COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA SPECIAL MEETING - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, July 1, 2004, 10:35 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS-BROWN COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILMAN JUAN F. RAMOS COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILMAN FRANK DI CICCO COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED-MILLER COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL ALSO PRESENT: Patricia Rafferty Chief Clerk Special Meeting - 7/1/04 P R O C E E D I N G S
I note that the hour has come, and that a quorum of this Council is present. The 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, I will ask Mr. Charles Register to give us our invocation. All members and guests will please rise.
Oh, eternal God, supreme intelligence of the universe, we come to you in the way of prayer, thanking you for your love, mercy and loving kindness towards the children of men. On this great and wonderful day, we ask that you direct these thy servants to perform their duties, to bring this City of Philadelphia together, without malice, Special Meeting - 7/1/04 grudges or even hate, and that we make good decisions for all the people of this great City. For these blessings we ask in Thy name. Amen.
The Chair thanks Mr. Register for his very inspiring invocation. The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Monday, June 21, 2004. And the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Monday, June 21, 2004, stand approved. UNIDENTIFIED COUNCIL MEMBER: Second.
It has Special Meeting - 7/1/04 been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Monday, June 21, 2004, stand approved. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Chorus of "ayes.")
The ayes have it. The motion carries. And the Journal of the meeting of Monday, June 21, 2004, is approved. The next order of business is request for leave of absence. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. There are no requests for leaves of absence on the part of the majority.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill. Special Meeting - 7/1/04
On behalf of the Republicans, there are no requests for leaves of absence.
Thank you. The Chair will dispense with the regular order of business to recognize the 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 you to come again. The next order of business is communications. The Chair requests that the sergeant-at-arms deliver the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk. The Chief Clerk will please read the messages from the Mayor.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia -
Just a Special Meeting - 7/1/04 moment, please. Councilman Cohen.
Can the Chief Clerk speak distinctly and slowly so everybody can hear what's being said.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia: I am pleased to advise you that on July 1, 2004 -
I am pleased to advise you that on July 1, 2004, I signed all of the bills that were passed by Council at its session on June 21, 2004, except 040564, 040565, 040601 and 040608. And I am returning herewith as disapproved Bill Number 040608, passed by the Council on June 21, 2004; and I have made a $4 million reduction to the Police Department's Class 100 line item, the operating budget ordinance, Bill Number 040601. Special Meeting - 7/1/04
Thank you. The messages will be printed in the Journal. The Chief Clerk will please read any other communications in her possession.
Thank you. Council will now proceed under a special order of business to the reconsideration of Bill Number 040608. This bill as passed by City Council on June 21, 2004, and was returned disapproved by the Mayor to today's session of Council. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter.
Madam President, I move that we reconsider the vote with regard to Bill 040608 which was approved by Council on June 21, 2004. UNIDENTIFIED COUNCIL MEMBER: Special Meeting - 7/1/04 Second.
It has been moved and seconded. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Chorus of "ayes.")
The ayes have it. The motion carries. Council will now reconsider the vote by which Bill Number 040608 was passed. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance amending Section 19-2604 of The Philadelphia Code, relating to tax rates, credits and alternate tax computation for the business privilege tax, by reducing certain tax rates, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, was Special Meeting - 7/1/04 duly approved by City Council on June 21, 2004, and returned to Council by the Mayor as disapproved to today's session of Council. The question is, shall Bill Number 040608 pass, notwithstanding the Mayor's disapproval. I would ask you to please note that a vote of aye is to override the Mayor's veto, and a vote of no is to sustain the Mayor's veto. At this time I would ask the Chief Clerk to please call the roll.
I would like to hear an explanation as to why this bill should either be passed or be overridden by those most concerned.
Would the Special Meeting - 7/1/04 Chief Clerk read part of the Mayor's message on why he vetoed this portion of the bill.
Everyone recognizes the importance of a competitive tax structure. However, the Home Rule Charter assigns to the Mayor responsibility to protect the financial stability of the City and provide essential City services. The Tax Reform Commission urges that tax reductions be paid through reduced expenditures and the increase of other taxes. Business and wage tax reductions of the magnitude proposed by Bill Numbers 040607 and Bill Number 040608, approved by City Council, would result in -
Excuse me. Excuse me. I think that Councilman Cohen is the one that asked that this be read, and I don't think... I think he was distracted. Do you want the Chief Clerk to continue Special Meeting - 7/1/04 reading?
Yes. But I nonetheless would like the Chief Clerk to continue to read the letter.
-- approved by City Council -- Bill Numbers 040608, approved by City Council, would result inevitably in an unfair shift in tax burden to the property taxpayers. For example, if half of this tax -
I ask you to read a little slower. Your reading at the rate you read before was excellent.
For example, if half of the tax revenue lost could be made up with service cuts and half through increases in the property taxes, revenues from the property tax would have to increase by over 70 percent for FY 17. The City cannot afford the $3 Special Meeting - 7/1/04 billion tax reduction program proposed by City Council in addition to the tax reduction program, that the administration already proposes. Therefore, I am returning herewith as disapproved Bill Number 040608, passed by Council on June 21, 2004.
I beg your pardon, sir. I'm sorry. I didn't hear you.
I've also asked the sponsor of the bill to state his view and anybody in opposition state their view. I think it's important at this critical time, with the contracts having expired, that there be ample funds. And I think everybody has to make sure that we are in a position to do a fair contract. (Cheers, whistles, applause.)
So I think it's important on this issue to have a full debate, if necessary. So I'd like to ask for the sponsor of the bill to state his or her point of view.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Councilman Cohen, I appreciate the question. As the Councilman will recall, this bill was passed by City Council on June 21 by a vote of 11 to 6. It is the reductions in the business privilege tax over a period of time between now and 2017. It would reduce the gross receipts portion of the business privilege tax, as well as the net income portion of the same Special Meeting - 7/1/04 tax, and eliminate it in 2017. This is similar to the bill that we passed before that was vetoed by the Mayor and not successfully overridden, and it is a part of the larger strategy for tax reform. It was coupled with Bill 607 which apparently the Mayor did sign. So the bills have been running in tandem. And it's also connected with the larger tax reform package. That's the essence of the bill, Councilman.
Madam President, would you ask if Councilman Nutter would accept a question?
Councilman Nutter, would you accept a question from Councilman Cohen?
Of course I'll accept a question. I always take a Special Meeting - 7/1/04 question.
