COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - - - Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ 6401 Ogontz Avenue Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tuesday, April 27, 2010 4:40 p.m. - - - PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN WILLIAM GREENLEE COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILWOMAN MARIA QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO BILLS 100115, 100116, 100117, 100118, 100131 and RESOLUTION 100141 - - - 2
Good afternoon, everyone. Can you hear us back there? (No.)
Thank you. This is a continued public hearing of the Committee of the Whole, and I would like to recognize the Councilpeople who are in the Committee here. To my extreme left is Councilman Greenlee. Next to Councilman Greenlee is Councilman Goode. To my immediate left is Councilwoman Miller, and to my immediate right is Councilwoman Tasco. I think on behalf of the members of Council I really want to thank all of you for being in attendance, and we certainly look forward to hearing your comments and your concerns about the upcoming budget. 3 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. At this time, I would like to recognize Councilwoman Tasco for brief remarks.
Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon, everyone. (Good afternoon.)
Thank you so much for coming out to this hearing that we wanted to bring to the community so that you would have an opportunity to voice your position and concerns over the proposed budget that we are addressing in City Council and have been for the last couple of months. It gives you an opportunity to let us know how you feel, and we'll take that into consideration as we deliberate how we close this $150 million gap. I certainly want to thank Bishop Morris and the Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ for opening up the doors of this beautiful church to have this hearing. We were here last year. 4 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. They're very accommodating, and we wanted to have a place that would accommodate you and you would feel comfortable. And we certainly ask you if you would give it due respect as we proceed with your deliberations. Thank you again for coming.
Thank you, Madam President. I too want to thank you for taking time today to come out. We're looking forward from hearing from you, what are the things that you care about, what are the things that you like or dislike or some of your suggestions. Some people may have suggestions about budget-related issues. We have to raise revenue. We have to get revenue from somewhere. So that's why we're here. We're glad you came out. We expect we'll be here at least until about 6:30, something to 5 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. 7:00. If you haven't signed up to testify, if you want to testify, I believe the sheet is out at the front desk. I too would like to thank Bishop Morris. This church is just a perfect place, a perfect location, off-street parking, and we're just happy to be back here again this year. So thank you all for coming.
The first witness is Cicely Peterson Mangum, Esquire, Logan CDC.
Thank you. And to witnesses, I would like to set some ground rules. We do have a number of witnesses that would like to testify. We want to give them all an opportunity to actually give their testimony. So with that in mind, we're 6 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. going to give every witness three minutes. (Witness approached witness table.)
Good afternoon. Thank you for coming. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Hi. My name is actually Carla Robinson. I'm Program Associate. I'm here on behalf of Cicely Peterson Mangum, Executive Director, at Logan CDC.
Could you speak a little more slowly and speak into the mike.
My name is Carla Robinson. I am the Program Associate at Logan CDC. I am here on behalf of Cicely Peterson Mangum, Executive Director of Logan CDC.
I'm here to 7 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. testify on behalf of Cicely Peterson Mangum, Logan CDC's Executive Director. Before I begin my testimony, I want to thank Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller and Councilwoman Marian Tasco for bringing these hearings to the community and for offering us a platform to express our views and recommendations regarding the City's 2011 budget. Logan CDC is a community development corporation serving the Logan neighborhood of Philadelphia. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life for residents and businesses through a broad range of revitalization efforts, including transformative, community and economic development; commercial corridor and affordable housing development; and community-focused education and organizing. Within a short period of time, with support from the City of Philadelphia, Logan CDC has successfully implemented the following programs and services: Free computer and Internet 8 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. access to Logan residents through the Community Technology Center; community outreach and organizing through the Logan Neighborhood Advisory Committee; foreclosure prevention through participation in the City's Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Pilot Program, which focuses on door-to-door outreach to inform homeowners about their rights, counseling and mandatory outreach to inform homeowners or mediation with lenders or services to prevent foreclosure; free application assistance to low- and moderate-income residents seeking federal and State benefits and tax credits through the Benefit Bank; small business assistance and streetscape enhancements through the North Broad Street Improvement Project, a comprehensive commercial corridor revitalization program; and planning for a mixed-use real estate development project in the Logan Triangle area. In addition to supporting these 9 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. quality-of-life initiatives, the City has made significant investments in revitalizing the neighborhood commercial corridors and supporting small businesses to better address the need for local access to goods, services and jobs. I am here to urge the City to continue supporting the work of community development corporations and economic development initiatives. Economic development is an important strategy in eradicating poverty, generating the resources necessary for human development and a stable community. The work of CDCs strengthen neighborhood economies and, in turn, the City of Philadelphia's tax base. The City has approved ordinances to expand and strengthen the City's CDC tax credit program, which provides flexible support for CDCs engaged in neighborhood economic development. We urge the City to approve the proposed new regulations to implement 10 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. these needed changes to the CDC tax credit program and to expedite approval of participants' renewal applications. The Philadelphia Housing Trust Fund is a flexible funding source that enables CDCs to address a range of affordable housing needs, such as building new homes, rehabilitating old ones, helping homeowners make repairs and protecting homeowners from foreclosure. We applaud the Mayor for indicating his support for an increase in dedicated revenue for the Housing Trust Fund. However, we urge the City to restore the $3 million per year commitment from the General Fund to the Philadelphia Housing Trust Fund and work to advance State-authorizing legislation to expand dedicated funding for affordable housing through the Trust Fund. We commend the City and the Redevelopment Authority for beginning a process to inform its system to acquire and dispose of vacant and abandoned 11 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. properties. We also commend the RDA for being chosen one of the top five cities in delivering the federal economic stimulus program through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
However, several immediate issues need to be addressed while a longer-term reform is advanced. With the NTI audit finalized last October, we urge the City to quickly utilize remaining acquisition funds to accelerate the acquisition/disposition of property to support planned development projects that will not be able to leverage outside resources without site control. We urge the City to commence payments immediately into court to clear title for properties being acquired/disposed of and to implement the recycling agreement to generate additional funds to support future acquisitions. Request the adequate funding to be made available to assist with remediation of the Logan Triangle for future development and job creation. 12 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. To conclude, I'd like to thank you for your time, attention and interest. Community housing and economic development initiatives are important vehicles for continued growth and stability in our neighborhoods. We welcome any opportunity to continue this conversation. Thank you.
