why I'm opposing it. I'm not opposing it just because it's a golf course. I'm opposing it because when you have like Hilco, for instance, you have Hilco, they in our community STATED MEETING 51 2/2/2023 right now.
They in our community right now. Right now they're in our community. And they come and they get to make policy. When we come to the policymakers, we don't get to make no policy. How they get to make policy to push us around?
We ain't got no community involvement in every development every time we sat in person meeting, in person meeting. Ain't never showed up.
Well, you keep saying one second. We got a lot of people that want to talk today.
I understand. I understand. I'm sorry, but I'm just saying. They get to push us around and we've been here our whole lives. They've been here for two years.
And City Council -I ain't never seen a City Council that represented African Americans the way we got now. Look how many African Americans we got.
Sir, sir, you got to -- really, you got to like -
You keep saying that. You keep talking. I'm trying to be respectful. But we can follow up. All right? You can't go on and on. I'm trying to be respectful. All right?
Please, listen to us, man. Please. Thank you. Sorry for going over time.
Thank you, sir. We'll follow up. Thank you. STATED MEETING 54 2/2/2023 Next name.
The next speaker is Fred Stirre, commenting on 220918. (Witness approached podium.)
Thank you. It's Fred Stine, S-T-I-N-E. Thank you. And for over ten years now, I've been a Board member with the Eastwick Friends and Neighbors Coalition, and for over 30 years I've worked with the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, which is a non-profit environmental organization where I help design, plant, and maintain urban forests and riparian buffers. For the friends and neighbors and the Delaware Riverkeeper, I urge Council to vote no against this bill, 220918. Cutting down more trees and clearing the land of natural vegetation could contribute worsening flooding, could contribute worsening air pollution, worsening heat island effect, and other STATED MEETING 55 2/2/2023 public health impacts to all City residents but particularly residents of Overbrook, Cobbs Creek, and Eastwick. According to Philadelphia's own Tree Philly, trees are one of the best investments we can make in the future of our city. When properly cared for, urban trees provide valuable and vital services, like clean air, increased property values, peaceful neighborhoods. Planting and maintaining trees addresses all three of the pillars of sustainability, environment, economics, and society. The Cobbs Creek Foundation is not replacing the public health and environmental value of the trees they're cutting down. They are cutting and clearing thousands of mature plants, trees, including the 500 mature heritage trees already cut down. They're not replacing them at a one-to-one. They're cutting down 24-inch diameter trees and planting two-inch caliber replacement. STATED MEETING 56 2/2/2023 It's not a one-to-one. In the presentation of the Arts Commission, the developer shows that on the driving range and youth golf area alone, just in that one area, which is about 13 acres, which is part of the bill in the steep slope area, they will be cutting 150 heritage trees, and the heritage tree is 24 inches in diameter. According to their plan, they will be replanting 62 trees. They're cutting down 150 large trees, which provide all these benefits that Tree Philly has advocated for, and they're planting 62.
Thank you. And my last comment will be, they anticipate it's going to take 20 years for those new little trees to grow to provide the same ecological and economic value that the trees they're cutting down. We urge everyone -- on balance, STATED MEETING 57 2/2/2023 this is going to benefit wealthy outsiders more than it will benefit the residents of Philadelphia.
The next speaker is George Guy, commenting on a resolution that is introduced and will be adopted today by Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson. (Witness approached podium.)
I'm George Guy and I'm here on behalf of Philadelphia Tennis Club. I'm here to thank Councilwoman Bass for this resolution that she sponsored. I'd also like to thank you personally for the help that you and former Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds STATED MEETING 58 2/2/2023 gave us a few years ago. We were in dire need of your assistance, and you came through for us. We appreciate it. But I'd also like to thank Katherine Gilmore Richardson, and our club is in your district. Now, for the sake of full disclosure, at Philadelphia Tennis Club we've always considered to be the oldest Black tennis club in America, because we actually own the land as opposed to our esteemed friends and colleagues at Woodford, that land is owned by the City. Anyway, PTC was founded by people of color so they had a place that they considered their own. We are in historic Germantown. Tennis is a great game, and our goal is to promote tennis for underserved inner city youth, and that's our goal and our primary mission. We have seven well-maintained, beautiful clay courts. Now, clay is different than hard courts. It's great for the body. It's softer. STATED MEETING 59 2/2/2023 And it's a great facility and a great place for youth, young and old. As a matter of fact, I think all of you should take up tennis. If you still play, you should come join us, and if you're thinking about taking up tennis, you should come around and see. So I look forward to have all of you visit us in Germantown. It's a great club, and I'd like to thank City Council and Councilwoman Bass one more time for this resolution. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
The next speaker is Alexa Ross, commenting on 220918. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, STATED MEETING 60 2/2/2023 everybody. My name is Alexa Ross. Hearing that there is a cap of five speakers for and against, I want to give a chance to anyone that is opposed to the Cobbs Creek overlay bill, if you want to stand up or raise your hand, because I know a lot of speakers were turned away, just a moment to show those who were turned away. (Some audience members standing.)