In view of the present circumstances, and in view of the strange circumstance that the Mayor allegedly -- I'll say allegedly with respect to both sides -- the Mayor allegedly cut less from the revenue side of the bill than the Council did, Council nonetheless reinstated a number of the cuts that the Mayor had initiated which creates a very strange situation in which smaller amounts of revenue were providing a larger amount of cuts. Now, I'd like to ask Councilman Nutter to explain how he views this, from the point of view of the ability of the City to deal with the economic problems that the City now has, in view of the expiration of the old contracts and the need to guarantee sufficient funds being available for purposes of executing a new, fair, viable contract with the working Special Meeting - 7/1/04 force of Philadelphia. (Cheers, whistles, applause.)
Thank you, Madam President. I think, as the Councilman knows, and as our guests and visitors and friends know, certainly the Councilman has been a longstanding supporter of our municipal employees but certainly does not have exclusive franchise on that particular friendship or relationship. I, too, care about the upcoming contract negotiations which I'm sure that the Councilman is quite aware of. This City Council is not a part of those negotiations, but obviously through our budgetary authority we play an indirect role. These budget bills -- or I'm sorry -- the tax bills, Councilman, the budget that we approved, a small part of which is coming back to us, is a balanced Special Meeting - 7/1/04 budget. And the five-year plan that we approved a couple weeks ago is also balanced through all five years of the five-year plan. I believe, as in past history, we know that it is pretty much a routine statement that mayors have made in the past, that there was no money for raises and benefits for our municipal work force, but then subsequently they are always found. And that has been the case, at least during my time here in City Council. So, I do not believe that this bill which was passed which 11 of us, including the Councilman voted for, will inappropriately interfere with the City's ability and the union's right to get a fair contract and appropriate wage and benefit increases. That is just my personal view. And hopefully that's been responsive to the Councilman's question.
I think it's a Special Meeting - 7/1/04 pretty good answer. (Laughter.)
If there's any point of view differently, I'd like to hear that.
Pardon me, Councilman Cohen? You said you thought it was a pretty good answer. And you said something afterward which I did not hear.
I asked if anybody has a contrary view, this is the time I believe it ought to be said.
I think Councilman Nutter answered my question very effectively.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Madam President. I think the body should be clear and Special Meeting - 7/1/04 the public should be very clear on the differences the Mayor has with this business privilege tax reduction bill. We're not talking about a difference in the five-year plan any more. The 160 would not be preventing the Mayor from supporting this bill. It's the 160 in the five years of the five-year plan. In fact, there's no reductions in the current year, where the budget shows a surplus; but it's the out years the years, the years 6 through 12 or through 2017. And I would implore my colleagues to consider, that if you look at the Mayor's view on this, it's that we are not mature enough, we are not responsible enough -VOICE IN THE AUDIENCE: That's right.
-- that if we make cuts in the out years, that we will do anything but go into some kind of legislative paralysis if any other actions have to be taken in the future. That's the way the Mayor sees this Special Meeting - 7/1/04 body. I won't characterize it, but I personally find it insulting that I can't make a decision in the future because of something that's decided today. When in the wage tax cut bill today, there are several previous tax reductions that are being lifted to provide more revenue for this government because of the sad situation we found ourselves in when we started this budget process. And if you can support the 160, the $160 million in the five-year plan but you want to look each year out before making a decision on any other years, you're doing more than just saying that you don't believe Council is responsible or will be responsible in the future should circumstances demand responsibility. What you're basically saying is that we shouldn't send a message to the business community: Not just in Philadelphia, the companies we want to stay here; not just across City Line Avenue, where we've seen the local supply side work in reverse for Special Meeting - 7/1/04 the last 30 or 40 years; and nationally, where this story will be picked up the same way it's been picked up in the last several months. We send a message that we're really not serious enough to make a commitment. And I believe the proper position is to make the commitment, with the whole world knowing that we pass a budget every year and a five-year plan. We could not have been more responsible this year, for the first time reaching out to our oversight board, PICA, meeting with those board members, explaining what we wanted to do, learning what they would support and how they would support it, and then putting together a responsible package both on the budget and on the recommendations to the Mayor on the five-year plan. That is the way this should operate. That would have and will have long-term effect that won't just be for the children. They'll be for the children's Special Meeting - 7/1/04 children because it's the future of the City that's at stake. It's the workers that we want to give the best pay and benefit package to. (Applause and cheers.)
That will benefit from a healthy future for this City. There's no question about that. We are in a downward slide that this Mayor and this Council didn't start, but that this Mayor and this Council can put the brakes on and start us in the right direction. (Applause.)
I don't want to be part of a legislative body that will be described later in later years as one that is now trying at some future point to reverse something that has become irreversible. This is a very reversible trend at this point if we can send a message out that we don't need a half a billion dollars in loans coming out of an economic summit Special Meeting - 7/1/04 to support business and business development and economic development. The best economic development package we will ever have a chance to vote on is before us today. And the business privilege tax reductions are a cornerstone because there is no better help we can give people, whether it's a person out of work looking for a job, whether it's a person looking for a better job, than employment and meaningful employment. And that's what there is all about. It's leveling the playing field so that we're not putting ourselves at a disadvantage any longer, that we've been placing ourselves at for the last 30 or 40 years. I'm sure the people that own the properties, the businesses on the other side of City Line Avenue, get up every day. They don't probably laugh any more as they used to -- they smile still -- that we can't get our act together, that we will Special Meeting - 7/1/04 allow ourselves to charge six and seven times more for the same commodity that they charge and still expect businesses to come here, when we refuse to reduce our prices. We have to figure out a way to do it. I believe that we can. I think there's a will in this Council. I just think it's a shame at this time and it's unfortunate that we don't have a Mayor that agrees with that position. Thank you. (Applause, cheers, whistles.)
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I just want to briefly note to Councilman Cohen: This particular budget and particular five-year plan calls for a new category, one of which I have not seen in the City. It's called supply side revenue. Special Meeting - 7/1/04 My understanding of the whole issue is that it is somewhat speculative revenue. So, there is some question as to whether or not that revenue will ever be realized in the budget. So, it's not clear to me that the funding will be available for the municipal work force if the speculation is not ripe. (Applause and catcalls.)
So, while I agree with my colleagues with respects to the City's need to be competitive -- And hopefully we will address all aspects of our ability to be competitive as we move ahead. But in this particular five-year plan, personally I'm extremely concerned about the speculative supply side revenue. If we don't realize that, I doubt that we'll be able to take care of the municipal work force. I'm really concerned about that. (Applause.)
The Chair Special Meeting - 7/1/04 recognizes Councilman Nutter.