Excuse me, Tony, before you call the next witness. Again, I want to remind you that we have a time limit, so when you do hear the bell, try to conclude your remarks as much as you can, please. Thank you.
The next panel is Christie Balka, PCCY, and Joanne Bursich, Non-Profit Finance Fund. 13 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. (Witness approached witness table.)
Hi. My name is Joanne Bursich with Non-Profit Finance Fund. It looks like Christie isn't here yet. So would you like me to hand you these packets and a copy of the testimony?
Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Joanne Bursich and I work with Non-Profit Finance Fund, the manager of the Child Care Facilities Fund since 2003. The Facilities Fund is a partnership between the City of Philadelphia and foundation partners, which allows NFF to help non-profit child care centers make necessary site renovations to improve the safety and quality of their buildings. Thanks to the City's support over the past seven years, the Facilities Fund has served a 14 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. critical purpose in the Philadelphia community. Eighty-seven child care centers have improved their facilities through a capital grant and technical assistance from NFF staff and hundreds more have benefitted from our capacity-building workshops and financial expertise. As you know, child care providers in our city were acutely impacted by the State budget impasse last year. As providers were not paid regularly for the 100-day impasse, some closed and many had to borrow money to meet operating costs. Most are still recovering from those losses. In addition to this strain, the City is currently -- the State is currently strengthening playground standards, forcing many programs to make significant upgrades to one of the most expensive areas in their sites. When done right, a playground will last a very long time, but it's expensive to do right. The 15 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Facilities Fund is an important tool in helping our providers meet these high standards and stay in business. There are more than 200 non-profit child care centers in the City that have not access to grant or services through the Fund. 1 million from the Office of Housing and Community Development for Fiscal Year 2011. Funding at this level would have allowed us to make at least ten capital grants in the coming year. OHCD has proposed a budget of $650,000 for the Fund, an amount that would allow us to support just five to seven grants. While we understand the tight budget constraints that the City is facing, we hope that OHCD can find room to increase the allocation so that we can serve more programs. Our grants have improved the quality of programming for over 17,000 kids throughout the City. On average, 16 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. each grant that we make impacts 90 kids. Additionally, it's important to remember the parents that are able to keep their jobs because they have access to safe, high-quality child care. Our grants often support the sustainability of existing programs, but can also be used to fund expansion when appropriate. The City's steadfast commitment to the Facilities Fund has directly impacted the quality of child care available. Not only are we witnessing significant changes site by site, but also from a systems perspective. In our daily work, NFF strongly encourages all organizations to pursue licensure if they're not already licensed by the State. We work with many publicly funded after-school programs struggling to get their buildings up to code. Some providers have operated underground for so long that the licensing process can be slow and challenging, often requiring a series of both programmatic and facility 17 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. changes. Given the absence of child care specific expertise at the municipal level, the Facilities Fund and its citywide industry partners have served as a vital tool in helping the City fulfill its long-term goal of licensing all facilities that house child care and after-school programs. The majority of the Facilities Fund's grantees, however, are already licensed centers, and we actively help them move along the PA Keystone STARS quality improvement program. In addition to funding from the City, NFF has secured funds from the William Penn Foundation, United Way and Wachovia Regional CDC for the program. Private funding for the initiative provides at least a dollar-for-dollar match to the City.
We also require that our grantees raise funding for their projects. 7 million in private funds have been leveraged against the City's allocation 18 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. of CDBG funds. The continuing need for the Facilities Fund is apparent, as there are more than 210 non-profit child care centers yet to be reached in the City. We're proud of this national model that has clearly demonstrated results, and we look forward to our enduring collaboration with OHCD and the City. Thank you for your time, and I have time to answer questions if anyone has any.
Thank you very much. I don't believe we're going to be asking any questions. Are we? I don't think so. We're here to listen. Thank you.
Thank you very much. The Committee is now being joined by Councilman Curtis Jones to my extreme left. Next to him is 19 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Councilwoman Maria Sanchez. Our next witness?
The next witness then is Mr. Daniel Grace, Teamsters Local 830, and Wrenton Wright and Steve Bennett of Pepsi Bottling Group. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good afternoon to you, too. My name is Danny Grace. I am the Secretary/Treasurer of Teamsters Local 830 here in Philadelphia. The tax will hurt -- the tax is impractical and will succeed in cutting jobs, not cutting obesity rates. The tax will hurt hard-working middle-class families and the working poor of the City. The Mayor shows an alarming lack 20 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. of understanding of our economic consequences of this tax in challenging our position that the tax will cost my membership jobs. What's so hard to understand? The cost of sugar drinks will double in cost. People will stop buying the products. City stores will stop stocking it. The soda companies will move less products. The Teamster drivers and industry support personnel will lose their jobs. Beverage industry statistics show that when soda prices rise ten percent, sales drop eight to nine percent. Reductions in soda sales mean job losses from bottling plant workers to Teamster Union delivery drivers. Our best estimate at this point in time is potentially as many as 2,000 lost regional jobs if this tax is passed. These jobs will not be limited to Teamster members alone. They will be supermarket employees, convenience store workers and small business owners who 21 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. sell soda in their stores or restaurants, which will be adversely affected if this onerous tax is passed into law. There are thousands of family-sustaining middle-class Philadelphia jobs in beverage production, supply, distribution, sales and retailing which depend on a healthy beverage industry. The loss of these jobs will only further erode the City's tax base. Teamsters Local Union 830 represents 2,200 Philadelphia members in the soft drink and brewery industry. These hard-working tax-paying City residents do not deserve to have their jobs placed in jeopardy because of a misguided attempt to plug the City's budget gap solely by taxing the product they produce and deliver. The soda tax is also discriminatory. Taxing one product and one industry to the exclusion of numerous items containing similar sugar-based ingredients is simply unfair. The tax 22 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. would not be imposed on snack items such as ice cream, candy, popsicles, doughnuts or other high sugar foods. Instead, this tax would unjustly target and burden the beverage industry alone. Mayor Nutter proposes to use $20 million of the 77 million raised annually through this tax for public health education and services. Let's be honest here. The initiative is not about health. It is about deficit reduction and raising taxes on Philadelphians, who are already burdened with among the highest taxation rates in the country. If Mayor Nutter is serious about improving citizens' overall health, then only a broad education program aimed at targeting eating behaviors and promoting fitness and a healthy diet can effectively combat the country's obesity epidemic. Any food or drink consumed without moderation will cause weight gain. A sugar-based tax in any form is 23 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. simply unacceptable. I respectfully ask the members of City Council to vote against the sugar drink tax. It will be an additional financial burden on the families already struggling to make ends meet. It does not work for Philadelphia or for the Philadelphia workers. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Grace. Sir, would you identify yourself.
