COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, October 7, 2010 10:25 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN DARRELL CLARKE COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN BILL GREEN COUNCILMAN WILLIAM K. GREENLEE COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILMAN JAMES KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO, JR. COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO MICHAEL A. DECKER,
Good morning. I note that the hour has come and that a quorum of this Council is present. Members will please take their seats, and visitors will retire to the seats outside the rails. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes Father John Zaggarelli of Saint Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church. He is here today as my guest. I would ask all members and guests to please rise. (Members and guests rise.)
Thank you, Council President. Good morning, everyone. (Good morning.)
We take a moment now to put ourselves in the Lord's presence. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Holy Gospel according to Matthew. This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. If you forgive others their transgressions, your Heavenly Father will forgive you, but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions. Good and Gracious God, we come before you today humbly asking you to hear our prayers. We also ask your blessing upon this City Council that together your kingdom might be built in our beautiful City of Philadelphia. Give our City Council your wisdom, your grace, your guidance, Lord, to speak the right words, to make the right decisions for the betterment of our city. Bless this City Council Council President Verna, and thanksgiving to God for all that City Council does to make our city great. May God bless you all. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Amen.)
The Chair thanks Father for his invocation. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, September 30th, 2010. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, September 30th, 2010 be approved.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, September 30th, 2010 stand approved. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the Journal is approved. The next order of business is requests for leave of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. On behalf of the majority, a leave of absence is requested for Councilmembers DiCicco and Krajewski.
The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. Leave will be granted. O'Neill.
Madam President, on behalf of the republicans, leave of absence is not requested for anyone.
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. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Madam President. I have two visitors to Council today from the great State of Ohio, City of Cincinnati. They are President of City Council, Cecil Thomas, and they have enjoyed our hospitality from the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection everywhere in our city, except on the ball field. Here they are.
Thank you, Madam President. This morning we would like to welcome some visitors, Walter D. Palmer and Brother Sultan Ashley, and students from the Walter D. Palmer Leadership Learning Partners Charter School.
If you stand, we would like to recognize you. Welcome. (Applause.)
The Chair now recognizes Councilwomen Reynolds Brown and Blackwell, who will present a resolution recognizing October as Parent Appreciation Month at the School District of Philadelphia. Will Ms. -- I'm sorry. How is this pronounced?
Quibila Divine and those accompanying her please join the Councilwomen at the podium.
Thank you, Madam President. We know that so often when talking about any student or any school district, we typically fail to acknowledge and mention the fact that a child's first teacher is their parent. Long before a student sees the schoolhouse door, the person they learn first from is their parent, and at the Philadelphia, a lot is done to lift up and celebrate parents who are actively involved in the lives of their children. So this morning, we are recognizing October as Parent Appreciation Month at the School District of Philadelphia. Whereas, according to the National Committee for Citizens in Education, students with parents who are actively involved in their school have fewer behavioral problems and better academic performance, and are more likely to complete secondary school than students whose parents are not involved in their school -- and that's been backed up by research -- and Whereas, research continues to show that parents get involved in their children's education for a variety of reasons, but they do so especially when schools reach out to them and invite their participation;
And whereas, parents are the first and most influential teachers of their children and most often have high hopes and dreams for their children's future; and Whereas, the most accurate predictor of student achievement in school is the extent to which their families are able to create a home environment that encourages learning and advocates for their children's achievement in both school and community; and Whereas, the importance of parent engagement in education requires not only recognition, but a firm commitment to the School District of Philadelphia policies and practices; and Whereas, the Office of Parent, Family, Community Engagement and Faith-Based Partnerships, on behalf of the School District of Philadelphia, has scheduled a month of activities to show appreciation for parents and their contributions as members of school-based Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the City Council of Philadelphia, that we hereby recognize October 2010 as Parent Appreciation Month in Philadelphia. Further resolved, that an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the School District of Philadelphia officials, faculty and staff and parents as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body. This resolution was introduced by Councilmembers Blondell Reynolds Brown and Jannie Blackwell, Chair of the Education Committee, and supported by all members of City Council. (Applause.)
Thank you. Education Chair, Blondell -- I mean Jannie Blackwell, and Blondell Brown, on behalf of the School Reform Commission, Dr. Arlene Ackerman, her cabinet and all staff in the Office of Parent, Family and Community Engagement, we appreciate your efforts with us as we celebrate Parent Appreciation Month. We appreciate Joe Meade in our Office of Government Affairs, as well as our parent representatives who are here with us. We have representatives from the Home and School Council, we have representatives from the Philadelphia Right to Education Task Force, as well as Parent Power - What Will You Do With Yours. We have a whole list of activities planned. On Tuesday, we have the Superintendent's Parent Roundtable discussion, which will be held at Dobbins University, 22nd and Lehigh Avenue, beginning at 5 o'clock, and on the 15th, Friday, we will have Take a Parent to Work Day. So we want the parents to come find out the things that we do at the District to support them as they raise their children. On the 23rd, we have the second Male Involvement Conference at 440 North Broad Street, and then on the 29th, we have Parents Pampering Other Parents. So parents will be able to massage, do manicures and facials for other parents. So, again, we thank you very much on behalf of the School District of Philadelphia. (Applause.)
Thank you, Madam President. I'm pleased to welcome members and affiliates of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, including Young Professional Network, along with Denise Earley, the Chamber's Earley will bring a new group to our Stated Meeting each week to observe their hard-earned business tax dollars at work.
If they would stand, we would like to recognize them. Welcome. (Applause.)
At this time, the Chair recognizes Members Reynolds Brown, Tasco and Kenney, who will present a resolution recognizing and congratulating the students from the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, who in fact performed at the White House for First Lady Michelle Obama in honor of Judith Jamison. Would Principal John Whaley, the students and those accompanying them please join the Councilmembers at the podium. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, to first congratulate these young dancers, who had the enormous once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dance at the White House before the First Lady, with Philadelphia's own Judith Jamison, who we know started right here in Philadelphia and then has gone on to now run, be the Artistic Executive Director of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. Recognizing and congratulating Ibn Snell, Malika Ghilyard, Bria Robertson-Sanford and Carly Rutizer, students at the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, on their performance at the White House for First Lady Michelle Obama in honor of longtime Artistic Director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Philadelphia's own Judith Jamison. Whereas, Alvin Ailey and a group of young African American modern dancers first performed at New York's 92nd Street Young Men's Hebrew of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in March 1958; and Whereas, in 1962, the company was chosen to tour the Far East, Southeast Asia and Australia as part of President John F. Kennedy's "President's Special International Program for Cultural Presentations"; and Whereas, Judith Jamison joined the company in 1965 and when Alvin Ailey died on November 1, 1989 -- December 1, 1989, Judith Jamison assumed the post of Artistic Director of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, and the entire Ailey organization moved to the new building at 211 West 61st Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan; and
Whereas, the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts is a magnet school within the School District of Philadelphia located on South Broad Street where students can major in one of areas: Creative writing, instrumental music, visual arts, theatre, dance, and vocal music; and Whereas, the mission of the High School of Creative and Performing Arts is to nurture the creative talents and aspirations of students within an academic/arts college preparatory program; Whereas, on September 7th, 2010 ballet dancer Damian Woetzel, a member of President Barack Obama's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, led students from across the country in a workshop in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC;
Whereas, First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the workshop with students from the Alvin Ailey School and the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts; and Whereas, Ibn Snell, Malika Ghilyard, Bria Robertson-Sanford and Carly Rutizer, students at the High and Performing Arts, performed during the workshops and represented the City of Philadelphia; and Whereas, the City of Philadelphia is proud to have been represented at the White House during this inaugural Arts and Humanities Workshop by students from the School District of Philadelphia. Now, therefore
Be it resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that City Council hereby recognizes and congratulates Ibn Snell, Malika Ghilyard, Bria Robertson-Sanford and Carly Rutizer, students at the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, on their extraordinary performance at the White House for First Lady Michelle Obama in honor of longtime Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Judith Jamison. Further resolved that an engrossed copy of this resolution be students, the principal and their choreographer, dance teacher, choreographer, as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body. Introduced by Councilmembers Tasco, DiCicco and Jim Kenney and supported by all members of the Philadelphia City Council. (Applause.)