Thank you, Madam President. One item to note for the record, but picking up in a different way where Councilman Clarke left off, there's one thing that's not speculative in the budget that came before us and that this Council took action on. And it's pertaining to a few of the folks who are up in the balcony over on the opposite side of the room. There's nothing speculative about the cuts that came to us, and that this Council sought to restore and put back in this budget. But still I have young people here whose swimming pool was closed because of that budget. VOICE IN THE AUDIENCE: That's right.
And so the question is, what are we trying to do, not only for our municipal workers who do deserve a fair contract -Special Meeting - 7/1/04 (Applause, cheers, whistles.)
-- and who do deserve an opportunity -(Applause and cheers.)
-- who do deserve the opportunity to work in a growing and thriving City, where we'd actually have more people living here, and working here, and opening businesses here, and generating more revenue for this government. But the tax issue had nothing to do with that swimming pool being closed at Baker Recreation Center, nothing. And we put money back, and they closed it anyway. (Applause.)
And there were nine other pools in the City that were closed that we found out by press release, not a discussion, a press release on Saturday. So there are a lot of things that are in this budget. Some are not speculative. They're the reality of what Special Meeting - 7/1/04 our young people and not so young face every day. And by vetoing this bill, the Mayor creates for himself a larger problem because then he doesn't get the parking tax revenue which this Council, which no one thought we would do, approved the parking tax. It's $10 million a year which it results in the Mayor then having to line item money out of the Police Department for $4 million because we had a $6 million projected fund balance positive for FY '05. He loses the parking tax by vetoing the business privilege tax bill, and now has to cut money from the Police Department. Those are all the mechanics of what we're trying to deal with here. And so, this bill should -- the veto should be overridden because we need the additional revenues. That's not being discussed in this particular conversation. Thank you, Madam President. (Applause.) Special Meeting - 7/1/04
Thank you. Councilman O'Neill, your light is on. Did you want to be recognized again?
Yes. Thank you, Madam President. Just responding to the description of new revenues that may come about because of tax reductions as supply side. And that is the term that is generally given to it. As I spoke with one of my colleagues the other day about this issue, I said, look at the E-Consult report, the study that supports new revenues, using historic trends, to show that if you reduce taxes, you can increase revenues. Some of it gets increased by people wanting to live in the City instead of somewhere else, and the other is businesses and jobs coming here or staying here, rather than going somewhere else. And back in the '80s, when supply side theories were promoted in Washington -- And I think they pretty much fell on their face. I don't think there's Special Meeting - 7/1/04 any doubt about that. And E-Consult in their report -- I didn't concentrate too much on the numbers because I think everybody agrees that the numbers, when you get beyond the second year, are educated guesses at best, and we just have to keep our eye on the ball each year, looking at the budget the second year, and then the more speculative third, fourth and fifth years of the five-year plan. But what came across loud and clear -- And I want to make sure that there's not a person that doesn't understand the plain language of the E-Consult report about supply side locally, as opposed to nationally.
-- and E-Consult said that. I think history has proved it. Special Meeting - 7/1/04 But the reason is because nationally you pretty much have to decide you're going to live in the United States. People don't leave the country based on tax decisions that they have to make. They might go to another state, but they don't leave the country. Businesses don't leave the country and the jobs with them because of some supply side possibility. But locally... We're talking about locally. None of the criticism of supply side has ever dealt with local supply side; no criticism has. But the support for it in the E-Consult report, the support for supply -for local supply side in the E-Consult report, which by the way, was very modest. They could have been a lot more aggressive if they wanted to. In fact, PICA said we could still be a lot more aggressive if we wanted to, and they would still support it. But E-Consult used an example. And Special Meeting - 7/1/04 examples are always nice because even people like myself with an economics degree understand it with an example. City Line Avenue. Do you think the people in Montgomery County, in Lower Merion Township don't believe in local supply side? They look at it every day. It's all on their side of City Line Avenue. You don't think that South Jersey knows about supply side locally, locally speaking? They sure do. We're never going to be doing anything except giving away tax revenues to companies that either threaten to leave or say they're going to not come in unless they get a better deal, and then really treat very unfairly the companies that are stuck here. We're doing the same thing to residents. Most of our residents can't get up and leave. They're stuck here, not just City workers. People are just too poor to get out of the City. We can help them as well. Special Meeting - 7/1/04 (Catcalls.)
But I challenge anybody to dispute local supply side, because it's common sense, it's in front of us, it's around us. The counties that surround us, the two states that surround us, can tell you all about local supply side because they've been the beneficiaries of it. One company -- And I'll end with this because I thought it was the saddest day in the Rendell Administration, in terms of good efforts not resulting in any results. And that was the company SAP, the software company. Mayor Rendell, with the support he knew he would get from Council, had offered SAP for about 2,000 high-paying jobs a deal to go into the Navy Yard where they would literally pay no taxes for, I think, 10 or 12 years. (Boo's.) Special Meeting - 7/1/04
I'll wait for the President. SAP would not only have been 2,000 high-paying jobs moving into the City. This is an internationally acclaimed software company that was located just -It's a German company, but their American base was located just outside the City. They were going to also be the anchor to the Naval Base. They were ready to sign on the dotted line. And their Chief Financial Officer asked Mayor Rendell and his staff if he could just run the numbers one more time and run them out 20 years. He ran them out 20 years. Came back and said, sorry. The numbers are too just too sad, too awful. Whatever we gain in the first 10 we get killed in the second 10. They now are outside the City, still in the area. Somebody's getting a big boost from that, in terms of tax revenue. But I'll tell you, SAP is a great Special Meeting - 7/1/04 example of local supply side. And all we're asking here is a very modest recognition of local supply side in years that aren't even at issue. It's only the first two years of the five-year plan are really meaningful and predictable. After that it becomes very speculative. Everybody that deals with the issue will admit that. We're not even dealing with local supply side until the third year, and then in a very modest level. So, if supply side is the problem, I would ask you to put that problem aside, vote for the business privilege tax cuts which will, I think, give us a future that we can all be proud of. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. I just want to engage for a few minutes in the same conversation about the Special Meeting - 7/1/04 concern for supply side. Maybe we should have called it something else. (Catcalls.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Because in my opinion we have been, for at least the nine years that I've been here, and I believe even some time before that, been doing tax incentives that to me act or will act similar to what the supply side effect, what we will have as a result of these tax cuts. We have been doing TIFs, tax increment financing deals for a number of years. The reason is, we need to get those companies and those businesses in, so we have to put on the table some sort of a tax incentive. We've done it just recently with Comcast, the KOZ and KOIZs. (Boo's.)