Good afternoon, Council. My name is Wrenton Wright and I am employee of the Pepsi Beverages Company and we bottle Pepsi-Cola here in the Philadelphia area. I'm also here as a concerned citizen in the Ninth Councilmanic District as a resident of East Oak Lane, and I want to further espouse our opposition to the sugar tax bill that Danny Grace just walked us through, but I want to talk from the perspective of the manufacturer. We feel 24 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. that it will affect a lot of people throughout the City if this bill is passed. From the perspective of the manufacturer, though, our main concern is, as Danny Grace mentioned just a few minutes ago, is the devastating impact that it will have on our base of employees. We have hundreds of Philadelphia residents that are currently employed with the Pepsi-Cola Bottling facility out on Roosevelt Boulevard, and if this tax is passed, their livelihood could be in jeopardy. We could lose jobs due to the lack of our beverages being further sold in the City due to the increase of the cost of the product. Not only will it affect us as the manufacturer, it will affect, as I mentioned, our employees on the street, in the warehouse, our fleet mechanics, all of our employees from A to Z, whatever facility they may be employed with us in. But it would also hurt the 25 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Philadelphia retailer. They are the ones that are, again, going to be devastatingly impacted, because, again, they will not only have to pay the tax, they will lose customers we feel to the county stores, those that are close enough or those that have the wherewithal to make it out into the counties to buy these beverages at a much lesser cost. Not only will they more than likely buy their beverages when they're outside of the City, they probably will do all of their shopping outside of the City. So not only will they lose the beverage sales in their stores, they will lose quite a bit of other sales throughout the store. So, again, I'm not representing the retailers, but they will be gravely impacted as well. So if this -- again, just to reiterate what both Danny Grace and I said, if this tax is passed, it will have a devastating effect on our employees, the consumption of our beverages and we 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. think citizens throughout the City of Philadelphia.
John Millevoi, Raphael Thomas and Frank Mamoine. (No response.)
Edward Thompson, Myra Johnson, Charles Harrison. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
My name is Edward Thompson. 27 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. This is where I stand: I'm from -- well, I live in East Oak Lane. I'm just a regular person like everyone else here. My background is in engineering. I was laid off in January, and I could say I'm not looking forward to spending any extra money on anything that I plan on buying in the future. So I would, in my best ability, avoid purchasing anything that's affected with the sugar tax. One, to me, the way the City is structured with all the outside counties, you could basically go across the street and be in another county and purchase something that's not affected by the sugar tax. I live off of Cheltenham Avenue. I'll just go across the street to CVS if I really want a soda that bad. If not, I'll just stop drinking them altogether. But I also agree with the guys from Panel 3, especially the first gentleman, Grace, I believe, spoke. I 28 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. really believe his statement is how the economy and the people will be affected by this. To me, I don't think you can make much money raising things by an extra 50 cent or a dollar. It's just going to hurt people from not buying it. So I believe a lot of mop-and-pop stores are going to be affected, because they still have to make money for markup. So with the increased tax and their markup, I don't think anybody going to buy it. And, like I said, the way the City is structured itself, from Upper Darby to Cheltenham Township and Jenkintown, a lot of people drive in and out of Philadelphia to work. They'll just buy their stuff elsewhere if they really want something that bad.
Good afternoon. My name is Shayna Thompson. I'm the wife 29 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. of Edward Thompson. I'm just speaking on behalf of myself and my family. I completely agree with Edward here with the sugar tax. I'm not a complacent or a lazy person at all, so as my husband said, we'll just basically go across the street to Cheltenham Township, Upper Darby, Lansdale, wherever we may need to go, to pay a lesser price for sugared items. Ourselves don't really buy or drink sugared items that much, so it really won't be affecting us, but for other families that do actually consume sugared items, it's just -- it's probably one of the most ludicrous taxes I've heard in my life. I'm actually from New York. I've only been in Philadelphia for two, three years, so I've been through different types of politics with my Mayor at the time Bloomberg, and I probably have to say this is probably the most ludicrous tax I've ever heard in my life. 30 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. So that's my stand.
Hi. I'm Sean Smith. I'm not speaking for any organization, but the citizens of Philadelphia. I think the City is just looking for another angle to make up for their mistakes for the last years with 12 taxes and not giving back to the 13 community. So now you're going to tax, 14 take away from the community, instead of 15 educating our citizens on the nutrition. 16 We have schools that don't even have gym 17 classes. Now you want to tax our poor 18 communities, drain them of more money, 19 less money going back into their 20 communities that is already not giving back to them. And besides that, the jobs are going to be driven out of our city, less money coming into our city, to go across the suburbs. Then we're going to lose 31 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. jobs, we're going to lose revenue and the City is -- the companies that are here that donate to the City, guess what, they're going to take their manufacturing plants to another city or another town, and there we go, we're in even more of a deficit. You want to tax a beverage two cents an ounce. The tax is going to cost more than the beverage is worth. So from a citizen's standpoint, it makes no sense to me. There's other ways and better ways. If you need help with a budget, give me a call, because there's a lot of issues that you guys are not looking at and blind to what the budget is now. You're spending money on ridiculous stuff.
What is your answer to the dilemma that we're facing?
I'm 32 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. asking you.