I'm with Philly Thrive. I've also been on the Board of Eastwick Friends and Neighbors from 2013 to 2015. I'm here today to talk about the fact that corporate profits are at an all-time high, right? So in the last -the third quarter of 2022, corporate profits were $2 trillion. Meanwhile, inflation for the everyday person is at a 40-year high, right? And so when we look at the Maguire family, billionaires who are part of the Cobbs Creek Foundation, STATED MEETING 61 2/2/2023 who the City allows to lease a $90 million property. So this land is valued at $90 million, and they lease it for $1 for 70 years. So clearly things are severely out of balance, and I implore the City Council leadership to help restore the balance, because the flooding that's going to come as a result of all this tree loss and the way that these old growth trees actually provide a kind of support for erosion that new trees cannot provide, right? And we have to just stop handing out corporate -- you know, giving corporations tax breaks. Also Hilco Redevelopment Partners got a tax break. The first thing they came to Philly and did was get their taxes waived, their city taxes that would go to the School District waived as part of a Keystone Opportunity Zone. So an economy where we keep giving billionaires major tax breaks and STATED MEETING 62 2/2/2023 write them into city budgets, meanwhile Philadelphians are facing double the prices at the grocery store for food, makes no sense whatsoever, and the burden really is not on us to make an argument as to why this makes no sense, but the burden is really on you all to explain under what economy, under what city where we care about children and we care about the betterment of everybody does it make sense to be cutting this much money for billionaires and corporations. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. (Applause.)
The next speaker is Linda Smith. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. My name is Linda Colwell-Smith. I'm Interim Co-Chair of the Friends of STATED MEETING 63 2/2/2023 the Free Library of Philadelphia. We work to support the Free Library with our advocacy and efforts in the community. And I'm up here today to thank Councilmember Brooks and City Council for honoring one of our own, our own Ms. Betty Beaufort. (Applause.)
She's been a member of the Friends and she's one of our Board members. She's a longtime community advocate, and she's had at least 25 years with us fighting for her beloved Queen Memorial branch. And I've had the honor of working with her to keep our entire library system open in 2005, 2008, 2011, and we're still fighting to this day. One of Betty's biggest strengths is, she speaks truth to power, and she's not afraid to talk. And she saw -- for instance, she saw a need in STATED MEETING 64 2/2/2023 her community for a place for teens to go safely to talk and to recreate and just to socialize in good fellowship. So she founded one of the first teen centers in a Free Library of Philadelphia branch in the City, and it opened the day before the pandemic shut the library system down. But I'm happy to report it's back open and she's fighting for it again. (Applause.)
I mean, Betty is an inspiration to us all. She recognizes that Queen Memorial branch, every single branch of the Free Library, they're the heart and the soul of their communities. They're a safe place for seniors, for families, for kids and that they're worth fighting for. I'm honored to be standing beside her. I hope to do it for many more years to come, and I know our group feels the same way. STATED MEETING 65 2/2/2023 Again, thank you, Councilmember Brooks. Thank you, City Council, for honoring our Ms. Betty. (Applause.)
The next speaker is Enrique Hervada, commenting on 220918. (Witness approached podium.)
Thank you. Good morning. My name is Enrique Hervada. I'm the COO of the Cobbs Creek Foundation. I thank you for the opportunity to address. As I stated before, we're not a corporation. We're not a developer. We're a 501(c)(3) non-profit working in partnership with the City of Philadelphia, Parks and Recreation, the Philadelphia Water Department, and I'm STATED MEETING 66 2/2/2023 here to address the bill today regarding the overlay district for Cobbs Creek. The ordinance is essential for moving our project forward. Its minor steep slope disruption is required for the creek restoration plan. Restoring the failing creek is a requirement for our lease with the City and will not only benefit the golf course and surrounding community, it will provide no increase in downstream flooding. As previously stated, we have followed every applicable agency's requirements, including, but not limited to, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Environmental Protection, Philadelphia Arts Commission, Planning Commission, and Water Department, and will continue to do so. The Philadelphia Planning Commission unanimously approved moving forward with this ordinance at their meeting on January 19th. We submitted a letter recently from Patrick Patterson STATED MEETING 67 2/2/2023 that shows the effects of the project. Recently seven amendments were added to the bill, and they're all environmental amendments that were required from talking to the neighbors and things that they wanted, and we agreed to all seven of those amendments to the bill. Thank you for your time.
The next speaker is Lawrence Szmulowicz, commenting on 220918. (Witness approached podium.)