Give it away to the rich. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: And we make these decisions on individual projects for the purpose of incentivizing those Special Meeting - 7/1/04 companies to either stay or move in, with the end result to increase our tax base and create jobs. So, for me, I'm not frightened about this word "supply side." The word -
Come on. Come on. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: As someone who voted against the raise, I will try to get through with my comments.
You got your raise. (Screaming, yelling, catcalls.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Could anyone argue with the fact that the TIF's that have been created and have been put into motion have not benefited the City of Philadelphia? I don't think there's a person in here who can argue that they were not in the best interests of the City of Special Meeting - 7/1/04 Philadelphia and all of its employees. And what about the abatements that we've done over the last several years where the Managing Director -- and I know I'm repeating myself from a couple of meetings prior, where the Managing Director was bragging about the number of building permits that have been taken out in this City over the last several years, and the fact that neighborhoods are growing again. But for abatements -- and he readily admitted that -- most likely those building permits would have never been applied for. So for me, I look at those abatements, KOZ zones, TIF's, as tax incentives, reducing taxes, eliminating taxes on certain projects and individuals. For me, this tax package that we're faced with today would be across the board, not for a specific project, a specific company or entity. This would give every business across the City an equal playing field so that maybe at some point we won't have to Special Meeting - 7/1/04 deal with and need to deal with TIF's and KOZ because everyone will have an equal opportunity. That's why I'm supporting this tax package today. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. Just very briefly, I speak on behalf of the businesses in my District which are small neighborhood businesses. I speak about Paul Bill, that does a flower shop up on Ogontz Avenue. I talk about Marco Houski who runs a printing shop on Rising Sun Avenue, where the business strip has become a vacant island of businesses that have left the City. I speak on behalf of all the businesses on Stenton, Ogontz, Washington Lane, Rising Sun in my District, Summerdale, where these businesses don't get the advantage of the tax breaks. Special Meeting - 7/1/04 (Applause.)
What do we do for those small neighborhood businesses who stay in this City and who offer revenue to this City on a daily basis? When they see that we do give tax breaks to, like, the KOZ or whatever the incentives we give, they say, what about us? And I the other day was informed that one of the major companies in my District is thinking about leaving to go to Mexico because they want to know, what about us? So I think that we do have a problem, and if we don't begin to address that problem now, what we're going to end up with is feeding off of each other. We will lose City employees through attrition. People won't be -- Those positions will not be filled. We will not have people in here asking for a raise because they won't be there. We have got to find a way to stem Special Meeting - 7/1/04 the tide of the flow of blood from this City, and fix it so that we can generate revenue, so we can provide employment for City workers, and provide an adequate income for them and their families. But if we don't start -(Applause.)
And if we continue to wait... If we continue to wait, the blood is going to get deeper and thicker. And we have to do something to address this problem. I don't know what's going to come down the pike, but I heard that there may be a $500 million economic development stimulus program coming in here. Well, I want to know how we're going to pay for that, and not pay for some ways to help our small businesses. I thank you, Madam President. (Applause.)
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Special Meeting - 7/1/04 Mariano.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I think if we stay here long enough today, we're going to hear a lot of things that make sense and some things that may not make sense to a lot of us, and visa versa. I've been involved in the labor movement for over 30 years in this City in one way or the other. And it always comes down to one thing. If we have to help the business owners which we want to do. Everyone on this Council is in favor of tax cuts, even for businesses. But it always comes down to it's on the backs of the labor unions. (Applause and screams.)
It's not going to be on the backs -- It's always like that. They try to separate you by race. They can't separate you. They try to separate you by religion. They can't separate you, Madam President. Special Meeting - 7/1/04 How do they separate you? How can me and that black woman over there be in the same room? Because we're all labor people. If you come to Philadelphia, and you want to do business, that's part of the cost of doing business. (Applause, screams, cheers, whistles.)
This is a labor town. This is a labor town. Them two guys that follow that trash truck on my street every Wednesday and say, hey, how you doing Councilman? They deserve a raise. They deserve a fair raise. Is it their fault health and welfare is going up? Health and welfare's been going up everywhere. It was going up for the electricians for 25 years. (Applause and cheers.)
It's going up. They knew this stuff when it started. And everyone in this Council knows this stuff Special Meeting - 7/1/04 (Screams, yells, whistles and demonstrations.)
Philadelphia -Philadelphia is a labor town, and it's going to remain a labor town. Business can come and they'll survive. The house next door to me sold in a week for $68,000. I bought mine for less than 50 three years ago. Things are happening here. And a lot of the people in here that spoke for these tax cuts did a lot of good things, without giving any names. They're really trying, but not on their back. Not on 47. Not on 33. Never on our back. (Applause, screams, yelling.)
Yeah. We're concerned. We're concerned. Please. Thank you. Let me finish this. We are concerned. We are concerned for everyone, everyone here. But I got to tell you, we've been sitting here for a long time looking at this tax cut. Special Meeting - 7/1/04 If you read the tax cut, you know what's going to happen? In my uneducated opinion. Because I happen to graduated from college barely. Barely. Barely. Okay. I'm not an economist, no disrespect to my beloved colleague behind me. But all these people in this room understand that they don't know how it works. They know that they're the ones who are going to get screwed. It's going to be them. (Screams, applause.)
You can blame the Mayor, you can blame City Council. (Cheers, screams, whistles, applause.)
We can blame the Mayor. We can blame anybody we want. We can blame the Governor. We can blame Congress. We can blame the President. And Councilman O'Neill, I love you dearly, but people did leave here. Not that many people leave. And that was a Democratic thing. People leave this Special Meeting - 7/1/04 country. These people aren't leaving Philadelphia. (Applause, cheers, whistles.)
Their jobs and their families are here. So let's just get over with the bullshit and vote this thing, and vote it now. (Screams, yelling, applause, cheers, whistles)
Thank you, Madam President. Let's vote. Let's vote. Let's vote. Let's see who has the big cajones here. (Screams and yells.)
Let's vote. Let's vote now. (Screams, yells, catcalls.)
Don't stand Special Meeting - 7/1/04 here and say you're for the labor unions but vote the wrong way on this goddamn thing. Vote. (Screams, yells, catcalls, whistles.)
The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen. Councilman Cohen, your light is on. Did you want to be recognized?
