COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 696, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, April 10, 2003 10:30 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILMAN FRANK J. DI CICCO COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN ANGEL L. ORTIZ COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO PATRICIA RAFFERTY, CHIEF CLERK V A R A L L O, INCORPORATED LITIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
Good morning. I note that the hour has come and that quorum of this Council is present. Council will please come to order. Members will take their seats. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair welcomes the Reverend Audrey Blackwell Washington, Pastor of the Word of Life Christian Assembly. The Reverend Washington is here today as the guest of Councilwoman Brown. Members and guests will please rise. REV. WASHINGTON: Oh wise and everlasting Father, Lord, as we stand in this great chamber of legislation, Lord, we pray your blessings today. Lord, we pray as the elected officials make decisions in this Chamber, God, for the citizens of Philadelphia, we pray for harmony and peace to prevail. And, Lord, because the government is upon your shoulder, we not only pay for the City of Philadelphia, but we pray for the entire world that those who are in authority will make the right decisions concerning your children. So, Lord, we thank you in advance for what you're going to do. We thank you for what you have done. And we thank you for what you're doing right now. These ask in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Chair thanks Rev. Washington for her very inspiring 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, April 3, 2003, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, April 3, 2003, stand approves. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday April 3, 2003, stand approved. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the Journal of the meeting of Thursday April 3, 2003, has been approved. The next order of business is requests for leaves of absence, and the Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. This morning, there are no requests for leaves of absence on the part of the Majority.
The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Madam President, the Republicans ask for a leave of absence for Councilman O'Neill and Longstreth.
Leave will be granted. The Chair thanks the gentleman. 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 today. We appreciate your taking the time to join us as we attend to the legislative affairs of our City. Today, we are pleased to welcome a very from Uganda. They are here under the auspices of the State Department and are studying American Democracy and local government. They have certainly come to the right place. These gentlemen include the Mayor, who I understand is celebrating a birthday today. (Applause.)
The Chairman of a local city council, if he will stand. (Applause.)
We are happy to welcome our visitors who are accompanied by our dear friend Ms. Nancy Gilboy of the International Visitors Council. Will the group stand once again so that we can recognize in a very proper way. (Applause.)
Welcome. We're delighted to have you. Thank you. The next order of business is communications. The Chair recognizes the of delivering the purposes from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk. The Clerk will please read the messages from the Mayor. THE
To the President and Members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am pleased to advise you that on April 7, 2003, I was signed the following bill that was passed by Council at its Session on March 27, 2003: Bill No. 030096. And I wish to advice you that I signed the remaining bills that were passed by its Council Session on March 27, 2000, except 020647. And I am transmitting herewith for the consideration of your Honorable Body a resolution agreeing to participate in Progress Plaza Tax Increments Financing District. And an ordinance creating the Progress Plaza Tax Increments Financing District being the area generally bounded by Broad Street on the west, Oxford Street on the north, 13th Street on the east, and Jefferson Street on the south. And I am returning herewith Bill No. 030114. Council passed this bill at its Session on AND RESOLUTIONS March 20, 2003. Bill 030114 proposes to amend the portions of the Philadelphia Code entitled "Old City Residential Area Special District Controls," by prohibiting the operation of telemarketing businesses within the district. And I also am returning to you unsigned Bill No. 020647. I understand the perceived unfairness this legislation seeks to correct, however, I have substantial concerns regarding the legality of this measure. Therefore, I have chosen to return it without my signature.
Thank you. The messages will be printed in the Journal. The Chief Clerk will please read any other communications in her possession. THE
Thank you. The next order of business is the introduction of bills of resolutions. And the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit immediate consideration AND RESOLUTIONS of resolutions at their time of introduction. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit immediate consideration of resolutions at the time of introduction. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you. The Clerk will please read the title of the resolution. THE
A resolution declaring April 10th as Lincoln University Day and congratulating Lincoln University on its anniversary.
The Chair AND RESOLUTIONS recognizes Councilman Kenney.
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.)