Spend money the right way. We got a school district that is one of the worst in this country. We can't even teach our kids to read, but we'll just dump money into programs and let me spend 600,000 on curriculum, but then I'll switch it in six months to a year and then, oh, wait, I don't have any money, so let me tax the poor for beverages. I mean, it's common sense. Spending money more wisely, you won't have budget problems. I mean, it's just like you take a normal person. Okay, I know how much money is coming in. So if I don't have it, I don't spend it. So you've been overspending for years and now you're trying to come back and tax all of us. For what? For your mistakes. So why are we -- (Applause.) 33 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
So if the City is so concerned about their citizens and about us staying in this community -- I'm a long-time resident of this city and I've -- whatever. But I've watched people be drained for years in this city. I've watched people that can't even feed their families, including my own family, and now you want to tax the same people that I grew up with families in past generation to make up for mistakes. The money has never got to the people. It has never got to the communities that need it. So now we're going to drain the communities that didn't have it in the first place for more. For what? Why don't you cut the Mayor's salary and give back to the community. (Applause.)
If he's so concerned about our communities, take his six-figure contract. He just cut BRT's by $25,000. Cut his by $25,000. He's 34 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. got people in the City that aren't from the City coming up with these ridiculous-ass taxes that don't understand how this city is, how it operates and how our people live. So you're bringing in people, let me say, Oh, I'm going to pay you six figures to come up with some ridiculous tax. For what? To help who? It's not helping us. We're going to lose jobs, lose business and revenue, and guess what? Our city is going to be neglected again. Besides being in a deficit, we have the second highest dropout rate in the country. You guys aren't addressing any major issues. We're worrying about a sugar tax. We can't even educate our own X generation to take over when you guys are all gone and retired. My kids, their kids, the kids coming up, we have -- there's no direction. Everybody is pointing fingers. You guys have no clue what is really happening within our communities. 35 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. (Applause.)
You're detached from a generation. There's no 5 disrespect, but I speak to kids on a daily basis. There's a generation gap where we don't even know how to speak to our next generation.
Thank you. The Chair at this point recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you. Thank you for your comments, but let me correct you on some things. Let's take the sugar tax out of it. Let's assume for the sake of discussion we agree. But you did not answer her question about the fact that there are certain communities where the diabetes rate is twice the national average, where organ failure because of it is --
I listened to you. Sir, I listened to you. And I 36 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. said let's take the sugar tax out of it. But I need you to address what we're going to do about the fact that there are maps that you can show where there are areas called food deserts where you have a better chance of walking out the door and if you had three choices to run into first, a fresh vegetable, a book or a gun, you're going to run into the gun, and in those food deserts, there's a nutritional problem where we get fast foods, high salt, high sugar and results in another map that goes right over the same area where organ failures are at twice the rate. And so I'm saying to you, I'm not out of touch. I go through there every day, and, in fact, I'm an organ donor and donated to my brother, who grew up on those things, and donated -- I only have one kidney to give. So we're going to deal with the problem one way or another, whether it's a sugar tax, which we said we're going to 37 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. take off the table, but do not ignore, do not ignore, sir, the fact that we have a problem.
And the problem isn't sugar. It's education. You can't stop people from buying that until you change their mindset. (Applause.)
38 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Excuse me, sir.
You have to have healthy choices in neighborhoods, too. And I'm saying to you that we have a mutual problem that, okay, you raise the point about the revenue. Let's take that off the table. The health concern still exists.
So spend the money and put gardens that teach these people how to grow.
But that's what she asked you to speak to. And you spoke to no tax, and we got that. Believe me, we hear you, but the "out of touch" part is not out of touch, because we deal with the problems every day.
I don't see you in these neighborhoods. I'm in these neighborhoods every day. I don't see you walking around talking to citizens.
Wait a minute. This is not my district, but you come to the Fourth, you'll see me plenty. 39 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. I didn't see you at 60th and Market.
That's not my district either. I'm up in West Philly, South Philly, Northwest, Southwest. It's not a district. It's a city.
Do not say that people at this table are out of touch with their respective districts. That's not true.
I have a question. Is the sugar tax to raise money or not? What's the purpose of the sugar tax? Is it to raise money?
The sugar tax, according to its writers, are for health and to raise money.
It's not for health. 40 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
It can't be for health. It don't make any sense to be for health. You still got the option to go to stores. You still have a choice, regardless of how much it is. It's just like when cigarettes went up, people that smoke and really wanted to smoke, they still smoke.
But, my man, that's the same argument that drug dealers make. They say, yeah, they're going to buy it anyway. We still got to be against certain things that are bad for us. And, listen, I'm not saying here and I don't want you to think that I'm for it. I'm listening, but don't ignore the problem as well. That's all I'm saying. The solution we may not agree on, but the problem for sure we have to.
Thank 41 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. you.
Everybody need to look in the mirror. If you need to go to the gym, go to the gym and work out. Raising the tax of some sugar --
All right. I don't think we're going to debate the issue.
I have one last question. It might be a little personal, but as far as the Council, City Hall, was it a salary freeze down there or do people still get their raises or whatever?
I'm just curious, because my job when I was working at the time, I actually was for a salary freeze in my job just so other people would stay around. I'm wondering how the City Hall look at the situation as we raising taxes. But everybody 42 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. sitting in the City Hall, are they still getting their money or did it stand still like everybody else is doing on their jobs? I have a question. That's all I want to know. I was on a salary freeze for two years helping my other brothers and sisters stay around at work. Are y'all doing the same? (Applause.)
Just for the record, there is no salary freeze, but last year the Council gave back five percent of their salary and those increases that were automatic, they were also given back to the City.
All right. Thank you. I neglected, and I'm sorry, to recognize some members of the City 43 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Administration. I understand that Streets Commissioner Tolson is here, Rob Dubow and Steve Agostini. Our next witness? Oh, is Dr. Schwarz also here? Clay Armbrister. I'm sorry. You're so far back, I can't see you. Deputy Commissioner Gillison and Tumar is here. You should all be sitting up here. I can't see who is back there, and I don't know if you could hear what's being said. Okay. Our next witness?
The next panel is Hannah Park and Miriam McKnight. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Welcome. Please identify yourself for the record.
Hannah, would you please speak into the 44 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. microphone. You have such a soft voice, we can't hear you.