It may be that Councilman Mariano doesn't want anything carried on the backs of workers, but the man he's been supporting politically -that's the Mayor -- certainly does, because the Mayor -(Councilman Mariano screaming at Councilman Cohen, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
You're out of order. Special Meeting - 7/1/04 (Councilman Mariano screaming at Councilman Cohen, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
Mariano, you're out of order. Please sit down there. Sit down there and be quiet. (Councilman Mariano screaming at Councilman Cohen, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
Councilman Mariano, you're out of order. (Councilman Mariano screaming at Councilman Cohen, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
I know it's tough for you to be quiet. (Councilman Mariano screaming at Councilman Cohen, away from the microphone, not reportable.) (Cheers, applause, whistles, catcalls.)
All the noise -Special Meeting - 7/1/04 All the noise -(Councilman Mariano screaming at Councilman Cohen, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
All the noise that Councilman Mariano makes never hides the fact -
Let's vote. Let's vote. It's bullshit. Bullshit. Lock me up. Throw me out of this Council. There is bullshit. Throw me out. It's bullshit. Can't be labor -- This is bullshit. Follow me anywhere. (Councilman Mariano screaming at Councilman Cohen, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
I say all the noise that Councilman Mariano makes does not hide the fact that the plan whose policies he's supporting, the Mayor, Special Meeting - 7/1/04 announced this morning that he wants the wage tax -
You're always saying about the Mayor. I don't see the Mayor in here. (Applause, cheers, whistles, catcalls.)
He's not here. Vote. Vote. Vote. Vote. Vote. Vote. Vote. Councilman, put up or shut up. Now, I respect you but you got to -
Councilman Mariano, you're out of order. Please -
Councilman Cohen is speaking. Please sit down. (Councilman Mariano left the chambers.) (Cheers, whistles, applause.)
The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen. (Cheers, whistles, applause.) Special Meeting - 7/1/04 (Councilman Mariano returned to the chambers.)
Yeah; he likes me; he don't like me. Tough. Tough. Let's vote. Previous question has been called for.
I'm asking for order, please. (Councilman Mariano screaming, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
Order. Order. (Councilman Mariano screaming, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
I don't care how long it is. Special Meeting - 7/1/04 (Councilman Mariano screaming, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
Councilman Cohen. Councilman Cohen. (Councilman Mariano screaming, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
I have plenty of time, Madam President. At age 89, I figure I only have 89 more years to go.
Councilman, you're going to have to speak into the microphone, please. Councilman Cohen is recognized.
All the noise that Councilman Mariano wants to make will not hide the fact that the man he is supporting, Mayor Street, announced today -
He's not here. Put up or shut up. Vote. Special Meeting - 7/1/04
Councilman Mariano -(Councilman Mariano screaming, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
Councilman Mariano, Councilman Cohen has the floor.
He doesn't have -(Councilman Mariano screaming, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
He has the floor, and I would ask that you please restrain yourself. (Councilman Mariano screaming, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
Councilman Mariano never recognized that fact. He thinks he's the only one that ever has the floor.
Just a moment. Councilman Cohen. Councilman Cohen, I think you deserve more respect. Please proceed.
I said you deserve more respect. I was asking everyone to please be silent so you could be heard.
Oh, I'll be heard. The people know me well enough to respect me. (Laughter.)
I have no concern about that, Madam President. All I want to prevent is that Councilman Mariano permit others -(Councilman Mariano screaming, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
-- to speak as he does. You see, he doesn't want to hear me because he knows I speak the truth. (Councilman Mariano screaming, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
Councilman Special Meeting - 7/1/04 Mariano is supporting the policies of a man who announced this morning that he wants to kill the wage tax cut bill that's targeted to help the low income and the working people in Philadelphia. That statement appears in today's papers in the Inquirer. Now, tell me if that's not using the backs of the workers. (Councilman Mariano screaming, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
Councilman Mariano, this is not a debate, and you're out of order. You're out of order. You're out of order. Now, please restrain yourself. If you want to be recognized, I'll be happy to recognize you.
Councilman Cohen has the floor. (Councilman Mariano screaming, away from the microphone, not reportable.) Special Meeting - 7/1/04
Councilman Cohen has the floor. (Councilman Mariano screaming, away from the microphone, not reportable.)
Thank you, Madam President. All I wanted to make it clear was that in my judgment the issue of a fair contract for workers is foremost, but that doesn't mean that I trust Mayor Street one tiny sixteenth of an inch. (Laughter, applause, whistles, cheers.)
Because I don't. I know it's difficult when your contract expires and your employer asks you to come out and support his proposal because he tells you -- he tells you that he needs the money to support you. Everybody that knows Mayor Street Special Meeting - 7/1/04 knows that with his own proposal, his own proposed budget which provides for much less money than is being provided now to the City that nonetheless the Mayor was going to make the cuts. Yesterday the Firefighters went to court to prevent certain cuts in fire stations, and engine companies, and ladder companies. Who were they met with fighting to maintain the cuts? The Mayor's City Solicitor because that's the Mayor's position. The Mayor wants to cuts. We in City Council have been working hard to prevent the cuts. We've added back most of the jobs the Mayor cut. How much we can do, we don't know because of the strong mayor form of government, but I think this Council has fought nobly and vigorously to defend workers' rights. And Councilman Mariano, truth be said, often supports workers. I usually support workers. Most of Council usually Special Meeting - 7/1/04 supports workers. And no matter what happens on these bills today, we're going to be fighting as hard as we know. And I think it will be a joint Council. And I think Mariano and I may be standing next to each other, if there's a strike, at the doors supporting the workers. (Applause.)
I have trouble with both sides of this issue because I don't know necessarily at all how much help the City is going to get when they cut down on the taxes of business. I'm interested in the plight of working people. They're the ones that have the real difficulty of surviving. And when the Mayor issues a statement saying that he favors eliminating the one wage tax cut bill aimed at helping working people and low income people, it concerns me deeply because it means that the Mayor is interested, as he's always been, in big businesses but never Special Meeting - 7/1/04 interested in the plight of workers. (Applause.)
And so, regardless of what happens here -- And I have to tell you, based on the evidence, I'm going to be supporting the override, not the Mayor, because I don't trust the Mayor enough to rely on him. (Applause.)
But I do trust the City Council. And whatever their decision is, I think everybody is going to find down the road it will be the right decision. And I plan, Madam President, to vote to override this veto, in order to what I think will be a real support base for workers because the only one helping the workers today is the City Council. Council members were at a rally last night in Port Richmond for the Firefighters. They were in court yesterday with the Firefighters. And if there are picket lines, you're going to find Council members there Special Meeting - 7/1/04 because we're not going to let this Mayor or any other mayor ever prevent the City of Philadelphia from justly rewarding the fine work that its workers do day in and day out. (Cheers, whistles, applause.)