The ayes have it, and the resolution has been adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. Today, I have one bill on your behalf, and 2 bills and 2 resolutions on my own behalf.
Thank you. The Clerk will please read the title of the first bill. THE
An ordinance amending Section 5 of an ordinance, Bill No. 010661, approved AND RESOLUTIONS December 28, 2001, entitled an ordinance authorizing National Railroad Passenger Corporation, 60 Massachusetts Avenue, owner of the property on the north side and the south side of the 2900 block of Arch Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. THE
And an ordinance authorizing the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development to file an application with the Office of the Budget, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, under the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program in an aggregate amount not exceed $76,092,000.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. THE
And an ordinance authorizing real estate transactions necessary to permit the City of Philadelphia to acquire property needed for use by the Philadelphia International Airport.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Clerk will please read the title of AND RESOLUTIONS the first resolution. THE
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority deeds located in the 6th Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
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.)
The ayes have it, and the resolution has been adopted. The Clerk will please read the second resolution. THE
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to AND RESOLUTIONS execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority deeds located in the 6th, 27th, 51st and 60th Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Madam President. 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 signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the resolution has been adopted. The Clerk will please read the next resolution. THE
A resolution authorizing the Mayor on behalf of the City of Philadelphia to apply for and accept up to $500,000 in funding from the Commonwealth Department of AND RESOLUTIONS Community and Economic Development.
The resolution will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Madam President, I offer two resolutions, both of which require votes by the City Council.
The Clerk will please read the title of the resolution. THE
A resolution authorizing City Council's Committee on Law and Government to investigate the effectiveness and efficiency of the delivery of public housing resources and services to the low and moderate income residents of Philadelphia by the Philadelphia Housing Authority in cooperation with the City of Philadelphia.
Madam President, I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be AND RESOLUTIONS adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the resolution will be referred to the appropriate committee.
I stand corrected. The resolution will be referred to the Committee on Law and Government. Correct, Councilman?
You're welcome. The Clerk will please read the title of the second resolution. THE
A resolution calling upon President George W. Bush and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine Todd Whitman to value all people's lives equally with respect to current and future policy and regulations concerning point and non-point sources for pollution. AND RESOLUTIONS
Madam President, I move the adoption of the resolution and request permission to speak on the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded. And the Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Gradually, senior citizens are beginning to recognize that they come increasingly under attack. This one is a brand-new one, the first one I've ever heard it applied before. In making environmental decisions, senior citizens count only as part of a life, while people who are not senior citizens count a full vote. For example, under the Bush Administration, they've developed a cost benefit analysis, meaning, what does it cost to bring about an environmental change for the good and what will be the benefits. And in determining the benefits, they say, well, senior citizens aren't going to live many more years and therefore they count less than the person who's not a senior citizen in determining what benefit will AND RESOLUTIONS come. They also say a second thing about senior citizens. They say they aren't going to live long enough to acquire a chronic disease, while a younger person will probably live 30 or 40 more years and therefore suffer from an environmental condition that takes a long time to develop, like cancers frequently do. So that on both aspects of health, the senior citizen is considered only part of a person. Therefore, the benefit of advancement in environmental health matters for senior citizens is regarded as less of a benefit than a benefit for anybody else. Therefore, when they decide what benefit will this bring, they lower the costs. They say we should invest less to protect senior citizens because they're older. Now that's a brand-new one on me. There was a wild talk about it. And my good friend to my right, Councilman Rizzo, who always defends the Republican Party because he's a Republican, as I defend the Democratic Party because I'm a Democrat, this was a new one I had to tell Councilman Rizzo. I never before heard this attack on senior citizens' lives. So it's just important for senior citizens to remain active. When you retire from your job, don't retire from being aware AND RESOLUTIONS of what's going on because in no time at all your life won't be worth anything. At my age -- I guess I must owe everybody an awful lot of money because at my age, I'm less than nothing, according to this kind of study. Therefore, we've got to be on our guard. The senior citizens are, I think, the most treasured of all people because they've already made their contribution. They've proven their interest in government and in their families. So I just wanted to make note of this and that's what this resolution is about, to make it a wrong thing to devalue a senior citizen's life. Senior citizens deserve the same consideration as everybody else, and at least that. And in my judgment and in the judgment usually of this City Council, senior citizens already, having made that contribution, deserve more consideration than any other element of the community which is in the process of making its contributions currently. Thank you, Madam President.