My name is Hannah Park. I am a social work graduate student at Temple University and I am also a foster care caseworker. Most of the children and families that I work with live in various neighborhoods in Philadelphia, which gives me the opportunity to drive all around the City. While driving around, it is not difficult to notice illegal dumping that occurs in the City. It was exciting to hear that Mayor Nutter was promoting a cleaner Philadelphia. However, the proposal of the Keep Philadelphia Clean fee will not produce the results of encouraging residents to reduce the trash amount, but will only bring the result of increasing City revenue. The potential benefit that this trash tax may bring does not overweigh the hardship that the City residents would come across. City 45 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. residents have already tightened their belts due to the struggling economy and the loss of jobs. This fee would cause more financial hardship. If the residents pay a standard trash tax, how are they being encouraged to recycle more or reduce the amount of trash they produce? This tax will worsen or have no effect on the amount of illegal dumping in the City, and it will not do much to reduce the amount of trash that is being produced per resident. Everything will probably stay the same or worsen, except the fact that residents will be struggling even more due to the additional tax. Although there are many other alternative suggestions that were made to replace the Keep Philadelphia Clean fee proposal, I think the first step the City needs to make is to collect the already outstanding property tax that was issued to businesses and individuals. This would increase revenue without putting 46 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. the burden of new taxes on responsible taxpayers and force irresponsible taxpayers to pay what they owe. I also encourage the City to enforce the already existing illegal dumping fines on businesses and individuals. I agree that it is time for Philadelphia to take action to reduce the amount of trash and illegal dumping. However, the Keep Philadelphia Clean fee is not the right way. Thank you.
Would you speak into the microphone, dear. MS. McKNIGHT: Good evening --
Good evening. MS. McKNIGHT: -- members of the Council and ladies and gentlemen. My name is Miriam McKnight, a senior and 47 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. resident of this community, also a member of Concerned Citizens for Change. I am addressing two issues on the proposed budget that is of major concern to me and everyone else that I have spoken to. Number one, payment for trash removal. This would inflict additional hardship to people on fixed incomes and the working poor. We are already robbing one bill to pay another and cannot afford to buy the healthy foods that we need. It was my belief that our taxes paid for trash removal at this time, so is this just a ploy to increase our homeowners taxes without stating it as such? Then if this passes, people should be given a choice as to who will be hired to remove the trash, as it is done in some of the suburbs. Should the City not consider other methods to fulfill their tax woes without increasing the burdens of the low- and middle-income residents? For 48 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. example, rehab these abandoned properties and sell them. You will have more taxes coming in from the people that buy, and I am sure there are several other ways to redeem taxes that are not utilized. Wake up. Rethink this budget. Do not drive people out of Philadelphia. Who will be left to vote for you? Number two, why tax soda pop? This is not the main cause of obesity in our community. Why are we attacking the consumers? There are so many additives in all food products, like steroids, so that a newborn chicken could be weight ready in days, what cows are fed to produce more milk, and I could go on. Some research states that artificial sweeteners contain cancer-forming agents which could be more detrimental to one's health than the use of a reduced amount of regular sugar. What is our enemy? Think about it. Cigarette taxes have been increased so many times, it has not stopped the people who wishes to continue 49 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. smoking to stop. Education is freedom. Educate the public. Include health education as an integral part of the curriculum. Thank you for the opportunity to address you and thank you for your time.
My name is Melissa Hensley-Cohen and I'm a social worker in Germantown. I'm also a graduate student at Temple University. Since moving to Philadelphia eight years ago, I've come to love our city for its history, vibrancy, quirkiness, attitude and excitement. The one thing I don't like about Philadelphia 50 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. is all the illegal dumping. Illegal dumping, not only is it unattractive, it has serious costs - environmental, social, budget and just to our health and well-being. The runoff from the dump sites, they contain contaminants such as motor oil and lead. The dump sites deter visitors and business investment, which is a direct hit to the City's pocketbooks. Dump sites attract further dumping and criminal activity, such as graffiti and arson, which decrease community pride and further exacerbate the problem. Beyond the direct cost of cleanup, there are indirect costs, such as negative effects of property values, lost residential and commercial development. Illegal dumping also poses major threats to the health of residents who live nearby. Residents can be exposed to sharp objects, medical waste, caustic substances and even fire. If there is a fire, neighbors risk inhaling 51 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. pollutants. In fact, 3.9 percent of all fire injuries in Philadelphia were related to fire injuries from abandoned homes, vacant lots and illegal dump sites, and this is well above the national average of 0.4 percent. The dump sites are ugly and they're just plain dangerous. The Keep Philadelphia Clean fee initiative is appealing, but unfortunately this initiative is just another tax designed to close the budget gap rather than clean up the problem. This $300 unexpected fee creates an undue burden on Philadelphians who are hurting already during these challenging times. A hundred-dollar discount for low-income households is nice, but that still leaves $200. In conclusion, I think the City should enforce existing fines and unpaid taxes to close this budget gap rather than burdening us with additional taxes. Thank you. 52 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
May we call Christie Balka and Alicia Dorsey. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good afternoon. Please identify yourself for the record.
Good afternoon. My name is Christie Balka. I'm the Director of Child Care and Budget Policy for Public Citizens for Children and Youth, and I'm also a life-long resident of Philadelphia's Eighth Councilmanic District. I want to first thank you for the opportunity to testify at this neighborhood hearing, and I'll begin by addressing the Child Care Facilities Fund. As the City's oldest child 53 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. advocacy organization, PCCY has seen the needs of Philadelphia's families change over time. Nearly 30 years ago when we were founded, 35 to 45 percent of children under the age of six came from families where both parents, or in single-parent households, the only parent, worked outside the home. Today that figure is 65 percent, and child care plays a crucial role in helping parents return to the workforce, retain jobs and support their families. Thirty years ago many of us thought of child care as custodial, someplace to put your children while parents worked, but today we know better. We know a lot more about brain development, that good child care stimulates children's learning, social and emotional growth and serves as a protective influence against poverty, violence and other toxic stresses in early childhood. And we know that children who participate in good early 54 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. childhood education don't require as much special education and remediation once they start school, and their high school graduation, college attendance and employment rates are much higher than those of their peers. Is Philadelphia reaping the benefits of early childhood education? To some extent we are. We have almost a hundred thousand children from birth to five in this city, and about 40 percent are enrolled in publicly funded child care while their parents work. But 30 percent of these programs aren't licensed, and fewer than 11 percent meet State standards for good quality. In Northwest Philadelphia, I'm sorry to say that that percentage is much lower. There are only a dozen programs in Council Districts Eight and Nine that meet State standards for good quality. One reason is that quality costs money. It's measured by a child care's physical environment, fiscal 55 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. management and the educational levels of its teachers, and lack of money for deferred maintenance and capital improvements is one of the biggest obstacles child care providers face in maintaining a license and improving the quality of services. Because child care businesses operate on a thin financial margin and usually only with the help of outside support, a broken heating system or a leaky roof can spell disaster. This is especially true in 2010 when many child care providers depleted their reserves waiting for a State budget last summer and fall. And it's especially true now when access to credit has become next to impossible for neighborhood businesses because of the excesses of Wall Street. A playground without a safe fence, ground cover or play equipment can prevent a child care program from advancing through Pennsylvania's Keystone STARS Program, our quality improvement 56 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. program, or participating in other initiatives that bring educational benefits to children and economic benefits to adults. The Child Care Facilities Fund, a public-private partnership supported by the City, has been a reliable partner and support in improving child care, and I would ask you -- we are encouraged that OHCD has proposed $650,000 for the Facilities Fund next year. This is a particularly difficult time for child care providers in light of the budget in past last summer, and I would ask you to make every effort to support the Fund at $1 million, as it has been in the past. I'd like to thank you for your leadership up until this point on the Child Care Facilities Fund and thank you for holding this neighborhood hearing.
Thank you, Ms. Balka. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones. 57 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
I'd like to thank you publicly for what you do for child care. In parts of my district, other than food deserts, there are a lot of working people, and many of them have to make a choice whether they go to work or not take a job based on adequate, safe child care. And we were just reviewing all of the facilities that you support in our respective districts, and I think it's a worthwhile cause, and we saw that there is a decrease this year and we're going to try to fight to keep that in there and put it back to its old level.
Thank you. Good afternoon. Kindly identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony. I'm sorry. I know you came in late, but we had said 58 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. earlier in the evening that everybody was going to be given three minutes to testify, because we want to give everybody an opportunity to be recognized. Thank you.
Thank you. Good afternoon and thank you all for having this hearing. It's a very important issue. My name is Alicia Dorsey. I'm a parent at Germantown High School and also a member of Concerned Citizens for Change. I'm here because of my concerns for the education budget. I'm not talking numbers, because I don't want to talk numbers today. I'm just talking accountability and how that budget is handled. I think the City needs to get more proactive in tracking the money and how it's spent with the School District, because right now we're facing an education debt, and the recidivism rate in Philadelphia is based off of the lack of education. And also, the sale of School 59 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. District property, the sale Councilman Darrell Clarke was involved in with the school at 15th and Susquehanna -- I believe that's Duckery School -- without the community input, to me that's just shameful for this city to do such deals without having input from the community. So my concern is on education and how the City sends its money to different schools and the accountability of them.
Thank you very much. Thank you. Our next witness?
Excuse me. Could I ask a question? Have you talked with Councilman Clarke?
We've invited him to meetings, and he doesn't show up to the meetings. But we did have a meeting. State Representative Jewell Williams was there and he expressed what went on, but Darrell Clarke never showed up. 60 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
Our next witness is Lamont Thomas and Veronica Johnson. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
My name is Lamont Thomas. I'm currently running for State Senator in the Fourth District. As you know, to get on the ballot, you have to go and get a lot of signatures. I had a town hall meeting in the Eighth District and I also had one in the Ninth District. I met a lot of senior citizens going door to door, and by going there and meeting with the people of both of these districts that I 61 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. hope to represent next year, I found like a lot of senior citizens are very, very much scared, because when the Mayor suggested that they pay a trash tax -- which to me was very ludicrous, because why would you pay twice for City services? Then they went to Harrisburg and he begged for a two percent sales tax, which they gave him eventually, and on top of that, he said it would solve the problems of the City of Philadelphia. It didn't. One of the things I came up with meeting with different people throughout the Ninth and the Eighth District is, I need you guys to really think about taking back the abatement program that you got, the ten-year abatement. So much millions of dollars are wasted by giving millionaires and well-off-to-do people a free ride in real estate taxes for ten years. (Applause.)
I also beg of you 62 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. guys to also consider giving all the senior citizens in the City of Philadelphia, make them exempt from paying property tax. They have no 6 investment. (Applause.)
They have no 9 investment at all, the money that they have to pay. You guys, when the Mayor came up with this other crazy --
I'm sorry. City Council. I'm sorry. City Council came up with this idea of saying, Hey, we won't do the sugar tax. What we will do is, we will raise everybody's property tax by 12 percent. That's not going to solve a problem for people that's on fixed incomes. People are hurting out here, and you guys are the -- you, City Councilpersons, people -- 63 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
I'm going to charge you for every time you say "guys."
I'm sorry. It's just me, because I get emotional about these situations, because it's affecting people. You have to stop the Mayor from coming up with the harebrained ideas that he got. I mean, it just doesn't make any sense. (Applause.)
If the Mayor would like to have a sugar tax, if he'd like to have his trash fee, if he has come up with anything else, tell him to lead by example. Tell him, cut his salary by $50,000, or better yet, make it $33,000, is what a lot of people are out here making nowadays, because companies are not paying what they used to pay, but everything is going up. But thank you.
64 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. You're welcome. (Applause.)
The next panel is Duane Hines, Brian Yoon and Lori Davis. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good evening. Actually, my name is Duwan Hines and I'm just here representing myself.
Hines. Coincidentally, I'm going to speak about what the gentleman just spoke about. I understand that if the sugar tax doesn't pass or the trash fee doesn't pass, that you're going to increase property taxes. You're going to look at it. I understand that nationwide we're 65 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. all having problems, so, therefore, that trickles down to the City. As members of this community, we all have to do our part to create a solution to that problem, and I believe in that. But I don't think it's fair to single out a particular group to do that, which would be homeowners that either are working that are above poverty level or not senior citizens. We get caught in the middle and there's no one to represent us. There's no one to say that that's not fair. There's no one to say that there really isn't any more money, because if you work at Jefferson, you didn't get a raise last year. If you work here, you didn't get a raise last year. I'm here representing myself and all the people that this will affect. If you increase property taxes by 12 percent, you have to do that in a way that makes sense. It doesn't make sense to base that on the system that two years 66 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. ago you said is broken. You at least have to fix that and then come to the table and say, Okay, now that we've fixed this problem, we're going to legitimately try to move forward. I'm a single person. I live in a house by myself. I heat it. I cool it. I do everything I need to do, and every year everything goes up. I read in the paper that property taxes haven't increased for years. I don't know 13 about that, but every year I get a bill 14 at the end of the year saying, Okay, you 15 got to pay an extra $150, an extra $200, 16 otherwise your mortgage is going to go 17 up. And while I understand these may be 18 in different pots of money, all my money 19 is in one pool. So it doesn't matter to 20 me where it goes. It only can go so far. 21 The City somehow increased the registration fee to have a security system almost 50 percent just out of nowhere. I'm a single woman. That's not a choice for me to not have a security 67 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. system. But I feel like the City is taking away our choices. I watch the TV and I see all these ads about move to Philadelphia, from Philadelphia with love. I'm from Missouri. I've lived here five years. I was raised that you grow up, you buy a house, you give back to the community. I try to do what my parents told me was, quote/unquote, right. I don't want to do it anymore. I want to be transient. I just want to rent forever and just put that off on someone else, and then that's less money going back into the City. I think people have to think of it as a broader way. I understand that we all have to do our part, but let's do our part across the board. It's not fair to single out one population. I do understand that senior citizens can't afford it. I understand the low-income people can't afford it. But I don't think the middle class can afford it either, and I think that that's 68 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. legitimate. I think that I would be willing to cut out some things. Again, I'm from Missouri. In Missouri we don't have a library on every other corner. The people don't even go through here. Half the people here don't even have library cards. I'm just saying I'm willing to do my part, but don't ask me to do the part of me plus seven other people.
My name is Brian Yoon. I'm a wholesale distributor in Philadelphia. I distribute cigarettes --
I distribute cigarettes, soda and other grocery items. I service about two to three hundred 69 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. stores. The general consensus that I hear from my customers, which are the store owners, is they're scared they're going to lose their business, because most of them make their business off of selling $1, $1.50 per soda. And then a two-liter soda is about 70 ounces, and so that's $1.40 in taxes on an item that you sell to the consumer at $1.19. So that's more than cents than what the soda is 12 actually costing. 13 I live in Lansdale and right 14 now as it is, I buy my lunch in the City, 15 but I'm just going to start packing, you 16 know, because I don't want to pay 40 17 cents extra for a soda that I can just 18 bring from home, you know, for a dollar. 19 And a lot of my customers are 20 scared that most people are going to think like me and just go across Cheltenham Avenue, go across City Line just to buy a soda and buy the rest of their groceries over there too, you know, and it's -- they're pretty scared. 70 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc.
Understood. Thank you. Please identify yourself for the record.
Hello. My name is Lori Davis and I'm Program Director at Porter's Day Care and Educational Facility. I am here on behalf of the Non-Profit Finance Fund. Reducing funds allocated to the Non-Profit Finance Fund will be detrimental to early child care. Giving our youth a quality education in a safe and loving environment helps our children not to become a negative statistic in society. Non-Profit Finance Fund also helps day care centers to continue to provide a high standard of early childhood education that is always given in the suburbs, but very rarely given in the City. Porter's Day Care is licensed and accredited and we have our Keystone 4 71 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. STARS. Without the funding that has came from Non-Profit Finance Fund, we would not be able to achieve these acclamations. They have helped us to pretty much have a new school yard that has interactive learning centers in our playground. They have upgraded our electrical system, which I have to just say thanks to God for not allowing us in 30 years to have a fire. They have also provided us with a new roof. Eliminating an organization that is for the betterment of our youth can only increase the poor chances our children would make. If we cut spending funding on our children's mind, then we cut what our future has to hold, and that is our children growing up to become men and women of the City Council just like you. So I ask that you do not cut funding to the Non-Profit Finance Committee. Thank you.
Thank 72 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. you very much. Our next witness?
Melissa Hensley-Cohen, Reverend Chester Williams and Lenora Parker. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good evening. My name is Leora Parker and I'd like to ask about the Logan Triangle area. I've lived there since 1983 and I've applied for a PHDC loan for $12,000, and as of yet, I haven't gotten a response, and my home needs stucco on the wall. And how does that fit in your budget?
Why don't you wait and see me. We'll be finished shortly. I need to talk to you about that.
Good 73 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. evening. Welcome.
Good evening, everyone. Thank you again for coming to our community. I'm Reverend Chester Williams. I'm a block captain over 30 years for the 6200 block of Chew Avenue. I'm the President and founder of the Chew and Belfield Neighborhood Organization, and I'm also the committee person for 59th Ward, Tenth Division. What I'm about to say, some may agree, some may disagree, but the most important thing, everyone that knows me know that Reverend Williams does all that he do in traveling good word and get good messages out to the people, and all things that we say and all things get understanding, and my people perish because of lack of knowledge. I say to you today, some time ago the Mayor had his community meeting, and I and some other people have mentioned to him, which I emphasized when I stood up, if you need money, take it to 74 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. the people. Tell them exactly what it's for and look and see how much you would get donated to you. He did that with the swimming pools, and you know the results from that. I say again, instead of blindly leading the people, tell them exactly what this money would go for and what is it needed for. Publicize it and see how many donations you would get to close this gap. One thing I'd like to say also in adding on that is that Happy Holiday is a gem that serves many children off of Wayne Avenue. I ask you to please don't cut any funding from them. I've been there and saw how they take young girls and young guys of all age groups and teach them how to stay off the street and do positive things. I say to you again, come around and travel in your communities. Someone made a statement earlier about you're paying so many people, the Mayor, for 75 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. auditing or giving you ideas. I myself and other seniors citizens, young and old, because we're all young in God's sight, I'd be willing to volunteer our services and write proposals. Why pay all that money out there when you -- charity begins at home. (Applause.)