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I'm sorry, Madam President. My light was on by accident.
Thank you. Councilman Mariano, your light is on.
Thank you. I was going to ask Councilman Cohen to explain to me how by voting to override a veto and therefore hurting revenue streams will help those people get a better raise. But you know what? Let's just wait Special Meeting - 7/1/04 until it's over, and we'll vote the way we're going to vote. And hopefully enough people here will have the intestinal fortitude to do the right thing, regardless of what the Mayor says or anybody else says. This is about us right now. So, Councilman, we'll have a long talk after this. And with your wisdom and your many years in Council, you explain to me how voting for the override helps them get more money in revenue. Thank you.
Thank you. I will repeat... I will repeat: A vote of aye is a vote to override the Mayor's veto, and a vote of no is to sustain the Mayor's veto. At this time I ask the Chief Clerk to please call the roll.
The ayes are 11, the nays are 6. (Applause, whistles, cheers.)
Okay. The Mayor's veto is sustained. (Applause.)
Council will now proceed under special order. I'm sorry, Councilman. I didn't realize your light was on. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Madam President. I'm going to call for special Special Meeting - 7/1/04 consideration of Bill 040023-A at this time. I know that a special meeting under the rules of Council that we're only supposed to deal with those issues that have been advertised, but also under those same rules, by a two-thirds vote it's appropriate that we can vote on a bill. Since the business privilege tax cut bill was just defeated, I'm calling for consideration of Bill 23-A which eliminates the gross receipts tax by 2010, eliminates of net income tax by 2016. Copies of the bill have been placed on the desks of members of Council. This bill costs zero dollars next year, zero dollars the year after, and only $6 million a year after that. So I move consideration of Bill 23-A. And I understand it takes a two-thirds vote to consider it.
Yes. Under the rules, to consider matters not specified in the call at this special Special Meeting - 7/1/04 meeting requires two-thirds vote. Therefore, the Chief Clerk will please call the roll on the motion. Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for a point of information.
Is this motion to consider all bills or just this bill?
No. Just the one bill, Bill Number 040023-A. This is on the motion to consider the bill at this time.
Aye. The ayes are 17. The nays are zero. This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is, shall the bill pass finally? Is that the motion? Oh, I'm sorry. You didn't read the title.
Bill Number 040023-A, an ordinance amending Section 19-2604 of The Philadelphia Code, relating to tax rates, credits and alternate tax computation for the business privilege tax, by reducing the tax, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you. This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is, shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the call.
Councilman Special Meeting - 7/1/04 Cohen, did you want to be recognized?
I would like the sponsor of the bill to outline briefly the provisions of the bill.
Thank you, Councilman Cohen. This bill was actually introduced on January 22nd, along with the other Tax Reform Commission bills. This bill originally just eliminated the gross receipts tax within the first five years. It was amended in the Finance Committee to eliminate the net income tax by the year 2016. It was then further amended on June 21st to really smooth out the schedule and eliminate the gross receipts by 2010. The impact on the five-year plan is $85 million, which is significantly less than the other Tax Reform Commission bills. And as I mentioned before, the impact on the first three years of this Special Meeting - 7/1/04 bill is zero, zero and six. Thank you.
You're welcome. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
A majority of all Council members having voted in the Special Meeting - 7/1/04 affirmative, the bill passes. Oh, I'm sorry. What did you say?
The ayes are eight? Oh, I'm sorry. I misunderstood you. The motion fails. The motion fails. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to allow for the introduction of bills and resolutions at this special meeting of Council. UNIDENTIFIED COUNCIL MEMBER: Second.
Okay. Again, it would require a two-thirds vote. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll. Councilman O'Neill, your light is on.
Madam Special Meeting - 7/1/04 President, at the appropriate time, I'd like to call for special consideration, two-thirds of the body, on Bill Number 040598. It's the last bill on the calendar, and it deals with authorizing the City's agreement with the Army-Navy game.
I don't believe we have to have a two-thirds vote. I believe we have to have a majority to suspend our rules.
I believe... Councilman Nutter, your light is on. Did you want to...
Councilman Clarke had a point of order. I've got a question about the issue that was just raised, and I have a bill that I wish to introduce.
Right. Well, but now we're moving into bills -- Why don't we take care of all the special Special Meeting - 7/1/04 business?
I don't believe that we're doing that because if in fact we did we would be unbalancing the budget.
My understanding is the line item veto is to balance the budget.
Right. MR. McPHERSON: Correct. And since the override of the BPT failed, by overriding that you would be unbalancing the budget.
I think we can get an explanation from the top of the thing in that fashion. I would like to get an answer to Councilman Clarke's question. It's pertinent to the veto message that we Special Meeting - 7/1/04 received.
Madam President, I'm happy to wait until we finish this -- until we deal with the other veto, if it helps us to maintain clarity. I'm happy to wait and defer until after we finish this, and then I'll -- So I will withdraw my motion, and I will restate my motion shortly.
Rather than just a private conversation there, I would like either Mr. McPherson or Mr. Auerbach to convey to all of the members exactly why we're not considering it. Mr. McPherson. MR. McPHERSON: When Council attempted to override the business privilege tax and that failed, then that would preclude Council from attempting to override the line item veto on Bill 601 because to the extent that you overrode the veto, you would then be unbalancing the budget.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I appreciate the technical explanation. The issue that I was raising is, at least in my relatively short period of time, we have not had a line item veto of a budget. We haven't had a hole host of things in the past two months, as compared to the last 20 years. Councilman Clarke raised the issue. I had planned to raise the issue. If a decision was made somewhere not to bring the item up, notwithstanding whatever the explanation is in the message from the Mayor, I'd at least like it on the record as to why we're not calling it up, and what the implications were. And it was just basically being ignored. Now, if a decision had been made somewhere else to do that, that's fine. But I think some of the rest of us, at least, deserve to have it on the record as Special Meeting - 7/1/04 to why it's being ignored.
I fully understand. And if you're satisfied with Mr. McPherson -- Are you satisfied with Mr. McPherson's explanation?
I appreciate the explanation. I understand the explanation. I just want the record clear as to what we're doing with it. If the answer is nothing, then we should say that.
In this particular matter because we've never had one of these situations.
So we're doing nothing. Okay. At this time the Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Madam President, I am not sure where we are. I Special Meeting - 7/1/04 thought we were continuing with the operating budget amendment? I agreed to withdraw my motion until we finished dealing with this issue.
With the override. So then we are not overriding --
I did not understand the import of Mr. McPherson's statement. I've been grappling with it, and I'm amazed that so many of my colleagues seem to understand it. But I Special Meeting - 7/1/04 must admit, I don't understand it. So I'd like to know, what's the impact? What is McPherson suggesting that the Council do?
Mr. McPherson, would you please approach? Councilman Cohen wants to know what the impact is.
What is it you urge us to do and why? MR. McPHERSON: When the Mayor vetoed the business privilege tax bill, that also meant then, because the parking tax was contingent upon the passage of both the wage tax reduction and the business privilege tax reduction, that by not being able to override that veto, there was a $4 million hole in the City's fiscal 2005 operating budget. A $4 million hole. Excuse me. And then the Mayor on Bill 601, because of his veto, reduced the Police Department and personal services by that $4 million. Since we were unsuccessful in Special Meeting - 7/1/04 overriding the Mayor's veto on the business privilege tax which meant then the continued loss of the parking tax, by trying to override the reduction in Bill 601, if we were successful, we would be unbalancing the budget.
So your advice is that we not take any action at all? MR. McPHERSON: Yes.
To maintain the balance of the budget. MR. McPHERSON: Yes.
Very good. MR. McPHERSON: And actually, the City Controller was over there with his concern, to make sure that we take no action because he has to certify that it is a balanced budget at some point today. And if we took action, he would have difficulty being able to do that.
Madam President, Special Meeting - 7/1/04 do we have any information as to the impact of the $4 million reduction in the Police Department?
Do we? No. No. None was supplied. We distributed whatever we got from the Mayor this morning.
No; I understand that. Has there been any information... I mean, we have had a fair amount of time between the delivery of the message. Is there any information come to the Council in any of the half a dozen people from the administration who are in the chamber at any point in time? Has anyone deigned to share any information with us as to what the implication is of the $4 million reduction being made by the Mayor?
You're asking if there's someone from the administration in the chamber that can explain it?
I'm asking if any of the people who have been in the Special Meeting - 7/1/04 chamber from the administration have shared any information with the Council, with the President, any of the staff, or anybody else as to what the implication is -
No, we have not been informed by anyone. The only information we received this morning at 10 of 10:00 was the letter from the Mayor. Councilman Cohen. I'm sorry, Councilman. You'll have to talk into your microphone.
Re-read the Mayor's letter. It is as if -- It is as if he believes that he does, in fact, have the power to maintain the parking tax, even though he's vetoed the bill.
No. I don't Special Meeting - 7/1/04 read it that way.
Councilman, I read the message there. There's a slightly confusing component to it, but I don't think that that is the case. I think the Mayor recognizes that which is why he's proposing to cut the budget by $4 million because he knows he has a gap by losing the parking tax revenues. We've got -- I mean, I saw just a few minutes ago... The Budget Director is here. Can somebody ask him the question?
Is Mr. Dubow or someone from Finance here? I believe Mr. Dubow is in the corridor. I'm asking that he come in. Mr. Dubow is in the corridor. We're getting him.
That's fine. I'll read about it in the paper tomorrow. That's where we usually get the bulk of the Special Meeting - 7/1/04 information. Thank you, Madam President. That's fine.
Okay. You're welcome. All right. With that issue being behind us, the Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Madam President, I move that the rules of Council be suspended so that a majority of Council will be sufficient to permit the introduction of bills and resolutions during this special session.
All right. Okay. As I indicated before, this is a special order of business, so you are making a motion. And it would require, under our rules... Would you please reiterate what your motion is?
Absolutely. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so that a majority of Council will be sufficient to permit the Special Meeting - 7/1/04 introduction of bills and resolutions at this special session.
Would the sponsor of the motion state what the extreme urgency is that a special meeting be turned into a regular ordinary meeting?
Well, I don't know that this will ever be considered an ordinary meeting, Councilman. (Laughter.)
Having said that, there are several bills and resolutions that other members wanted to introduce that would not be permitted because this is a special session. There are approximately three that I'm aware of, issues, that concern the Council that various members would like introduced. Special Meeting - 7/1/04
Thank you, Madam President. If I could ask the majority leader with regard to the motion, as I was listening to it, it sounded like the motion was to allow for a majority.
What provision in the rules are we trying to amend? And if that's the case, it sounds like we're actually making an amendment to our rules, as opposed to just suspending them.
Well, we are only suspending them for this meeting.
Right, but the motion sounds like it's changing something from two-thirds to a majority.
For this session, to allow for introduction only.
I don't think you can amend the rules in the same session. You can suspend the rules.
Well, we said suspend the rules. We said suspend. We didn't say amend. Only a suspension for today.
I understand that. Where's the two-thirds -- If you could tell me what section we're trying to suspend? Where's the two-thirds provision?
That is in -- That is in... Special Meeting - 7/1/04
I understand Special Meeting - 7/1/04 that. So the very simple issue I'm raising is, the rules say two-thirds.
And I understand that we're trying to suspend the rules. But then the part of the motion is is to change this two-thirds requirement to a majority.
And the issue I'm raising is, does that, then, in fact, make it now an amendment to our rules because you're proposing to change a particular provision?
I don't believe we're amending the rules. We're only suspending them for this session.
I mean, if Special Meeting - 7/1/04 you would like to change the language somehow, I'm happy to entertain that, if you think it would make it clearer or it would expedite in some other way, I'm happy to entertain any language that you think would be helpful.
No. Given the length and the bizarreness of the session, I'll go along with it.
Thank you. Maybe Mr. McPherson can explain to us what we're trying to do here.
I think Mr. McPherson can explain this, because I talked to him before Council, and asked his counsel. And he explained to me, and maybe he can enlighten Councilman Nutter.
I think Rick Auerbach -- Rick Auerbach is our attorney. I think Rick Auerbach should. Special Meeting - 7/1/04
The rules of Council require a two-thirds vote to add additional matters to -
Under the rules of Council, when a special session has been scheduled limited to particular subjects, a two-thirds vote is required to add additional subjects to the meeting. The motion, as I understand it, is to simply suspend the rules to do away for this meeting with the two-thirds requirement, in order to add the item which would be consideration of introduction of bills and resolutions. If the motion were to pass, a second motion would be required to move to permit introduction of bills and resolutions at this time which would only require a majority vote, if the rules were suspended. At that point, introduction of bills and resolutions would be permitted.
Mr. McPherson, Special Meeting - 7/1/04 let's make -- I mean, Mr. Auerbach, make it simple for me.