And I tell you, I'm not picking on him; I'm picking on the terrible AND RESOLUTIONS principle that his president seems to be supporting. Thank you.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the resolution has been adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Krajewski.
Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions.
The Clerk will please read the title of the resolution. THE
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the redevelopment authority AND RESOLUTIONS of the City deeds located in the 7th, 19th, 23rd, and 37th Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
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.)
The ayes have it, and the resolution has been adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. On behalf of Donna Blach (ph) of the 50th Ward, I offer one bill; and on behalf of myself, I offer two resolutions.
I offer two bills and one resolution, one bill on behalf of Donna Blach.
The Clerk will please read the title of the bill. THE
An ordinance amending Section 19-1303 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Discounts and Additions to Tax," by extending the due date for payment of real estate taxes and by revising the provisions for additions to tax penalties and interest if such real taxes are paid after the due date.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. THE
And an ordinance establishing a no trucking parking regulation on the 800 block Foulkrod Street and Whitaker Avenue to Halen Street both sides.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. THE
And an ordinance establishing a no truck parking regulation on Whitaker Avenue from Adams Avenue to Godfrey Avenue.
The bill will AND RESOLUTIONS be referred to the appropriate committee.
Thank you. At this time the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam President. Today I offer no bills or resolutions.
Madam President, I have no bills or resolutions unless Councilwoman Tasco gives me one. I have nothing today.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I have no bills or resolutions this morning.
The Clerk will AND RESOLUTIONS please read the title of the resolution. THE
A resolution authorizing the Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings regarding the Philadelphia transit system lease between the City of Philadelphia and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.
This resolution will be referred to the Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities.
Point of in order, Madam President. I need a vote in order to authorize subpoena power.
I'm sorry. I was distracted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be a adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.) AND RESOLUTIONS
Ayes have it and the resolution will be referred to the Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities. The Chair recognizes Councilman Ortiz.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I have no bills or resolutions today.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer two bills and two resolutions.
The Clerk will please read the title of the first bill. THE
An ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to the Home Rule Charter creating the Office of the Insurance Public Advocate, as approved by resolution of the City Council.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Clerk will please read the title of AND RESOLUTIONS the second bill. THE
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Lehigh Avenue Armingo Avenue, a railroad right-of-way, and the Delaware Expressway.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Clerk will please read the title of the first resolution. THE
A resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to create the Office of the Insurance Public Advocate and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
This resolution will be referred to the appropriate committee. And the Chair recognizes the Clerk to read the second resolution. THE
A resolution recognizing May 18th to the 24th, 2003, as National Emergency Medical Services Week and honoring Thomas Jefferson University Hospital for coordinating a AND RESOLUTIONS tri-state terrorism drill.
Thank you, Madam President. 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 signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the resolution has been adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. I have two resolutions and one bill.
The Clerk will please read the title of the bill. THE
An ordinance creating the Progress Plaza Tax Increment Financing District, being the area generally bounded by Broad Street on AND RESOLUTIONS the west, Oxford Street on the north, 13th Street on the east and Jefferson Street on the south.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. THE
And a resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority deeds located in the 37th and 47th Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the resolution has been adopted. The Clerk will please read the second 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE resolution. THE
A resolution agreeing to participate in the Progress Plaza Tax Increments Financing District.
The resolution will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. There are no reports from committees and no bills on the First Reading Calendar. Therefore, the Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for the purpose of calling up bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Madam President. Today Bill Nos. 020826, 030100, 030123, 030138, and 030075 are being called up for second reading and final passage. All other bills are being held.
Thank you. The Clerk please read the title of Bill No. 020826. THE
An ordinance amending 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE Title 14 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by amending Chapter 14-200 entitled residential districts by amending use regulations and R6 residential districts and by making certain technical amendments under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk will please call the roll. THE
Councilwoman 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE Krajewski.
Aye. The ayes are 15, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members of Council having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The next bill to be called for 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE consideration is Bill No. 030100. THE
An ordinance to authorize the Water Commissioner on behalf of the City to enter into agreements with the owners the properties and their successors of a private street known as Blakiston Lane.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk will please call the roll. THE
Councilwoman 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE Krajewski.
Aye. The ayes are 15, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members of Council having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The next bill to be called for 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE consideration is Bill No. 030123. THE
An ordinance requiring that any proposed rate filing with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on behalf of the City's natural gas distribution operation include a proposal to continue the existing senior citizen discounts and authorizing and directing the execution of an amendment to the City's agreement with Philadelphia Facilities Management Corporation to conform with the requirements of this ordinance.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk will please call the roll. THE
Councilman Goode. 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE
Aye. 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE The ayes are 15, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members of Council having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. (Applause.) The next bill to be called for consideration is Bill No. 030138. THE
An ordinance enacting a new Chapter 19-2000 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Discounted rates for natural gas distribution and supplies services for senior citizens, reaffirming and reenacting a senior citizen discount for senior citizen customers of the Philadelphia Gas Works.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk will please call the roll. THE
Aye. 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE THE
Aye. 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE THE
Aye. The ayes are 15, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members of Council having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. (Applause.)
The last bill being called for consideration is Bill No. 030075. THE
An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property on behalf of the City of Philadelphia to acquire by purchase, lease or condemnation a certain temporary easement through 3500 Scotts Lane for sewer and drainage construction purposes, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk will please call the roll. THE
Councilman Clarke. 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE
Councilman Rizzo. 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE
Aye. The ayes are 15, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members of Council having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. That concludes our calendar for today. Are there any speeches on the part of the Minority? (No response.)
Are there any speeches on the part of the Majority.
Thank you, Madam President. Briefly to the listening audience, the guests here and to my colleagues, I would simply like to call to everyone's attention that this is national celebration of the Week of the Child, and before us are Teddy bears, compliments of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. So I would 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE simply ask that my colleagues pass it on to a little person in your lives. And we should be reminded of there are still 2,000 children in homeless shelters, 7800 children in out-of-home placements, half of them in foster care and we were successful in getting only 550 adoptions done last year. So it's a woeful reminder that our City still has a lot to do when it comes to improving the lives of kids. Thank you very much.
You're welcome. The Chair at this recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. I have a couple of things I'd like to say. Yesterday's Daily News Elmer Smith wrote about the plight of Dignity Housing and Alicia Christian who, when I first came into Council in 1988, started the Dignity Housing Program to provide quality housing for those people who had been homeless, and she has run a successful program all these many years. She is now coming up against a financial crisis, so I'm calling on the City to help find money to keep this program going. Additionally, we heard Mr. Hess testify 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE the other day from Office of Emergency Services that we do lack quality housing for people in the City to go to once they come out of shelters. So I think we can't have the dog chasing its tail. We've got to find a place for people to go. We need not have a quality program shut down for lack of funding, so I'm asking and we will be asking the Administration to help. The other comment I'd like to make is on a lighter note, a little bit away from that, is about Jeremy Holder. Jeremy is a breath of fresh air. He's a young man from Southwest Philadelphia who appeared on CBS's Star Search program on Channel 3. He one the first round of the junior singer's competition and will be performing live in the semifinals tomorrow night, April 11th at 8 o'clock. Now you know after the judges vote, there's a round of public vote. He won the last time because the public dialed in through their computers and broke the tie and he one with 35 stars. So he goes to the semifinals and he is from southwest Philadelphia, I would imagine he's probably from Councilwoman Blackwell's district. So we're asking everyone to tune in tomorrow night at 8 o'clock, turn on your 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE computers and your televisions, and when he performs, vote for Jeremy Holder. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you, Madam President. First, I want to thank Councilwoman Tasco for bringing to Council's attention in this fashion the need for support for more money for affordable housing. The Section 8 list alone has 8,000 names on it for people on a waiting list and market rate housing, God knows, there are many thousands of people looking around unable to find anything they can afford. So that it's just a terribly wrong thing to think of to permit a fine program that Alicia Christian has been running for many years. It would be a terrible thing to have that program die. If anything is needed, it's a multiplicity of Dignity Housing units, not to curtail it. Secondly, I don't know about the blind spot of Knight Ridder, but this is the fifth consecutive week I'm calling attention to the fact that the Daily News continues its practice on 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE predatory lending. It's a disgrace that that could -- we would certainly must know that have what its editorial say and they've attacked the kinds of advertising that appears regularly in the Daily News aimed at sucking what little money exists in neighborhood communities out from the people. People pay out of their paychecks almost their entire paycheck and they're forever indebted to the check cashing and cash today or cash three days before pay day. It's a disgrace that the Knight Ridder chain is continuing to profit. They keep the Inquirer clean of that advertising, but the Inquirer is also owned by Knight Ridder so the company that owns the Inquirer and keeps itself clean profits from the dirty ads that appear in the Daily News. I think this is the public notice I will make of this because I think what's needed is going to be action. No longer will words be sufficient because I can't believe that Mr. Rob Hall, the publisher, who sent somebody to my office to get information from the Council resolution is unaware of what's going on. It just seems to me what happens when monopolists take control of the news media anywhere in the country. It's bad news for 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE the people because they can play all kinds of tricks and try to scam the people. That's what's happening in Philadelphia and it's terrible that our newspaper should be doing that. And the final thing I want to say to the fine senior citizens that were here today to hear the wonderful news of Council's unanimity in support of retaining the senior citizen discount, remember, this is only one step on the road. The next two steps that are urgent are the Mayor has to sign this ordinance or we're confronted with the fact of taking further Council action, and then we've got to convince the Public Utility Commission. So please don't regard this as the final victory. We all appreciate your recognition of the fine work Council is doing in trying to preserve the senior citizen discount which this City Council created 30 years ago in 1973. But the fight is still hard and long. We're going to succeed if you can keep the pressure up. Keep talking in the community. Keep being active. And we thank you for your support, too. Thank you, Madam President. (Applause.)
The Chair 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE recognizes Councilman Ortiz.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to thank all the senior citizens for coming today and for you being here and advocating for this legislation and for the issue and standing up and being strong. I also want to concur with what Marian Tasco said about Dignity Housing. Those of us who have been there when this was really beginning when Leona Smith was starting this during those years of hard times, know that this program cannot be shut down. It would mean too much heartache, too much tragedy, and too many lives that would be put in danger. I also want to say that tonight on Star Search there's also a Puerto Rican kid that is singing. And his name is Risito Figueroa and he will not be singing gospel but he'll be singing salsa. So you have two Philly kids. That's a tremendous thing, two Philadelphia kids both teenagers really putting the name of Philadelphia -one from North Philly and the other one from West Philadelphia, so tune in and watch. (Applause.) 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I thank my colleague Councilwoman Tasco for mentioning Southwest Philadelphia and the youngster who is being on honored and doing a great job on Star Search. And let me note that he belongs to Evelyn Grays Drama Ministry. Many of you know of that program. They have performed for us and interact with us in many, many ways. And Dr. Evelyn Grays has a school and has a drama ministry and a church and does an excellent job in our community and is one of our developers. So we certainly hope that he will continue to go on to great heights, and thank you for the recognition.
Thank you. Are there any speeches on the part of the Majority? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, April 24th at 10:00 a.m. 04/10/03 - STATED - 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Council stand an adjourned until Thursday, April 24. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Council will stand adjourned until Thursday, April 24th. (Council adjourned at 11:10 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 April 10, 2003, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: STATED MEETING ___________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR and Notary Public