Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Thank you, Madam President. I want to say a few words about the labor situation in Philadelphia. It seems to me that the City of Philadelphia is moving backwards. The main contracts with the City settled as of June 30th. This is well into October, and a major union still is in the midst of negotiating -well, I can't say negotiating because there are charges that the City is not negotiating in good faith. Whatever it is, I think it's about time to settle the labor disputes. And both sides, I urge them to try to resolve their differences quickly so we can get a report back in Council or else I'm going to find it very difficult to stay away from those labor negotiations. It seems to me Philadelphia is getting the opposite name, instead of being a good labor City, it is making clear that it's not. And in that regard, I want to note that I'm very concerned about an action City Council that I hear rumors about. The rumors are about hitting Cohen. That's me. If nobody knows it, my name is David C-O-H-E-N. I've been a member for a short time at least. And I understand there is an effort to bash Cohen and that it's taken a form of dismissal of an employee who has allegedly been refusing didn't get approval from me. A wholly concocted story, having no merit, and one which makes me very unhappy because it seems that while the two major factions that divide City Council can argue well and eloquently on many subjects, on is this they seem to be divided to bash Cohen. I don't have the facts yet, but I want to find out whether there is an alleged hit list and whether the one victim already mentioned is a victim of that hit list. So I'm just serving notice I'm going deeply in it. And I would welcome information from anybody who knows the stories of the so-call hit list involving David Cohen. I know one of the three leaders in City Council many years ago described me as a cancer in the heart of City Council. And I suspect that that may have come alive. I want you to know that I will strongly oppose any labor bashing based on any basis in City Council. I think City Council has made the Council a place that everybody in Philadelphia to when they have a problem. That's the way it ought to be. And as a democratic body, I think we've got to remove ourselves from the Bush influence. The Bush influence, the President's influence is felt here in Council when we as a democratic body place at top position a member of the opposing party. I'm not talking about whether it's good or bad, I'm just saying the democratic body ought to make democratic decisions and those decisions ought to be considered the responsibility of the Democratic Party. And I am really ashamed to go to people and let them know that this great democratic body overwhelming reelected last year by the City Council has advocated its responsibility and is turning itself over to the Republicans for nominations. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. Are there any other speeches on the part of the Majority? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for a motion to adjourn.
Madam President, I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday October 14th at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Council will stand adjourned until Thursday, October 14th at 10:00 a.m. Thank you all very much. (Council adjourned at 10:50 a.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Thursday, October 7, 2004, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: STATED MEETING _________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR