Stated Meeting, March 31, 2022

Stated Meeting 1 3/31/2022 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Via Microsoft Teams Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, March 31, 2022 10:17 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN DEREK S. GREEN COUNCILWOMAN HELEN GYM COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN CHERELLE L. PARKER COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting 2 3/31/2022

And good morning, and thank you very much. We're going to get started now, but before we begin the Council session, I will make the following announcement: Due to the continuing threat to public health from COVID-19, City Council is currently meeting remotely. We are using Microsoft Teams to make this remote meeting possible. Instructions for how the public may view the meeting and offer public comment are included in the Stated Meeting notice that was published by the Daily News, Inquirer, and Legal Intelligencer prior to the meeting, and can also be found on PHLCouncil.com. I now note that the hour has come. The Clerk will please call the roll to take attendance, and members that are in attendance, just say a couple of words to make sure that your image is displayed on the screen. Mr. Decker, please call the roll. Stated Meeting 3 3/31/2022

Councilwoman Bass.

You're on mute, Councilwoman.

Good morning, Mr. President, colleagues, and the City of Philadelphia. I am present. Thank you.

Good morning.

Councilwoman Brooks.

Good morning, Council President, colleagues, and the City of Philadelphia. I am present.

Good morning.

Councilman Domb.

Good morning, Council President, colleagues, and Philadelphia. Present.

Good morning. Stated Meeting 4 3/31/2022

Councilwoman Gauthier.

Good morning, Council President, colleagues, and Philadelphia. Present.

Good morning.

Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson.

Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. And good morning to the City of Philadelphia.

Good morning.

Councilman Green.

Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning, City of Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love and this last day of Women's History Month, the City of Sisterly Effectiveness.

Good Stated Meeting 5 3/31/2022

Councilwoman Gym.

Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. I'm present.

Good morning.

Councilman Jones.

Good morning, Mr. President, colleagues, and the viewing public.

Good morning.

Councilman Oh.

All right. Sorry about that. Button wasn't responding. Okay. Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. I'm present.

Good morning.

Councilman O'Neill. Stated Meeting 6 3/31/2022

Good morning, everyone.

Good morning.

Councilwoman Parker.

Good morning, Mr. President, colleagues, and to the viewing public.

Good morning.

Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.

Good morning, Council President and colleagues.

Good morning.

Councilman Squilla.

Good morning, Council President and colleagues.

Good Stated Meeting 7 3/31/2022

Councilman Thomas.

Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning to the listening public. I'm present.

Good morning.

Council President Clarke.

And good morning to you all. We've established our quorum, and we will now come to order. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes the Reverend Bonnie Camarda of the Salvation Army of Eastern PA. She is here today as the guest of Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez. I would ask all members, guests to please bow your heads for the invocation. Stated Meeting 8 3/31/2022

Good morning. Today I want to pray for God's presence among your mass. I want to invite him in to your Council meeting, to the budget hearing, to every business that you are doing today and the days to come, that he will be the presence there, that he will guide you, that he will continue giving you wisdom. Just pray that as the deer pants for the drink of water, so us will long after our God for righteousness. Father, I want to pray for protection, ask you to protect our City Councilmembers, our Mayor, our elected official. Lord, I pray for protection for the citizens of Philadelphia. You know how challenges we are having in the street. You know how every day someone get murdered or killed in our city. Father, I pray and call on their behalf that you will do something extraordinary that we can stop the killing and the murder in this city and Stated Meeting 9 3/31/2022 surpass all understanding and be with them. Lord, you say very clear that you protect us from the power of the wicked. We need protection, Lord. Our city needs protection. Lord, I pray for all, every one of the authority leaders, clergy, pastors, City Council elected official, Senators, Congressmen for our city. Father, I pray that you will give them wisdom as they rule and just do the business of this city. And, Lord, I just pray that you be with each one of the presence. Not only with the members of Council but with the people who is hearing us, for the people who is month by month, week by week hearing being in this presence during the hearings. Lord, we just thank you that their interest in the work of the City. Father, and I pray that you will bless them wherever they're at and Stated Meeting 10 3/31/2022 will do something super natural in their life. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Amen.)

Thank you, Reverend. Thank you for your invocation and thank you for those inspiring words. Our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 24, 2022, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 24th, 2022 be approved. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 24, 2022 stand approved. Stated Meeting 11 3/31/2022 indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and our Journal is approved. And our next order of business is requests for leave of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.

Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the members of Council, a leave of absence is requested for Councilmember Johnson.

The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. Leave shall be granted to Councilman Johnson. And, again, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion concerning certain legislative matters that may arise during the course of today's session of Council that were Stated Meeting 12 3/31/2022 on the Calendar circulated prior to today's session.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that any of the following matters, if considered today, may be added to the agenda for this session of Council and, as required by law, subsequently published on an amended agenda after the consideration of those matters: resolutions authorizing hearings, amendments to bills on first reading, the reconsideration of a bill vetoed by or re-called from the Mayor, resolutions taking substantive action to be voted on in this session, a motion to withdraw a bill or resolution that is not on the Calendar, and a motion placing a bill or resolution on or returning a bill or resolution from the Suspension Calendar that is not listed on today's Calendar. The purpose of this motion is to provide the public with notice concerning possible actions by Council Stated Meeting 13 3/31/2022 to be included on the Calendar that was published prior to today's session. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that the legislative matters stated by Councilwoman Parker may be added to the agenda for today, should those matters arise during the course of the Council session. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

All in favor? (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. The motion carries. And our next order of business is communications. And the Clerk will Stated Meeting 14 3/31/2022 from the Mayor and any other communications that he may have in his possession.

From the Mayor to the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am pleased to advise you that on March 30, 2022, I signed the following bills, which were passed by Council at its session on March 24, 2022: Bill Nos. 210743 and 220143; and I am transmitting for the consideration of your honorable body a resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank deeds conveying title to 2342 North Twenty-seventh Street, 2344 North Twenty-seventh Street, 2346 North Twenty-seventh Street, 2348 North Twenty-seventh Street located in the Fifth Councilmanic District; and A resolution providing for the approval by the Council of the City of Philadelphia of a Revised Five Year Stated Meeting 15 3/31/2022 City of Philadelphia covering Fiscal Years 2023 through 2027, and incorporating Revised changes with respect to Fiscal Year 2022, which is to be submitted by the Mayor to the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority; and An ordinance to adopt a Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years 2023 through 2028 inclusive; and An ordinance to adopt a Fiscal 2023 Capital Budget; and An ordinance adopting the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2023; and An ordinance amending Section 10-1001 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Fees of Commissioner of Records," to increase certain fees for the reporting of deeds and mortgages and related documents; and An ordinance amending Section 19-1403 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Imposition of Tax," by creating Stated Meeting 16 3/31/2022 Fund to increase and encourage economic development by demolishing blighted properties within the City, imposing a related fee for recorded documents and related items; and making technical changes; and An ordinance authorizing an increase in the non-electoral indebtedness of the City within the Pennsylvania constitutional limit; authorizing the Bond Committee to sell bonds at public or private negotiated sale, to provide funds toward capital municipal purposes; providing for appropriations to the Sinking Fund Commission for the payment of such bonds; and authorizing agreements to provide credit or payment or liquidity sources for the bonds in connection with issuance of the bonds; and An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2022 from the General Fund, the Stated Meeting 17 3/31/2022 Grants Revenue Fund, and the Aviation Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, to the General Fund and the Aviation Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, all under certain terms and conditions.

Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. That concludes the messages and communications, and our next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. By way of a reminder, we are asking that all resolutions, including privileged resolutions, be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for the next session of Council, unless they are being referred to committee. In our current remote environment, this procedure will provide an appropriate opportunity for public comment. I would like to thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation. Stated Meeting 18 3/31/2022 Mr. Decker, please read the titles of the legislation that's being offered by our members today.

Councilwoman Parker offers five bills and two resolutions on behalf of Council President Clarke, entitled "An ordinance to adopt a Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years 2023 through 2028 inclusive"; and An ordinance to adopt a 2023 Capital Budget; and An ordinance adopting the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2023; and An ordinance amending Section 10-1001 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Fees of Commissioner of Records," to increase certain fees for the recording of deeds and mortgages and related documents; and An ordinance amending Section 19-1403 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Imposition of Tax," by creating Stated Meeting 19 3/31/2022 a Philadelphia County Demolition Fund to increase and encourage economic development by demolishing blighted properties within the City, imposing a related fee for recorded documents and related items; and making technical changes.

Those five bills will be referred to the appropriate committee.

And a resolution providing for the approval by the Council of the City of Philadelphia of a Revised Five Year Financial Plan for the City of Philadelphia covering Fiscal Years 2023 through 2027, and incorporating Revised changes with respect to Fiscal Year 2022, which is to be submitted by the Mayor to the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority.

Referred to committee.

And a resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Stated Meeting 20 3/31/2022 Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 1433 North Myrtlewood Street, 1454, 1428, and 1443 North Myrtlewood Street, 719 Montgomery Avenue, 737 Montgomery Avenue, 739 Montgomery Avenue, 741 Montgomery Avenue, and 743 Montgomery Avenue.

Thank you. Mr. Decker, you said that was a resolution?

It was, Mr. President.

Next week's Calendar.

Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson offers a resolution recognizing and supporting the health and wellness of Black mamas and birthing people by acknowledging April 11 through 17, 2022, as "Black Maternal Health Week."

Next week's Calendar. Stated Meeting 21 3/31/2022

Council President?

Yes. Councilwoman -

For the record, I just wanted to ensure that we notate that resolution is being co-introduced with Councilmember Cindy Bass, who is Chair of our Public Health and Human Service Committee. Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Let the record reflect that, the co-sponsorship of Councilwoman Bass.

Councilman Jones offers two bills and one resolution, entitled "An ordinance requiring the Water Commissioner, on behalf of the City, to convert certain water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure on West Country Club Road, Mimi Circle, and East Country Club Road, between Conshohocken Avenue and Conshohocken Avenue, and a Stated Meeting 22 3/31/2022 portion of Lankenau Avenue, from private to public infrastructure."

Referred to committee.

And an ordinance amending Title 13 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Water and Sewer," by adding a new Chapter 13-700, entitled "Conversion of Private Water, Sewer and Stormwater Lines to Public Ownership," to establish reporting, maintenance, improvement and repair requirements with respect to water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure converted to public ownership.

Referred to committee.

And a resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to hold public hearings examining the use of technology to solve shootings in the neighborhoods surrounding the 57 blocks where 10 or more people have been shot since 2015. Stated Meeting 23 3/31/2022 That's authorizing a hearing.

Today's Calendar.

Councilwoman Sanchez offers one bill and one resolution. On behalf of Council President Clarke, an ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2022 from the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, the Grants Revenue Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, and the Aviation Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, to the General Fund and the Aviation Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions.

Referred to committee.

And on her own behalf, Councilwoman Sanchez offers a resolution recognizing and honoring the Stated Meeting 24 3/31/2022 Children's Crisis Treatment Center on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary of service and leadership in the City of Philadelphia.

Next week's Calendar.

Councilman Green offers five bills. On behalf of Council President Clarke, an ordinance authorizing an increase in the non-electoral indebtedness of the City within the Pennsylvania constitutional limit; authorizing the Bond Committee to sell bonds at public or private negotiated sale, to provide funds toward various capital municipal purposes; providing for appropriations to the Sinking Fund Commission for the payment of such bonds; and authorizing agreements to provide credit or payment or liquidity sources for the bonds in connection with issuance of the bonds.

Referred to committee. Stated Meeting 25 3/31/2022

And on his own behalf, Councilman Green offers an ordinance amending Bill No. 190412, entitled "An ordinance approving City participation in the Commonwealth's Property Assessed Clean Energy Program, all under certain terms and conditions," to expand the C-PACE program in conformity with authorizing legislation by the Commonwealth and to make other conforming changes; and An ordinance amending Bill No. 100163-AA, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the City of Philadelphia to organize an authority to be known as The Philadelphia Energy Authority, pursuant to the terms of the 'Municipalities Authorities Act,' of 2001, as amended, under certain terms and conditions," as amended, to reaffirm the responsibilities and powers of the Authority; authorizing and directing certain actions in connection with fulfilling the procedural requirements for the formal documentation Stated Meeting 26 3/31/2022 of the related Articles of Amendment; and An ordinance amending Chapter 20-300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Compensation and Benefits," to provide for a program to incentivize the recruitment of certain City employees and to make other technical changes; and An ordinance amending Chapter 20-100 of The Philadelphia Code ("General Provisions") to revise the residence requirement of prospective City employees, all under certain terms and conditions.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.

Thank you, Council President. As we know, public safety has been an issue here in our city and also around the country. This body has stepped up by providing millions of additional dollars that came out of the American Rescue Plan to help some of those anti-violence initiatives through Stated Meeting 27 3/31/2022 our grassroots, community-based organizations as a way to address this public safety issue here in Philadelphia. But considering this is a nationwide problem, for the past number of weeks I've been reaching out to colleagues in Democratic Municipal Officials, the National League of Cities to see what they have been doing to also address this issue. And so in doing that research over the past period of time, learned that a number of cities have been using different initiatives like signing bonuses as a way to recruit police officers. Recruiting police officers has been an issue all over this nation. Cities like Baltimore, Newark, Denver, Seattle, Portland, Albuquerque all have been using signing bonuses as a way to bring in police officers into their jurisdictions. In addition, in doing this research, learned that the national Stated Meeting 28 3/31/2022 average salary for a police officer is about $60,000. Here in the City of Philadelphia it's less than $57,000. And recently in our Council hearing with Commissioner Outlaw, we learned that we have budgeted 6,380 police officers, but we only have 5,900 officers on duty. So that's close to 500 officers that have not been appointed that are in our budget. In addition, we learned from her that two of the major issues in recruiting police officers are salary and residency. And so two of the bills that I'm introducing today help to look at that issue and address that issue as we go through not only addressing this public safety issue in our city but also as we look at the budget and how we allocate dollars during this budget season. So I look forward to having a robust conversation regarding these two bills. I know Council as a body will Stated Meeting 29 3/31/2022 continue to do the work that we've always done to try to come up with new and creative ideas to address the public safety issues in our city. Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Councilman. Those four bills will be referred to the appropriate committee.

Councilwoman Brooks offers one bill and two resolutions, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1100 of The Philadelphia Code, ('Personal Property Taxes') to impose an annual tax on certain intangible personal property."

The Chair recognizes -- Councilwoman, did you want to speak now?

Yes. Really quick. Yes. Thank you, Council President. As we enter into the third budget season of the pandemic, our city Stated Meeting 30 3/31/2022 has faced a number of questions - how do we lift up our most vulnerable Philadelphians who face severe financial and personal losses over the past two years and close this racial wealth gap. And how do we heal neighborhoods across the City that are suffering from poverty, austerity, and disinvestment. And how do we support young people in recovering from learning losses, social isolation, and widespread gun violence. And I firmly believe that deep investments in community services, like libraries, parks and recreation, behavioral health services, and not status quo funding are what we need for an equitable recovery. So today I'm officially introducing the Philly wealth tax, which could bring between $240 and $280 million to the City to invest back in our communities. For years, the one percent and the ultra rich have not contributed to their fair share, and we know that wealth Stated Meeting 31 3/31/2022 has not been trickled down. In fact, millionaires have doubled their wealth during the pandemic while working families still struggle to make ends meet. And Black and Brown communities have paid the cost of underfunding long enough and it's time for the ultra rich and the one percent to pay what they owe. And I want to thank my co-sponsors, Councilmembers Gym and Gauthier, for supporting this bill, and thank you, Council colleagues, and thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Councilwoman. That bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.

Councilwoman Brooks offers two resolutions, entitled a "Resolution honoring and recognizing the service and leadership of retired nurse, activist, and current President of the Cecil B. Moore Freedom Fighters, Karen Asper Jordan, who has led a life-long Stated Meeting 32 3/31/2022 commitment to civil rights activism by protesting, picketing, marching, registering voters, and leading countless direct actions under the guidance and, later, inspiration of the legendary civil rights leader, Cecil B. Moore.

Next week's Calendar.

And a resolution honoring the life, work, and accomplishments of Paula Peebles, whose dedication to advocacy, organizing, and leadership has empowered Philadelphia's movements for class and race equity.

Next week's Calendar.

Councilman Thomas offers a resolution honoring and congratulating Women's History Month's Champion of the Week, the Cheyney State College's "Lady Wolves" on their 40th Anniversary of Historic 1982 NCAA Basketball Division I National Championship Game. Stated Meeting 33 3/31/2022

Next week's Calendar.

Councilman O'Neill offers an ordinance to approve amendments to the Jefferson Torresdale Hospital Master Plan related to a new Proton Therapy Center building at 10800 Knights Road.

Next week's Calendar.

That was an ordinance, Mr. President.

Oh, I'm sorry. Referred to the appropriate committee.

And an ordinance amending Subcode "F" of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "The Philadelphia Fire Code," to require the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in additional high-rise buildings.

Referred to committee. Stated Meeting 34 3/31/2022

And that ordinance, last ordinance, related to Subcode F was introduced by Councilman Squilla, Mr. President.

Thank you. Referred to committee.

Councilwoman Bass offers a resolution authorizing the Hospital and Higher Education Facilities Authority of Philadelphia (formerly known as the Hospitals Authority of Philadelphia), incorporated pursuant to the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945, as amended, and an ordinance of the City Council, approved January 28, 1974, as amended, to extend its term of existence.

Referred to committee.

And Councilman Oh offers a resolution recognizing and honoring Judge Doris Smith-Ribner for her years of service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the first Black woman elected to a statewide judicial seat on Stated Meeting 35 3/31/2022 History Month.

Next week's Calendar.

There are no other bills or resolutions being offered today by the members, Mr. President.

Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. That concludes our introduction of bills and resolutions by our members, and our next order of business is reports from committee. And the Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill for a report from the Committee of Technology and Information Service. (No response.)

Councilman O'Neill? (No response.)

Mr. President, on behalf of Councilmember O'Neill, thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Technology and Information Stated Meeting 36 3/31/2022 bill with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Mr. Decker, please read the report.

To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Technology and Information Services, to which was referred Bill No. 220225, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Chief Information Officer for the City of Philadelphia, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to purchase licenses for email, cloud services, enterprise software, data services, security software, and other related computing products and services," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. Stated Meeting 37 3/31/2022 Councilwoman Parker.

On behalf of Councilmember O'Neill, thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit the reading this day of Bill No. 220225. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 220225. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and the bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. That concludes our reports from Stated Meeting 38 3/31/2022 2ND READING committee, and our next order of business is consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bill just reported from committee with suspension of the rules has been deemed to have had a first reading. It will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. As there are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for the purpose of calling up resolutions and bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.

Thank you, Mr. President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. They are Nos. 220252, 220253, 220262, 220263, 220273, 220274, 220275, and 210685. All other bills and resolutions are being held, Mr. President.

Stated Meeting 39 3/31/2022 Thank you very much, Councilwoman. Before we proceed with our public comment session, we're going to take a brief five-minute, ten-minute break to allow our technology professionals an opportunity to connect our speakers to our public comment session today. We'll be right back. (Short recess. )

Thank you very much, and we're back. We will proceed with our public comment session. So now that everyone is connected to the meeting and before considering the resolutions and bills we have before us today, we will consider our public comment session. Public comment must concern matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars for possible action at a session of Council. A speaker on any of those matters must sign up in order to Stated Meeting 40 3/31/2022 testify. You must call 215-686-3406 by 3:00 p.m. the day before the session to sign up for public comment. When you call, we will take your name, phone number, the number of the legislative item you are commenting on and whether you are in support of or against the legislation, and add your name to the list. We will then telephone each person on the list during the Council session and invite them to our remote meeting. Today we have a relatively significant number of individuals wishing to testify in addition to the Mayor's speech, so we will have two minutes to speak. I would ask you to please adjust your testimony to reflect the two-minute number. In order to be fair to all those wishing to speak, I intend to hold faithfully to the established time limit. So once invited to the meeting and asked to begin your testimony, a timer will be Stated Meeting 41 3/31/2022 started, and we will monitor your remaining time throughout your testimony, and when there are 30 seconds remaining to your time, you will be reminded of this. Once your allotted time has passed, you will be asked to conclude your remarks, and shortly thereafter you will be muted and disconnected from the remote meeting. I also reserve the right to limit the number of speakers where repetitious comments are being made on the same subject matter, which could affect callbacks for public comment at a meeting. Please be aware that this public meeting is being recorded. So because the meeting is public, participants and viewers have no reasonable expectation of privacy. So by continuing to be in the meeting, you are consenting to being recorded. I will now ask Mr. Decker please read the first name on our list. Stated Meeting 42 3/31/2022

The first speaker we have today, Mr. President, is Tenaja Hammond, commenting on 210848.

Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony.

Yes. Good morning, everyone. My name is Tenaja Hammond. I'm currently enrolled in Habitat for Humanity for the bill for Page Street. I am in support of, one being as though they're providing or trying to provide us, which I've been in the program for three years, trying to provide us affordable housing. It's important for me to become a homeowner, because I'm a mother of five who struggles alone, and currently where I live, I live in the University City Townhomes, and they are closing as of July 8th, 2022, which leaves us an option to go elsewhere. But I'm currently seeking the homeownership program through Habitat. It's a great, awesome program, Stated Meeting 43 3/31/2022 which has been on hold. I'm for the bill. I feel as though parking is very important, but having a home to live is way more important. So I'm in support of the bill. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. Thank you for your diligence. We're going to make sure you get in that home.

The next speaker is Patrick Grossi, commenting on 220262.

Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony.

Good morning, Council President and fellow Councilmembers. My name is Patrick Grossi and I'm speaking today on behalf of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. The Preservation Alliance wishes to express its support for Stated Meeting 44 3/31/2022 Resolution 220262 and thank Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson and her co-sponsors for urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to pass the Whole-Home Repairs Act, Senate Bill 1135. Senator Nikil Saval's bill aims to address a dire material need for Philadelphians and their sister residents of the Commonwealth, a need where there is currently limited public or private support. The Preservation Alliance routinely receives calls from owner-occupants of historic row houses seeking help to replace their roof, repair their windows, better insulate their property. If they meet income thresholds, I can at least direct them to some of the programs Philadelphia, Pennsylvania fortunately already has on offer, Basic Systems Repair, Adaptive Modifications, et cetera, but as you all know, the demand and wait list for these programs is likewise great. Stated Meeting 45 3/31/2022 The Whole-Home Repairs Act essentially bundles all of these assistance programs and creates a central hub for funding, technical assistance, and owner support. The Alliance is a historic preservation advocacy organization. Our mission is dedicated to the recognition and maintenance of historic places and the people who steward them. Simply put, helping people to stay in their homes by making them safe, making them comfortable, making them more energy efficient is one of the best ways we can preserve our historic built environment. Within the Preservation community, it's often asserted that the greenest building is the one that already exists. And among housing advocates, it's similarly asserted that the most affordable home is the one someone already lives in. The Whole-Home Repairs Act takes both of these ideas to heart and Stated Meeting 46 3/31/2022 puts them into action. It is a sensible, proactive, much-needed program, and the Alliance thanks City Council for recognizing its potential and advancing this resolution today. I thank you for your time.

Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.

The next speaker is Katie Bartolotta, commenting on 220262.

Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony.

Good morning, Council President and members of Council. My name is Katie Bartolotta and I'm the Vice President of Policy and Strategic Partnerships with the Philadelphia Energy Authority. It's a pleasure to be here with you all today in support of Resolution 22062 [sic] calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to adopt Stated Meeting 47 3/31/2022 the Whole-Home Repairs Act and thanking Senator Saval for his commitment to creating safe, efficient, resilient housing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Energy Authority is a City government entity building a robust and equitable clean energy economy. We have spent the last three years developing and piloting a Whole-Home Repair program here in Philadelphia called Built to Last in wish the Whole-Home Repairs legislation is modeled. Built to Last helps existing home repair programs work together to deliver whole home improvement that not only preserve existing affordable housing but also make homes healthy, safe, comfortable, less expensive to operate, and climate resilient. From Basic System Repairs and Weatherization to electric heat pumps and rooftop solar, Built to Last amplifies Stated Meeting 48 3/31/2022 the impact of existing programs and fills critical service gaps. This model depends on essential agencies, like the Philadelphia Energy Authority, that can take on the administrative roles of coordinating the many partners that provide participants with full benefit screening, whole home assessment, and stage construction services. As of today, we are halfway into our pilot of the Built to Last program to serve our first 50 homes. In addition to our work with Built to Last, the Philadelphia Energy Authority is working with partners to deliver a complementary workforce training program called Green Retrofit Immersive Training, or GRIT. GRIT ensures that we have a direct pipeline between the residential work created through Built to Last and a well-trained, diverse local workforce. Our second 15-student cohort of GRIT will start their training this May. Dedicated funding for whole Stated Meeting 49 3/31/2022 home repairs is critical to achieving the Philadelphia Energy Authority's goal of delivering 10,000 holistic home improvements in Philadelphia by 2032 and creating 10,000 clean energy jobs by 2026. The Whole-Home Repairs Act will help provide the necessary funding to leverage existing services to deepen and deliver home improvements that will make meaningful long-term impact on families living in poverty and helping to build generational wealth-building assets and ensuring all Philadelphians can participate in the economic opportunities created by this important work. We applaud the bipartisan group of Pennsylvania senators who have already endorsed this legislation, and we applaud the Councilmembers, including Katherine Gilmore Richardson and Cherelle Parker, for their leadership in introducing this resolution to support the passage of the Whole-Home Repairs Act. Again, I thank you for the Stated Meeting 50 3/31/2022 opportunity to join you today and lend our support to Resolution 220262. Thank you.

The next speaker is Natasha Cahill, commenting on 220262.

Hi. Good morning, Councilmembers. My name is Natasha Cahill and I'm a staff member in State Senator Nikil Saval's office. Senator Saval was unable to call in today himself and so I'm honored to be adding my voice on his behalf. I called to express our complete support for City Council Resolution 220262 as proposed by Councilmembers Cherelle Parker and Katherine Gilmore Richardson, and I add our gratitude to the Councilmembers for this resolution and to all Councilmembers for considering it. The Whole-Home Repairs Act is a bipartisan bill that creates a one-stop shop for home repairs and weatherization, while building out our local workforce Stated Meeting 51 3/31/2022 and adding new family-sustaining jobs in a growing field. This bill is the first in the nation, making it so that Pennsylvanians can stay warm, safe, and dry in homes that they can afford. Right now hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians are living in homes that are unsafe because they cannot afford to make the needed repairs. The passage of the Whole-Home Repairs Act will let us fight housing scarcity, community displacement, and instability and the deterioration of our homes all at once. This is important for Pennsylvania as a whole, and this is incredibly important for Philadelphia, where low-income households may spend nearly a quarter of their incomes on utilities alone, so just to keep their homes warm, the lights on, and the water running. We help our neighbors here in Philly by helping communities across our Stated Meeting 52 3/31/2022 Commonwealth, and our office is so grateful to have housing champions like Councilmembers Parker and Gilmore Richardson on our side. Our office is honored by this resolution and so hopeful for what its passage will mean for our constituents, for all Philadelphians, and for all Pennsylvanians who are struggling. We offer our wholehearted support, and we thank you.

Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.

The next speaker is Siarzhuk Shaliga, commenting on 220275.

Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony.

Good morning. Dear City Council President Clarke and fellow Councilmembers, my name is Siarzhuk Shaliga and I represent Association of Belarusians in America. Stated Meeting 53 3/31/2022 People in western countries were feared World War III for decades. I understand the fear, but don't you know that World War III may have already arrived when on February 24th, 2022, foolish Russia started the (unintelligible) war in Ukraine. Since then, Ukraine has been designated to establish a no-fly zone to protect the Ukrainian people from Russian bombs. For years, Ukraine fight just to defend their skies. So far, the answer on both is no. As a result, more than four million refugees have left Ukraine. Establishing a process to swiftly admit displaced Ukrainians into the United States and grant refugee status to Ukrainian citizens is the minimum United States can do to help Ukraine in this humanitarian crisis. Therefore, I support Resolution No. 220275. Thank you.

Stated Meeting 54 3/31/2022 Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.

The next speaker is Francois Mazur, commenting on 220275.

Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed.

Thank you. Good morning, Councilmembers. My name is Francois Mazur and I'm speaking in support of Resolution No. 220275, and that's urging the White House to establish a process to swiftly admit displaced Ukrainians into the United States and grant refugee status to Ukrainian citizens. Philadelphia as the cradle of liberty is always taking a lead in the United States in welcoming immigrants, and this resolution provides emphasis to this historic attitude and presents an important signal to the White House that bringing Ukrainian refugees as swiftly as possible reinforces the United States' Stated Meeting 55 3/31/2022 belief in liberty and freedom. Similarly for those with family in the United States who are already in the process of arriving here and for whom visas are already available, the lengthy processing backlogs should be eliminated. I truly hope the City Council will adopt this resolution. Thank you for your time.

Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.

The next speaker is Eugene Luciw, commenting on 220275.

Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony.

Mr. President, members of City Council, my name is Eugene Luciw. I'm President of the Philadelphia branch of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, and I speak today in support of Resolution No. 220275. Stated Meeting 56 3/31/2022 Philadelphia, a beacon of American opportunity and liberty, became home to a good number of displaced Ukrainians post-World War II, not unlike the refugees that are in Europe today, including, of course, my parents and grandparents, my cousins, and some uncles. This immigration refreshed our city and cities throughout America with a significant number of dedicated, hard-working citizens and patriots that contributed greatly to our cultural mosaic, building and establishing wonderful cathedrals, churches, cultural, civic, and charitable fellowships and institutions, and even a highly successful professional soccer team that brought six championships to the City of Philadelphia in the 1960s, the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals. The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine compels America to respond, to provide displaced persons with a home Stated Meeting 57 3/31/2022 where they can thrive, where they can prosper, and where they can add greatly to the common good that is the United States of America and this great City of Brotherly Love. Thank you for your attention.

Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.

The next speaker is Roman Petyk, commenting on 220275.

Good morning.

Good morning, Mr. President. My name is Roman Petyk and I speak in support of Resolution No. 220275. I am also a Philadelphia native. I'm a child of World War II refugees, and it has been my privilege to support a vibrant and prosperous Ukrainian American community in this city as Board Chair of Ukrainian Self-Reliance Federal Credit Union, which supports 12,000 members and has assets of over $400 million. Stated Meeting 58 3/31/2022 We believe that this resolution is critically important, because it speaks to the need for administration action to address the fundamental flaws in the ingracious system as it has been tortured and abused by the xenophobic demagogues that have been in charge of this process in prior administrations. This needs to stop. There is an opportunity here for the administration to act courageously to correct some of these administrative and executive decisions that greatly thwart the opportunities that should otherwise be available to the Ukrainian emigres and the Ukrainian refugees that are now waiting by the millions in Poland and Romania and other countries for an opportunity to live in this land of opportunity. I urge the administration to take the appropriate steps and act courageously, and I strongly support this resolution, particularly those provisions Stated Meeting 59 3/31/2022 that speak to the issues that were endorsed by the Jewish Federation of North America and the Anti-Defamation League, immediate steps to help Ukrainian civilians settle in the United States with close family ties or other basis for entry. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the opportunity to speak to this issue.

Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.

The final speaker, Mr. President, is Queen Judith Robinson, commenting on 220685 [sic].

Good morning. QUEEN ROBINSON: Yes. Good morning. Queen Judith Robinson here to testify on 220248, 210685. It's Women History Month and I just want to make sure on this last day that we give big props to all of the Stated Meeting 60 3/31/2022 women who are holding down families in PHA long-term residency. I want to talk about that in the future, so I want to just give a shout-out to Michelle Bailey, a long-term tenant, and Queen Nadine Harris, who is a homeowner in Brewerytown, went from being a tenant to a homeowner. And these long-term tenants have been paying rent for 20, 30, 40 years in some cases. We need to recognize them as homeowners as quickly as possible. I'll talk about that in the future, especially as we talk about budget hearings, et cetera. This special certificate of inspection should be extended to PHA residencies. Tenants are in properties 24/7 and we should expand that possibility. It's Women History Month. I want to make certain that we keep in mind all of the unsung sisters, sheoroins (ph) of -- I'm going to focus in on as committee person 32nd Ward, 13th Stated Meeting 61 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Division. Thank you for the opportunity. Have a great day.

Thank you. Appreciate your testimony.

There are no other speakers, Mr. President.

Thank you, Mr. Decker. That concludes our public comment session. We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 220252.

A resolution honoring and recognizing the contributions of service worker, administrator, and faith leader, Bonnie Camarda, whose leadership and talent for relationship-building has bolstered the work of Philadelphia's most instrumental public interest organizations and uplifted Philadelphia's Latino community Stated Meeting 62 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING and empowered underserved populations across the City.

The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brooks.

Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of this resolution. (Duly seconded.)

It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and that resolution has been adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 220253.

A resolution honoring and recognizing the voice, vision, and contributions of movement Stated Meeting 63 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING activist and organizer Ellen Somekawa, whose fearless and transformative leadership within Philadelphia's Asian American community has advanced major victories for racial and economic justice, built multiracial coalitions across the City, founded historic institutions, and redefined Asian American activism particularly in the area of youth leadership, education justice, and civil rights.

Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Brooks.

Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of this resolution. (Duly seconded.)

It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.) Stated Meeting 64 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 220262.

A resolution calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to adopt the Whole-Home Repairs Act (Senate Bill 1135) and thanking Senator Nikil Saval for his commitment to creating safe, efficient, resilient housing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson.

Thank you, Council President. On behalf of Councilmember Parker and I, I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.) Stated Meeting 65 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING

It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, 220263.

A resolution declaring March 31, 2022 as International Transgender Day of Visibility in the City of Philadelphia.

The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gym.

Thank you very much, Council President. Today on this National Trans Day of Visibility, I want to dedicate this resolution and my remarks to the youth of this city, especially all of our Stated Meeting 66 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming young people who are transforming our understanding of what it means to be human and inclusive as a society in the City. So as we mark today, I just want to make sure that I invite everybody who is watching and my Council colleagues, along with the Office of LGBT Affairs, for a rally for trans rights at City Hall at noon today. We want to continue to bring voice as well as visibility to this day. So five years ago, we were proud to host the first Trans Day of Visibility out of our Council body. We welcomed a new LGBT Director, and we wanted to show the world that this city would be dedicated not just to disability for trans people but to voice and change. I've been so encouraged in the past five years to see emerging leadership from trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming leaders who have Stated Meeting 67 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING won new policies through this body, including name and pronoun change policies, bathroom availability and use, gender-neutral language, and access to activities that had previously been arbitrarily segregated by gender. City Council extended those same protections beyond schools, requiring every single youth organization -- every single youth-serving organization to develop or abide by similar policies, and that law will go into effect this summer. Some of these policies were championed by young people themselves. I want to honor and thank Itsella (ph) and Philly Family Pride as well as my own trans staff members, Cam Duran and Christian Lovehall, who made those policies possible. I'm grateful to trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming teachers, educators, community leaders who have stepped out more boldly than Stated Meeting 68 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING ever to show our youth that a cruel world can and must change. But as much as we strive to make this world a little more loving and kind for trans youth and trans community members, there is no question that as visibility has grown, so has hate and backlash. Legislative bills denying healthcare to tens of thousands of trans youth are moving from state to state. In Texas last month, the Governor signed legislation that deems gender-affirming medical treatments for trans youth to be child abuse in the eyes of the state, and now effectively criminalizes doctors, nurses, and educators and calls upon them to report parents to the state Department of Family and Protective Services. Florida prohibits even the discussion, even the use of books that mention LGBT issues with younger students. Pennsylvania's own state legislature is considering transphobic Stated Meeting 69 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING legislation that denies trans student-athletes the ability to participate in sports, and that has hit here close to home as Penn student Lia Thomas has borne an unimaginable level of toxic anti-trans politics and hate. This heightened political rhetoric is driving open hostility towards trans, queer, and non-binary youth and their allies, whether it's in school board meetings, in classrooms, or in the broader media. So five years later, we enter this Trans Day of Visibility with greater consciousness that the fight in defense of trans lives to uphold trans dignity is more important, more present, and more urgent than ever. We do so because hate translates to violence, especially for Black, Brown, and immigrant trans women. We honor Dominique Rem'mie Fells, Mia Green, Stacy Blahnik, Nizah Morris, Diamond Williams, Kyra Cruz, London Kiki Chanel, Maya Young, Shantee Stated Meeting 70 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Tucker, Keisha Jenkins, Tanya Moore, Tina Rodriguez, Michelle Tamika Washington. We say their names.

We hold their lives and memories close to our hearts, and we call out the privileged femininity as much as we do the toxic masculinity that enables violence. On this sixth Trans Day of Visibility in this City Council body, I'm proud to have introduced this resolution with the majority support of this Council body once again, and I want to thank my co-sponsors, Councilmembers Gauthier, Gilmore Richardson, Brooks, Squilla, Parker, Quinones-Sanchez, Domb, and Green, and all of my colleagues who over the years have sponsored and consistently voted for recognition and voice. For all of our youth who have endless possibilities and limitless potential, to our trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming young people wondering whether this world is for you, and to all who love them, this City Stated Meeting 71 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Council resolution is for you. We have your back, and we will be sending the signal that our city will always be here for our trans communities. With that, I call for the approval of this resolution. )

Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, 220273.

A resolution honoring and congratulating Women's History Month's Champion of the Week, Masterman Girls Swim Team on the league Stated Meeting 72 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING championship, and the 10 Philadelphia Public League Girls Swimmers on qualifying for the PIAA State Championships.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Thomas.

Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)

It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, 220274.

A resolution recognizing and honoring the life and Stated Meeting 73 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING service of Pennsylvania State Troopers Martin F. Mack III and Branden T. Sisca.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.

Thank you very much, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)

It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, 220275.

A resolution urging the White House to establish a process to swiftly admit displaced Ukrainians into the United States and Stated Meeting 74 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING grant refugee status to Ukrainian citizens.

The Chair again recognizes Councilman Oh.

Thank you very much. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and that resolution has been adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 210685.

An ordinance amending Subcode "A" (The Philadelphia Stated Meeting 75 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Administrative Code) of Title 4 (The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code) of The Philadelphia Code, by amending Section A-703, entitled "Special Certificate of Inspection," to enhance building safety requirements for educational occupancies.

And the Chair recognizes Councilman Green for an amendment to Bill No. 210685.

Thank you, Council President. I'd like to offer an amendment to Bill No. 210685. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of Council. I move for the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.) Stated Meeting 76 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING

The ayes have it, and Bill No. 210685 has been amended, and Bill No. 210685, as amended, will be placed on our Final Passage Calendar for the next session of Council. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional resolutions?

I do, Mr. President. A resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to hold public hearings examining the use of technology to solve shootings in the neighborhoods surrounding the 57 blocks where 10 or more people have been shot since 2015, introduced today by Councilman Jones.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to speak to this resolution briefly. Yesterday we had the privilege of working with Member Parker to talk Stated Meeting 77 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING about a plan, to talk about a public safety plan in and around commercial corridors. I have the dubious distinction of citing that today in my district an eight-year-old brought a handgun to school, which was discharged and caused fortunately no death but it caused all kinds of mayhem in a public charter school that students should be thinking about reading, writing, arithmetic, and the lessons of the day. One of the lessons of the day is that the Inquirer looked at 57 corners in Philadelphia that 10 or more shootings had occurred. That is a roadmap to violence in Philadelphia. Where crimes happen is as important as what crimes happen. So we're going to take a look at that and raise the question of technology, what can we do, whether it's cameras, whether it's lighting, which is a subset of Member Parker's plan to take Stated Meeting 78 3/31/2022 3/31/22 - STATED - 2ND READING a look at how we can reduce the instances of violence in those 57 identified corridors. And the Public Safety Committee will take this on with its members as a subset of that plan that was introduced by Member Parker. And with that, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted.

There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.

Stated Meeting 79 3/31/2022 very much. That concludes our Calendar for today. And now we will have a special presentation with a budget message. We're going to -- the time has come for us to consider the Mayor's presentation of his annual budget message. The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter states that the Mayor shall submit to Council, no later than 90 days before the end of the fiscal year, his operating message, his proposed operating budget ordinance for the ensuing fiscal year. At the same time, the Mayor shall submit to Council the Recommended Capital Program, Capital Budget, as received from the City Planning Commission, to the extent approved by the Mayor. I will now ask for a brief recess to give our technology professionals an opportunity to cue the Mayor's pre-recorded budget message. Technology professionals, Stated Meeting 80 3/31/2022 to it. (Brief pause.)