How many yes votes do we need to suspend the rules, 9 or 12.
You only need a majority of Council to suspend any rule of Council. Nine votes is sufficient.
Vote to suspend the rules. Then we vote for what the Council -
And then there would be introduction if that motion were to pass. Thank you.
I think, Councilman, he made it clearer. To Councilman Nutter's issue of two resolutions, the Councilman was correct. Thank you.
Thank you. Several lights are on. Is it on this issue? The Chair recognizes Councilman Special Meeting - 7/1/04 DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. As Councilwoman Blackwell pointed out, there are three matters which may be taken up, if these rules are suspended. I assume that one of them is my resolution. I'd be more than willing to hold this if the sponsor of the other resolution or resolutions was willing to do that as well, so we do not have to deal with the issue of changing the rules and suspension of the rules, and et cetera.
Madam President, I think it's very bad practice to convert -- except in extreme emergency situations, to convert a special meeting into a general overall meeting. I also had things in mind that I would like to have Council take action. But our session really ended two weeks ago and we're still in session only because of Special Meeting - 7/1/04 unfinished business. I think we ought to limit ourselves to that unfinished business, instead of converting a special meeting into a general meeting. Otherwise, the special meeting will lose all significance. So I plan on voting no on this proposal, in the absence of showing an emergency condition which requires action, in which case, of course, Council is like a judge. We're always ready to act if there's emergency. Short of that, I think we ought to maintain special meetings as special meetings and reserve regular resolutions and other actions for regular meetings. Thank you, Madam President.
I don't know what resolutions we're talking about, but if there are other sponsors that are here, perhaps they'll join Councilman DiCicco so that we can finish today's work today. Special Meeting - 7/1/04
I believe the resolutions were circulated yesterday, councilman. Okay. Councilwoman Blackwell.
Madam President, I think the other question is, since the main sponsor of the resolution I hold is willing to hold it, and Councilman DiCicco is as well, there are other Councilmen who have issues on the table. Councilman O'Neill, for example. And I don't know -- I think -- I don't know if my colleague is willing to hold his legislation or not.
Madam President, I'm not affected -- My issue on the Army-Navy bill is not affected by this. I will be using the two-thirds consideration, similar to...
I'm sorry. You can't be heard. Special Meeting - 7/1/04
I will be using the rule with two-thirds to call up the Army-Navy bill. That's not affected by it.
And I think the issue that you're referring to is certainly one of importance because there's a question of timing for the signing of the contract for the Army-Navy game here in Philadelphia; is it not?
Madam President, since the sponsor the, main sponsor of the resolution that I was setting forward is willing to hold it, then I will then -- And since my colleague, Councilman DiCicco was willing to hold his, I will withdraw my motion.
Fine. Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Madam President, first on behalf of the Special Meeting - 7/1/04 Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, I'd like to thank Councilman Goode for listing this bill and having a hearing, the bill that I'm about to call up, before the Commerce Committee. Because he did that, even though there was no chance, unless we had a special session, to be able to pass it. And it's a critical issue that had kind of fallen through the cracks during the budget deliberations. It involves authorizing the agreement, the long-term agreement, for the Army-Navy game to stay in Philadelphia. So I would move that Bill Number 040598 be called up on the second reading and final passage calendar at this time.
Okay. It has been moved and seconded. I would ask the Chief Clerk to please call the roll.
Bill Number 040598, an ordinance authorizing the Director of Commerce on behalf of the City of Philadelphia to enter into agreements with the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Special Meeting - 7/1/04 Development and the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, both for purposes of hosting the Army-Navy intercollegiate football game in certain years, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is, shall the bill pass finally. The clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to be recorded as voting aye for the bill that was just considered while I stepped out of the room.
Thank you. A majority of all Council members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Councilman Mariano, your light is on.
Madam President, I may be out of order, and you can tell me. I had a soldier here from Iraq. And I wanted to introduce him, but I don't know if he left because he might have got a little nervous. (Laughter.)
But I'd like to say his name anyhow at the proper time.
Is he here? Special Meeting - 7/1/04 This is Captain Jerome Checkner (phonetic). (Aforementioned person stood up.) (Applause.)
Thank you. The captain's very special. He just came back from a six-month tour of downtown Baghdad. He was headquartered in Saddam's palace. He's an intelligence officer in Task Force CJTF7. It's a combined task force. He worked directly for General Sanchez and Ambassador Bremer, and he's a Philadelphia Police Detective also.
Madam President, can I make a motion? Maybe Councilman Cohen would like this. Can I make a motion and make him a General? Council, can I get a second?
Thank you, Madam President. Hopefully, based on Councilman Mariano's introduction of the Captain, hopefully he's not in undercover services over in Iraq. And I'm sure he'll have some great stories to tell, if he returns. Madam President, given the discussion earlier about members agreeing not to introduce measures -- And obviously we needed to take the action with regard to Councilman O'Neill and the Army-Navy game, I was also one who had asked for consideration for introduction of a bill or resolution. In accordance with my colleagues, Special Meeting - 7/1/04 and not to test their overwhelming patience with me, I will hold the particular bill that I was going to introduce which is the business privilege tax bill that was vetoed and we were not successful in overriding, in order to re-emphasize the important nature of this particular issue. It is not a matter that would cause for interruption of a special session. And I'll bring it back in September. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. Anyone else want to be recognized at this time? (No response.)
I would just like to make a very brief statement. I truly want to thank all of my colleagues. I know that the last three and a half, four months have been extremely, extremely troubling to many of us. And we did put in 11 hours a day of public hearings many days during our Special Meeting - 7/1/04 process of public hearings. And I want to thank you all for your cooperation. And I know with the issues that we considered today, many of us had very strong feelings one way or the other. And I really want to thank you for respecting each other's opinion. I think that's extremely important. We can always agree to disagree. But I think we should always remember that we are supposed to do it in a dignified way, a dignified way. If there are no speeches on the part of the members at this time, it will conclude our business. And I would recognize Councilwoman Tasco for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Madam President. I gladly adjourn this session until Thursday, September the 9th, at 10:00 a.m. UNIDENTIFIED COUNCIL MEMBER: Second.
It has Special Meeting - 7/1/04 been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, September 9, 2004, at 10:00 a.m. All in favor will say aye. (Chorus of "ayes.")
The ayes have it. The motion carries. Thank you. (Meeting concluded at 12:10 p.m.) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the special meeting of The Philadelphia City Council, taken on July 1, 2004, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. _____________________________ DAVID A. DEIK, RPR and Commissioner of Deeds (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.)