Well, good morning. On behalf of the staff and our entire Kappa family, it's quite an honor to be in City Council Chambers. We'd like to thank Council for this very prestigious recognition. And I'll be honest with you, we're always proud of the accomplishments of our students, but they can't do what they do without the support of parents and without the support of their dance instructor. So on behalf of all of us, we'd like to thank today. And I know that they experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and they represented our city very well, as well as the School District. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Good morning. My name is LaDiva Davis and I'm head of the Dance Department at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts. It was a pleasure for me. It was an honor for me to be able to send these four ladies and gentleman, who are my dance captains of the dance company this year, to Washington, because I've told previous students about Judith Jamison. We went to dancing school together, high school together, college together, and for them to be able to meet her and share some of the moments and she say to them when I told them to say to her, tell them -- tell her that LaDiva Davis said hello, and she of course knew and she said, Oh, these are my homies. So they became like stars for a day. So thank you very much for the honor today and for graciously accepting my children in your fold. (Applause.)
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, I am transmitting herewith for the consideration of your honorable body an ordinance authorizing the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, located at West, to construct, own and maintain various encroachments in the right-of-way adjacent to the Federal Reserve Bank Building; and Also, an ordinance authorizing Ashwin Patel, owner and operator of the newsstand located on the southwest corner of Chestnut Street and Tenth Street, to construct, use and maintain conduits in, under and across the southwest corner of Chestnut Street and Tenth Street; and An ordinance authorizing the issuance of one or more series of general obligation bonds to provide funds to refund certain outstanding general obligation bonds of the City of Philadelphia, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read any other communications in his possession.
Thank you. The next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions, and at this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer two resolutions and one bill.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance amending Chapter 16-600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Redevelopment Proposals and Contracts," by setting forth certain additional requirements to Council's approval of redevelopment proposals and redevelopment contracts submitted to Council.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution congratulating Anne O'Callaghan for her work in the Irish Community and her numerous contributions to the welfare of immigrants living in Philadelphia.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney for a motion.
I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution urging the Mayor, in light of the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board's recent Order holding that Philadelphia's Fire Service Paramedics do not belong in the same collective bargaining unit as firefighters, to direct all Administration officials to immediately halt ongoing and announced efforts to convert FSPs into non-represented employees.
Thank you, Madam President. I move the adoption of the resolution and would like to speak briefly. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you, Madam President. I introduced this resolution today not in a happy way. I consider the Mayor my friend and I consider this Administration -- to be friendly to this Administration. I've tried my best over the last two or so years to support their issues and support their efforts. On May 6th of this year, we passed an ordinance amending the Fire Code to make it clear, the sentiment of this body was that firefighter paramedics are firefighters. That's in the term of their job description. On May 20th, we overrode the Mayor's veto unanimously. The sentiment of this body was clear, that we believed that firefighter paramedics are firefighters. The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board did not agree. And just because the Administration has the ability to do something doesn't mean they should. Firefighters and paramedics train at the same facility. When they are hired and they have gone through their training, they live in the same house, they eat in the same kitchen, they sleep in the same bunk room, they respond to the same fires and car accidents at the same time. They are the same people who cut your broken body out of an automobile after you've been in an accident or bring you back to life after you've been pulled from a burning fire. This Administration I understand is moving at a break-neck speed to change the benefits, pension benefits and health benefits, of these firefighter paramedics. They are moving at a speed that I'm not used to when they move on my stuff, but they're moving quick. I'm asking two things today. Number one, for the Mayor not to do it. I doubt that he will listen. I'm also asking for authority to hire legal counsel to join with Local 22 to slow this thing down. I've also talked to Senator Stack, who is very interested in talking to his colleagues in Harrisburg to see what legislative remedies there are to stop this thing from happening. I do not want the benefits changed for our firefighter paramedics, and I don't want to give them the right to strike, taken in that Act 111 gives them the right to strike. Now, do I think that they will strike? Probably not. They're dedicated public servants who would not walk away from us like the Administration is walking away from them. However, if you cut people's benefits, pension benefits and health benefits, maybe you make them angry enough to think about it, and the thought of that is extremely frightening. I'm asking the Mayor as my friend, I'm asking the Mayor as the leader of the City to stop this from happening, to sit down, slow down and let's work this out. I think that the Council -it's not unprecedented that we've been involved in labor disputes. I remember Councilman Cohen, God rest him, got involved in every labor dispute there ever was to get involved in, and we went along with him most of the time. But we need to hold the line now, because these people need our help. They are there without hesitation to help us, and I think we need to slow this down and help stop it and reverse it. So I would ask unanimous approval and a voice vote from the members of Council. Thank you.
Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. (Applause. )
Councilman, I understand that you have a bill and a resolution on behalf of Councilman DiCicco.
Yes, Madam President. On behalf of Councilman DiCicco, I offer two bills and one resolution.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the first bill.
An ordinance authorizing the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, located at Ten Independence Mall West, to construct, own and maintain various encroachments in the right-of-way adjacent to the Federal Reserve Bank Building.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance authorizing Ashwin Patel, owner and operator of the newsstand located on the southwest corner of Chestnut Street and Tenth Street, to construct -
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the First Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Madam President, I offer one privileged resolution honoring the Barristers and like to recognize that Mr. Sherman Toppin, who is the new President of the Barristers, is present with us this morning. And I have one bill on behalf of the Administration.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance authorizing the issuance of one or more series of general obligation bonds to provide funds to refund certain outstanding general obligation bonds of the City of Philadelphia.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution honoring the Barristers' Association of Philadelphia on its 60th Anniversary.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam President. Today I offer three resolutions.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the first resolution.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Seventeenth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution proclaiming the week of October 3rd, 2010 as "National Fire Prevention Week."
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution proclaiming October 2010 as "National Breast Cancer Awareness Month."
Thank you, Madam President. This resolution is co-sponsored by all female members of City Council, and I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Madam President. No bills or resolutions today.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Madam President. One bill, two resolutions, one co-sponsored by Councilwoman Miller.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the resolution -- I'm sorry; the bill.
An ordinance amending Chapter 12-2700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Permit Parking Districts," by creating a new Section providing for the establishment of Special Permit Parking Districts in certain areas of the City where there is insufficient on-street parking and where special parking regulations are needed.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution recognizing The Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia on its opening of the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center.
Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution declaring October 6th to the 13th, 2010 as "Beat the Reds Week."
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer three bills this morning -- three resolutions. Three resolutions.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the first resolution.
A resolution recognizing and congratulating the Philadelphia Education Fund on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary.
Madam President, I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution calling on the Public, Private, Charter and Parochial Schools of Philadelphia to explore and investigate the value of urban school gardens.
Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution recognizing and congratulating the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation on the occasion of the Walk to Cure Diabetes.
Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the first bill.
An ordinance amending Section 14-305 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "C-4 Commercial District," all under certain terms and conditions, to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Hamilton Street, 19th Street, Callowhill Street and 20th Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings improvements thereon, situate in the Thirty-Second, Thirty-Seventh and Forty-Seventh Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kelly.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Madam President, no bills or resolutions today. Thank you.
Thank you. The next order of business is reports from committees. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez for a report from the Committee on Licenses and Inspections.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Committee on Licenses and Inspection reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Licenses and Inspections, to which was referred Bill No. 100539, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 9-3300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Erection, Use and Inspection of Tower Cranes,' by revising the certification requirements for the operation, signaling and rigging of tower cranes, all under certain terms and conditions," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading of this Bill 100539 on this day. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of the bill just reported from committee. All in favor will please say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the bill just read will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for a report from the Committee on Public Health and Human Services.
The Committee on Public Health and Human Services reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report.
The Committee on Public Health and Human Services, to which was referred Bill No. 100537, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 10-400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Noise and Excessive Vibration,' by providing for certain exceptions, including, but not limited to, sounds created by school bells, church bells, and similar devices; all under certain terms and conditions," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
I move that the rules of Council be suspended so 10/7/10 - STATED - 1ST READING as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 100537. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of the bill just reported from committee. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the bill just read will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. The next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bills just reported from committee with a suspension of rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. The bills will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for 10/7/10 - STATED - 1ST READING our next session of Council. The Chief Clerk will please read other bills on the First Reading Calendar.
Bill No. 100488, entitled "An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2011 within the General Fund from the Clerk of Quarter Sessions to the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania"; and Bill No. 100541, entitled "An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2011 within the Grants Revenue Fund from the Director of Finance -- Provision for Other Grants -- Federal Stimulus Funding to certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions."
The Chair agrees. The bills just read will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Councilwoman Tasco for the purpose of calling up bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
Madam President, all bills on today's Calendar are being held.
Thank you. That concludes our Calendar for today, as brief as it was. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, the Philadelphia City Council was right, if listened. According to a Princeton University study profiled in Tuesday's Metro Philadelphia Newspaper, predatory lending aimed at racially segregated minority neighborhoods led to mass foreclosures that fueled the U.S. housing crisis, a housing crisis which calls the worst recession since the Great Depression. The Princeton study used data from the 100 largest U.S. metro areas and found that poor minority areas became the focus of predatory lending practices and that living in a predominantly African American area was a powerful predictor of the nation's foreclosures. Before the current recession and due to constituent calls and complaints, this Council had hearings and then passed one of the nation's first anti-predatory lending laws in 2001. Unfortunately, this law was preempted by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. This law would have reduced foreclosures people, according to our legislation, would be required to get housing counseling before taking out a predatory loan. Consequently, due to the preemption of this law, the impact of foreclosures on Philadelphia has been devastating, and annually costs related to foreclosures represent $23 million to individual homeowners in foreclosure, 158 million to lenders and investors, 62 million to the City, and 107 million in lower home values. Although this City Council took additional action to urge Sheriff Green to hold moratoriums on foreclosure sales in 2004 and 2008 and work with the Mayor's Office and the First Judicial District to create a Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program to reduce foreclosures, it's unfortunate to learn that we were right about the devastating impact that predatory lending would have on our communities and our city. Hopefully in the future more constituents, people we represent, identify problems that they are facing, and when we take action to address these issues, people will listen. But what happens when we caught -- we had pneumonia, and other people were just catching the sniffles. Now everybody has pneumonia. Hopefully more will listen before these issues become a city, state and national crisis. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Madam President. This morning I rise to invite my colleagues and their constituents to the Minority Business Enterprise Development, MED Week, where Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown and I will be co-hosting a workshop at 3 o'clock today on eds and meds, institutions, medical institutions. As you are well aware, the recession hit all cities hard. Philadelphia did not take as deep a dip because of the number of educational institutions and health hospitals and universities in our area. We are encouraging female businesses, minority businesses, disadvantaged businesses to come out and meet the procurement officers of these institutions. Last year we did utilities, and it met with an overwhelming success, standing-room only, and we're encouraging that today in this recession. These types of marketplaces are vital to the survival of small disadvantaged businesses in our city, and we encourage you all to come out and participate. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, Madam President. I too want to extend my welcome to the gentlemen, our colleagues from Cincinnati. I want to note that there are two of you here and if you're taking Councilman Jones back to Cincinnati with you, I'd volunteer to join him, and also just say that welcome to Philadelphia, where every day is a Halladay. (Applause.)
Thank you, Madam President. Just a friendly reminder there is a Commerce and Economic Development hearing this afternoon, so I encourage all Committee members to be there at 1 o'clock sharp. Thank you.
Yes, Madam President. That is a wonderful segue to talk about industry in our city that contributes enormously to the economic vitality of our city, the arts and cultural communities. Earlier this week I had the good fortune to be in a room with artists of all types, heads of all of our arts and cultural organizations, and we were gathered to hear about this enormous once-in-a-lifetime opportunity now coming to Philadelphia as a result of the Knight Foundation. Over the next three years, $9 million will flow into the Philadelphia arts sector, and the beauty of this opportunity is that it allows anyone, independent artists, established art institutions, businesses, service organizations, anybody who has a great idea about the arts are welcome to apply. that, they get a chance to tell their story very simply in 150 words, which is unprecedented when it comes to applying for arts funding. So we want to make sure that anyone we know who loves the arts know that there are three simple rules for this challenge: The idea must be about the arts, the project must take place in or benefit our city, and the grant recipients must find funds to match Knight's commitment. Knight Foundation is based in Florida, and Miami being the first city, Philadelphia being the second city to be a beneficiary of this extraordinary funding opportunity. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam President. I just want to once again remind and urge our residents community forums that are being held tonight, and those forums will start at 6:00 p.m. and go to 8:00, and the locations are citywide. And if you don't -- actually, the meetings are going to be held at the same locations that were scheduled for last week when the storm was cancelled due to that storm -- when the meetings were cancelled due to the storm. And if you don't know where those locations are, you can call the local Police Department or call your City Council office, but the goal of those meetings is to have people share their thoughts and concerns regarding crime, disorder and police misconduct, and I think these are an important way to start the dialogue that I believe is needed here in Philadelphia. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, October 21st, 2010, 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, October 21st at 10:00 a.m. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Thank you very much. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on October 7, 2010, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)