Thank you. We will now consider the Mayor's budget address.

Thank you, Council President Clarke and members of City Council for inviting me again to speak today. I'm pleased to present our seventh proposed Five Year Financial Plan covering Fiscal Years 2023 through 2027. As we all know, the past two years have not been easy. The challenge that we faced as a city, including a global pandemic, political turmoil at the national level, and intensified violence, have tested our collective resolve. But with our trademark resilience and determination, we are facing those challenges together. I remember the uncertainty we all felt in the early days of the pandemic when our city shut down and we focused all of our efforts on stopping Stated Meeting 81 3/31/2022 of the virus. Each of us has had to make sacrifices while bracing for every worst-case scenario, and we've seen the impacts continue to ripple out into our communities ever since. Here and across the world, we have lost friends and loved ones. People faced uncertain economic futures and isolation. Children and families endured school closures, and business owners everywhere were forced to navigate restrictions and shutdowns. We faced those seismic changes together, and now, thanks to the collective hope and determination, our city never lost, and bolstered by federal financial support, we are well-positioned for recovery in the wake of the pandemic. As I've said before, I never lost hope, hope that our city could and would rebound, and that hope is stronger today than ever. The strength and dedication I Stated Meeting 82 3/31/2022 the thousands of first responders and City of Philadelphia employees over the past two years has been nothing short of remarkable. And I am proud that the City, along with all of our partner organizations across the region, stepped up to provide unprecedented support for our people at a time of great need. We got vaccinated. Since the life-saving vaccines started rolling out, Philadelphia has become one of the most vaccinated cities in the country. This is thanks to the Department of Public Health's tireless efforts and our incredible healthcare partners. More than 76 percent of Philadelphia adults are now fully vaccinated, and 93 percent of residents 12 years and older have received at least one dose. We supported families and children. Over the past two years, we've distributed over 23 million meals and Stated Meeting 83 3/31/2022 41 million pounds of food. The City also established access centers at libraries, recreation centers, and community sites. And this year, we helped more than 1,500 families access $6 million in direct cash aid through the Child Tax Credit and other federal programs. We helped Philadelphians stay in their homes. Since May 2020, we've helped nearly 40,000 households stay in their homes through PHL Rent Assist, which has disbursed more than $253 million in federal, state, and local funds to support families and individuals. While many municipalities across the country struggled to get this funding to those who needed it most, Philadelphia became a nationally recognized leader in doing just that. We supported local businesses and workers. Since March 2020, more than $140 million in government, Stated Meeting 84 3/31/2022 philanthropic, and private funding has gone to Philadelphia's small businesses and non-profits, including four grant programs stood up by our Department of Commerce, PIDC, and the Commonwealth. Those funds have been lifelines for thousands of local businesses, especially hard hit minority-owned businesses. 2 million in emergency cash assistance to over 2,800 workers left out of federal and state relief programs. We worked to bridge the digital divide.

The City worked with a number of partners to launch PHLConnectED, a program that has provided over 21,000 free internet connections for student households. I remind everyone of these achievements because each one tells a story about dozens, if not hundreds, of dedicated public servants working around the clock to support our residents during Stated Meeting 85 3/31/2022 of ever-changing needs. And they tell the story of the remarkable resilience of our residents and what is possible when we all work together to address those needs. That same resilience is what will propel us into the future. Our FY23 budget and Five Year Plan proposed today builds on all of these efforts so that Philadelphians in every neighborhood can benefit from a strong, inclusive recovery. As we prepared this year's budget proposal, I'm proud that we initiated a comprehensive, inclusive public engagement process regarding City spending. We held over 20 community engagement sessions with more than 500 residents, business owners, non-profits, arts and culture organizations, and more. This budget was written by Philadelphians for Philadelphians. Building off that input, over the next five years this budget plan will Stated Meeting 86 3/31/2022 forward by enhancing core services that residents depend on, accelerating inclusive economic growth across the City, maintaining the City's long-term fiscal health, and continuing to reduce racial disparities so that race is not a determinant of success and every single person that calls Philadelphia home can thrive. 4 billion we're receiving from the American Rescue Plan. The support from the ARP represented a significant turning point for Philadelphia, not just in the fight against the pandemic but for the future of our great city. This one-time federal relief helps ease the effects of projected revenue declines stemming from the pandemic. Our communities would have absolutely no path to a fair, inclusive, and equitable recovery from the pandemic Stated Meeting 87 3/31/2022 support. 5 billion shortfall over the five years without the ARP. The American Rescue Plan has helped fill a gap this current fiscal year and fills projected deficits resulting from the pandemic through Fiscal Year 2025. However, the funding we're receiving from the ARP is less than the actual need over five years in order to fully fund service needs and priorities and keep City finances on a stable, sustainable path. We have to make difficult and strategic choices. We will be prudent and intentional to ensure our resources are best directed to the pressing issues facing Philadelphians today, while at the same time investing in resources that will set our city up for success in the years ahead, and all with a racial equity lens so that every Philadelphian is part of that success. This Five Year Plan embodies Stated Meeting 88 3/31/2022 hope, expanding on our vision of how Philadelphians can grow and prosper as we move past the worst of the pandemic. This virus will be with us for the foreseeable future, but we now have knowledge, data, and proven tools to manage it and are learning to move forward together in ways that promote public health and reflect the realities of life and society. I am more confident than ever of the City's ability to meet this challenge. As we continue to navigate the ongoing pandemic, we must continue to advance equitable economic recovery strategies, support business growth, and create economic security for all Philadelphians, ensuring that our city stays competitive in an ever-changing economy.