We have plenty of knowledgeable people that have grants, foundations here in Philadelphia that would be willing to sit at a table like you and don't move until you come up with how we can raise money to cover these gaps. I say to you again, it's not just the sugar, but if you teach our people how to eat and talk a way of getting the grocery stores to move in, as we hate to use the word, ghetto so they can have our people have nourishing food to eat, but unless you step down on our level again where you used to be -- I'm not saying you're not -- come help the 76 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. people get these things that they need back in the community and teach them how to eat and how to take care of their own. God bless you.
The next witnesses are Juan Hayes, Rhonda Moore and Edward Robinson. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good evening. Please identify yourself for the record.
Hi. My name is Rhonda Moore. I live in the Olney section, and I'm here -- I'm concerned about the increase in the property taxes as well. Basically, if you don't have the money, need neither do I. I'm a single woman. I'm currently financing two college degrees. I'm looking at a hundred thousand dollars in debt for 77 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. education. I simply don't have the money. I don't understand how we can have a ten-year tax abatement for the rich and expect me to finance it. That just doesn't sit well with me. I don't understand how we can build not one but two stadiums at a time when we don't even have books for our children. That doesn't sit well with me. (Applause.)
I'm a very generous person. I donate regularly, but I don't have any more money for you. That's all I wanted to say. Thank you.
Hello. How you doing? My name is Juan Hayes. I'm a child mentor, sports coach, employee union carpenter and a homeowner in the Ninth District. Basically what I'm here for is 78 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. like, I'm just trying to -- I was coaching with the North Philly Aztecs for maybe nine years, and now I started my own program, which is the R.J. Trailblazers, and I'm having a hard time getting like recreational gym time for these kids that I'm trying to keep off the street, and basically I'm just trying to give back and I'm trying to get sources to help me keep these kids off the street. That's all I got to say basically.
Good 79 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. evening.
Madam President, my Councilperson, whom I have a lot of respect for, Marian Tasco, Majority Whip. I also recognize other members here who have come to our meetings at the Melrose Park Garden Civic Association. I've been involved with this organization for the last years. My topic today is the 11 topic I talked about last year when I was 12 here, and it's the damaged back driveways 13 in our community. 14 I think it's imperative, 15 important that budget -- monies be directed in the budget for this particular issue. Last year I gave testimony to this very important topic. So here we go again. Since last year the problem has gotten worse. The cracks in the cement and the concrete has become very dangerous, dangerous for our children who play back there, dangerous to our homes because of the water from the rain that 80 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. has caused some of the foundations to shift. If this problem is not addressed, our properties will be de-valued. We do not want another Logan tragedy in our community. What options do we have? I have tried fundraising, engaging the community to give so we can correct this problem ourselves. That hasn't worked. Now I turn to City Council. If there is no money available to make the repairs, I suggest the City of Philadelphia get the job done and then bill each homeowner respectively and equitably. This option is better than doing nothing at all. Must we wait until a tragedy occurs before action is taken? Must we wait until a child is hurt? Must we wait until homes are destroyed by water or a sinkhole develops and cause our damage? Shouldn't we be more proactive than reactive? I am tired, I'm frustrated and now angry. I love my community. This is 81 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. why I participate in the civic activities. However, if this situation is not resolved and resolved very soon, my family and I will move. Disaster is right around the corner. Additionally, what if an emergency vehicle cannot get through in an emergency and a life is lost, God forbid? City Council, the ball is in your court. The puck stops here. I thank you for your time and your attention, and more than likely I'll be back again next year.
Sir, I just want you to know that your Councilperson, Marian Tasco, has been fighting for those driveways for as long as I can remember, and I think at every budget hearing that we have ever had she talks about the driveways. But I want you to know that she has been there fighting for you.
And I know she 82 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. has, because for the years I've been involved, she has told me the same thing, Mr. Roberson, we're doing the best we can. And as long as she's doing the best she can, I know we're going to have a good fight. God bless you.
Let me 10 just say this: We're trying to do a 11 little more than the best we can. I 12 mean, it really is a problem not only for 13 you, Councilman Jones will testify for 14 Wynnefield area, President for her area. 15 About a year or two years ago, we sat down with Rina Cutler to talk about a process that we had talked to you about to deal with the driveway situation. You're talking about a budget gap of $150 million. You don't know how much it would cost, because I can't just do yours. I have many others to do also. It's very expensive. And it really is the homeowners' responsibility, and it's unfortunate that your neighbors can't get 83 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. together to repair their responsibility. But what we were trying to do was find a process that we've talked about to deal with it, and we were on the road to dealing with it when the whole budget process just collapsed, and it's sort of on hold, but it's not off the table. Hopefully if we get -- we've even looked at stimulus money to be able to do it. But you have to have an ongoing process. You can't just set up a program and then stop it. So know that, and certainly the Mayor is committed, because Rina Cutler works for the Mayor, and the Mayor is a friend of yours.
And I know that. So it's delayed for a moment, but it's not off of our minds or agenda. It's, again, how much money can we -- how much money do we need to fill the gap, and it's not -- we cannot borrow money to 84 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. repair private driveways. So we have to figure -- the process takes money and we still have it on the table.
Well, when I think about the process, I think about the retaining wall that was done in the community. If something similar can be done --
That was done with NTI money, and because it was a safety issue, we did about three or four retaining walls.
Well, these back driveways are safety issues also, one of many issues that they create.
But we have thousands of those. We have thousands of them, and you can imagine how much they cost. And it's not the City's responsibility. That's what we want you to understand. Our responsibility is to help you get your neighbors to pay for it, and that is the process we're looking 85 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. at. Not that the City will do the paving.
I'm getting 8 ready to celebrate my 61st birthday 9 tomorrow. I don't know how much more 10 energy I have left to keep this up. 11
And thank you. I appreciate your continued advocacy for your neighborhood. I appreciate your leadership over there in the Melrose Park section. Is Ms. Tolson here? 86 4/27/10 - WHOLE - BILL 100115, etc. Yes. Go back there and talk to Ms. Tolson. Okay? She's the Streets Commissioner.
Stanley Daniel representing Philly Bargain House, Norman Mashore (ph) from the School District and Mark Williams from Coke. (Witnesses approached witness table.)