Hello. My name is Lawrence Szmulowicz. I'm a volunteer with the Cobbs Creek Environmental Justice. I live downstream from the golf course in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood where I organize trash clean-ups and bird walks. First of all, we welcome the amendments. They are a step in the right STATED MEETING 68 2/2/2023 direction. Unfortunately, the amendments do not resolve the core problem with the bill. The bill still gives the developer free rein to cut down trees on any steep slope within the 350-acre premises. The new time limit on the exemption has no practical value. The developer will cut down all the trees that it wants long before the exemption ends in July 2024. Moreover, the amendments do not address the fundamental lack of transparency. We still do not know basic details about the developer's plans. How many trees do they plan to cut down? Do they include any heritage trees? How will they prevent erosion, landslides, and sediment pollution in our waterways after they cut down the trees, whose roots literally hold the earth in place? We do not have these answers, because the community has not had the opportunity to pose those questions. Normally a developer who wants to cut STATED MEETING 69 2/2/2023 down trees on sleep slopes must apply for a zoning variance. As part of that process, the developer must meet with the community at the local RCO, explain their plans, and answer the tough questions. There is no reason why the developer can't apply for a zoning variance here. In fact, they originally did apply for one, but they withdrew it in March 2022 before they met with the local RCO. When the Planning Commission asked the developer why they didn't proceed with a zoning variance, their chief operating officer replied, because our attorney told us that a legislative exemption is cleaner. Well, the developer's attorney is right. It is cleaner to get a legislative exemption than meet with the community, explain your plans, and answer tough questions. It is cleaner to bypass community input, because democracy is messy. STATED MEETING 70 2/2/2023 But whether it's convenient for a developer or not, the community has a right to give input and be heard on the issue -- on the use and development of our public lands, especially when the development potentially threatens our environment, health, and safety. City Council should not get into the business of enabling developers to avoid community input by carving out special exemptions to our local environmental protections. So we respectfully ask you to remove the steep slope exemption and let the developer apply for a zoning variance, as they should have in the first place. At the very least, do not vote on this bill until the developer does what they should have done in the first place, go to the Overbrook Park Civic Association RCO, bring your blueprints, bring your environmental assessments that you said you have, and please answer the community's questions. STATED MEETING 71 2/2/2023 Thank you.
The next speaker is Edison Frazer, commenting on 220918. (Witness approached podium.)
My name Edison Frazer. I'm with Philly Thrive. I oppose this bill, 220918. This is my whole thing. I keep on hearing everybody talk about education and stuff like that but the park own Cobbs Creek. First of all, most of them kids that's doing the shooting ain't even in school. You go out there right now and they out there right now. So our program is to get to the kids and change they thinking. Like we keep on coming to these meetings. STATED MEETING 72 2/2/2023 Gauthier office, she reached out to me, her secretary want to talk to me, but ain't nobody get back to me yet. My program is, what we trying to do is save the youth and stuff like that. By cutting down the trees, what is you doing? And I can talk to you, Jones. What is you doing? When you cut down the trees, you blocking the shade. So our gas and our electric bill going to go up. And somebody just got shot around there last night too. I live right down the street, and the population is 30,000, and 80 percent is Black. They didn't go around the neighborhood, Enrique, and tell when y'all put this golf course up, y'all going to -- pesticides and all that stuff going to lead to our community and stuff like that. I came to you, Jones. So I'm asking you, can I have a meeting with you so I can put my program on the other STATED MEETING 73 2/2/2023 side? All them dirt bikes that's on the street, we want to get them on the field like that. It's nowhere for them to ride. And the reason why we took the sign down, because they already said they was in the park already. So we keep on coming to the -I oppose this bill because, I mean, y'all cut down trees and it wasn't legal, and then last week you said that you was going to held up on the bill. Now it's like -- come on, Jones. I live right down the street from this community, man. I live right down the street from this community. They want to come in here. Golf is for rich people. Golf is for rich. Is it free to play golf? Is it free? I want to know if it's free, because I'm gonna sign up right now if it's free. So I'm asking you, Jones. I'm asking you, Gauthier.
I'm saying, you reached out to me. You said -- you reached out to me. I got the checks right here. Call me to your office. Let's talk. Let's talk. Let's talk, Jones. All right. If we -
Hold up. If we going to coincide, I'm on the other side, Jones. You know what I get. You gave me money to do my thing.
You gave me money. I want to help the youth. You know what I'm saying? I want to help the youth. You gave me money. I'm tired of seeing these Black kids dying and all this stuff. These corporations and stuff is coming in here.
You know what I'm STATED MEETING 75 2/2/2023 saying? So I want to know, can I have a meeting with you, Jones?
Please have respect for everybody who wants to speak.
Come on, call me, Jones, like you call me, man. I ain't trying to put you on the table or nothing like that. Come on, man. You gave me money to do my program, but I ain't get all of it. They got $6 million to do nothing, man. Come on, y'all.
Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony. Councilmember Gauthier, did you want to... (Applause.)
I want to thank Edison for his comments. I'm always willing to meet with any constituent, but not those that come to the office in a threatening manner, STATED MEETING 76 2/2/2023 particularly with female staff.
Thank you, Councilmember. Mr. Clerk, can you please read the next person to testify.
Hi. My name is Erica Zurer. I'm a member of the citywide Friends of the Free Library. Linda introduced the group. Most of you know the Friends of the Free Library, but I came up to speak on a little bit of a personal note. I want to say I'm kind of new to Philadelphia. I haven't been here that many years. I want to say that Betty is Philadelphia. I found that out. She is definitely Philadelphia. She's a crown in the jewel of Philadelphia. When I came here, I was lucky STATED MEETING 77 2/2/2023 enough to meet her not that long after through the Friends of the Free Library. I want to say she's a mentor. I want to say that Philadelphia City Council and the Mayor know, you'd better listen to Betty. Thank you, Betty. (Applause.)
Thank you for your testimony. Mr. Clerk, please read the next person to testify.
The next speaker is Lynn Landes, commenting on 210913. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. I'm Lynn Landes, Founder of HealthAlertPhilly.org. I support Resolution 210913, but today I'm here to talk about vaccines. For all FDA-approved vaccines, STATED MEETING 78 2/2/2023 including COVID shots, there is a Section 13 to the manufacturer's package insert which admits that the vaccine has not been evaluated for its potential to cause cancer, damage DNA, or impair fertility. Yet despite this lack of minimal testing, our federal health authorities continue to maintain that these vaccines are safe and effective. Many people got the vaccine, the COVID vaccine, thinking that they were FDA approved, but it appears that those approved vaccines were not made available to the public. What the public got and is still getting are experimental vaccines under an emergency use authorization, meaning little effective safety testing was conducted. To date, the COVID shots are the most harmful and deadly vaccines in the history of the CDC, with soaring numbers of people suffering from blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, and other sudden illnesses. STATED MEETING 79 2/2/2023 The public is becoming increasingly aware the vaccines in general are resulting in widespread harm and death. Countless books have been written and studies published that offer overwhelming evidence the vaccines did not stop the deadly contagions of the past. Instead, new sewer systems, water treatment facilities, and better nutrition did that. Even polio was most likely caused by DDT, a paralyzing insecticide, not by a virus. When DDT was phased out, polio subsided. In fact, the leading cause of polio today is the polio vaccine itself. And that's what many people don't understand about vaccines. Some can spread the very illnesses they claim to prevent. It's called vaccine shedding. So is Big Pharma spreading illnesses through vaccines rather than preventing them? It certainly looks that way. STATED MEETING 80 2/2/2023 You can learn more at HealthAlertPhilly.org. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Thank you for your testimony. Mr. Clerk, the next person to testify.
The next speaker is Christopher Gladstone. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. Good morning, President Clarke, Councilwoman Cindy Bass, my Councilperson, Councilwoman Kathy Gilmore Richardson, and the rest of City Council. My name is Christopher Gladstone Booth, and I want to thank you for allowing me to speak on behalf of the Woodford Tennis Club. Woodford Tennis Club was founded during the Civil Rights era in STATED MEETING 81 2/2/2023 1958 by eight working-class people who decided not to wait for inclusion but to actively seek a place that they could call their home. Divine intervention is what many of us believe sent George Logan, a police officer in the 14th Precinct and one of Woodford's founding members, to drive up a driveway in Fairmount Park to find an overgrown piece of property that vaguely resembled tennis courts. Upon Officer Logan's inquiry, he did discover that it had been abandoned by the City some 20 years before and it was a part of Fairmount Park. Royal Sims, who is currently the President of the Veterans Administration here in Philadelphia and one of our founding members, cut a deal with the City. The City agreed to lease that abandoned, discarded property to the Tennis Club for $1 a year for 50 years, and needless to say, we are well into our second lease. It was a part -- at that STATED MEETING 82 2/2/2023 point, the members bought the house and the joining property to the tennis courts in 1958. What is Woodford? Woodford is legacy. My father was a founder. I'm a Board member. My daughter is currently a member. Woodford has turned out a number of nationally ranked players, including my daughter, and it continues to support players with professional aspirations. Woodford is home, home to countless years of youth tennis programs exposing African American children to the game of tennis. And, finally, Woodford is history. It truly is apropos on this 2nd day of February to recognize Woodford and its contributions to African American history. But let it not go unrecognized that Woodford also is an integral part -was and is an integral part of Philadelphia history. When you look up little known history facts -- STATED MEETING 83 2/2/2023
-- about the City of Philadelphia, there is a possibility you'll see a picture of 424 East Wister Street, better known as the Woodford Tennis Club. Thank you, Council folks, for this resolution. It is deeply appreciated.