We've made meaningful reforms to City business taxes, which have helped to grow small businesses and jobs, reduce barriers, and make Philadelphia a better Stated Meeting 89 3/31/2022 do business. Since the beginning of the City's tax reduction program, we've decreased the wage tax by just over 20 percent, and since the beginning of our administration, the value of wage tax cuts has totaled nearly $100 million, and wage tax rates overall are at their lowest level since the 1970s. We've lowered the business income and receipts tax, and before 2016, about 130,000 businesses filed a BIRT return each year. With the City's new $100,000 BIRT exclusion and changes to filing rules, over 95,000 businesses with Philadelphia sales no longer have a liability or a filing requirement. I am pleased to report that this plan proposes no tax rate increases. We are anticipating new property assessments that reflect significant growth and may affect homeowners, other property owners, and tenants. Growing property values reflect Stated Meeting 90 3/31/2022 Philadelphia being a place of choice and represent an opportunity to build wealth for some. As we navigate the impacts of potentially increased real estate values, our Administration will continue to work closely with City Council on tax relief and reforms that are scaled to the magnitude of the changes as the data becomes available during the budget process. It's also worth noting that despite the pandemic's impact on the budget, we have been able to put our pension fund on a course to fiscal health through our partnerships with unions, legislators, and the Pension Board. Our plan has us getting to 80 percent funded by the end of the decade and 100 percent funded shortly thereafter. I'm happy to report that we are ahead of the original schedule. The fund is now at its highest funding percent since before the Great Recession. Stated Meeting 91 3/31/2022 Now, I understand that to raise more revenue and fund more services, people may want us to tax wealthy corporations or wealthy individuals, but as we're all aware, because of the Uniformity Clause of the Pennsylvania Constitution, we're required to have the same tax rate for our small businesses as our largest corporations and the same wage tax rate for all workers, whether they are lawyers, teachers, or janitors. One way we can help our residents is by ensuring that they are aware of any and all tax benefits they may be eligible for, as millions of dollars in tax benefits are left on the table every year. I want to thank Councilmember Domb for his leadership trying to get these much-needed resources in the hands of residents who need it most. We will continue working together to lobby Harrisburg for changes, while doing what we can at the local level to support our Stated Meeting 92 3/31/2022 community, create jobs, and build wealth for all Philadelphians. Our commercial corridors, which are the backbone of our neighborhoods, need continued support as they recover from the pandemic. That's why this plan will provide more than $13 million for economic stimulus programs, including $500,000 for a new emergency grant program and $7 million for the PHL Taking Care of Business Corridor Cleaning program. This initiative, championed by Councilmember Parker, maintains neighborhood corridors as welcoming and attractive places, while providing accessible job opportunities. In 2021, the PHLTCB program collected more than 170,000 bags of trash from commercial corridors. Support for neighborhood commercial corridors, housing, infrastructure, and public spaces is essential to driving economic growth.

Stated Meeting 93 3/31/2022 Rebuild, made possible because of the beverage tax, we've committed hundreds of millions of dollars to improve our parks, recreation centers, playgrounds, and libraries. Rebuild has cut the ribbon on nine projects, with another 11 preparing for or in construction, and 40 sites have started community engagement and design. And true to our commitment, 66 percent of Rebuild's contract dollars are going to minority or women-owned businesses. I'm proud that Rebuild will help transform neighborhoods with physical amenities for residents to enjoy for years to come. And with hundreds of millions of dollars going to these projects, Rebuild also represents one of the City's most intentional efforts to promote diversity and economic inclusion in the construction industry ever. Our vision of a thriving economy that provides opportunities to Stated Meeting 94 3/31/2022 residents and neighborhoods will be further propelled by the implementation of the federal bipartisan infrastructure law. This once-in-a-generation infusion of federal funding should bring more than $1 billion in funds for roads, bridges, transit, water infrastructure, and broadband access to the City and thousands of new jobs. I want to thank Councilmember Green and Councilmember O'Neill for using their positions with the National League of Cities and National Association of Counties to continually press Philadelphia's interest within those organizations and ensure we get our fair share of resources from Congress. This infrastructure spending gives us an enormous opportunity to mobilize these investments in service of dismantling the structural barriers that excluded Black and Brown business owners and workers from public works projects. Stated Meeting 95 3/31/2022 includes a $20 million investment, and $116 million over the Five Year Plan, to prepare for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law so that Philadelphia can compete successfully for federal dollars and deliver high-quality infrastructure projects. In addition to those operating funds, the FY23 Capital Program includes $60 million in funding for local matching grants. For too long in our country, government infrastructure projects destroyed or devalued Black and Brown neighborhoods. In partnership with the Biden-Harris administration, we will turn that history around by using this opportunity to positively transform communities and make real the commitment to improving racial equity and growing wealth in Black and Brown neighborhoods, priorities I know are shared by Council, especially Councilmembers Brooks, Gauthier, and Gym. Stated Meeting 96 3/31/2022 past six years as Mayor, in the face of so many challenges, one thing has been constant - this Administration's laser focus on investing in and delivering quality education for all Philadelphians. 4 billion from the General Fund into the School District of Philadelphia over five years. 8 million dedicated to the Octavius Catto Scholarship. This program enables first-time students to attend college tuition free and with the supports they need, like food, books, and transportation stipends, to successfully earn their degree. It's been two years since we first announced the Catto program. Today over 500 students have enrolled through this opportunity, and CCP and the City Stated Meeting 97 3/31/2022 Idris Washington, who is the first Octavius Catto Scholar to graduate. We will also continue the expansion of the PHLpreK program supported by revenue from the Philadelphia beverage tax. Since launching in 2017, PHLpreK has benefited more than 10,000 children.

We propose funding 300 new slots to be funded this year, for a total of 4,300 slots, providing free and high-quality early learning services that lay a critical foundation for children and families. And we'll continue to expand our Community Schools program. Three new Community Schools in FY23 will bring the total number to 20 schools providing community-based wraparound supports, while serving a wide range of needs for students, families, and communities. The Free Library of Philadelphia also supports learning opportunities for residents across the Stated Meeting 98 3/31/2022 City, from young to old. Libraries are essential community assets, offering information, connection, and educational programs to all residents. This plan adds $48 million over five years to our investment in the Free Library, bringing the total five-year investment to 285 million. As you know, we recently welcomed Kelly Richards as the new Director of the Free Library, and we are excited to work with him to chart an equitable and inclusive path forward for Philadelphians and visitors. As we continue to navigate the inequities that have been laid bare by the pandemic, we remain committed to expanding digital access and closing the digital divide that can hamper our recovery. That's why we'll build on the success of the PHLConnectED initiative, a true collaboration between many partners, including Councilmember Squilla. Earlier this year, we released a five-year Stated Meeting 99 3/31/2022 plan, which lays out our strategies to build on our successes and further improve access and affordability of broadband, internet, and devices. Together, these investments prioritize the quality education of children, youth, and adults to support a more rapid and equitable recovery and to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty. As Mayor, my number one priority is to keep people safe and protect our residents. The surge in gun violence that we've seen across the nation and here in Philadelphia is heartbreaking, it's maddening, and it makes me as outraged as everyone else. We must keep working together to stop it, save lives, and create a safer city for all of us throughout every neighborhood. Our Administration, in partnership with all of our local and federal law enforcement agencies and Stated Meeting 100 3/31/2022 across the City, continues to work tirelessly in response to the national crisis. The City has acted swiftly, investing in anti-violence initiatives that address the immediate crisis, while we also tackle the systemic root causes of violence. This plan makes critical investments in the Roadmap for Safer Communities, the City's violence prevention plan. We'll dedicate an additional $12 million for the Anti-Violence Community Expansion Grant program, which directly funds and supports community-based organizations that are focused on reducing violence through trauma-informed healing and restorative practices in the neighborhoods most affected by violence and championed by Councilmember Jones, Johnson, and Thomas. That brings our total investment in this program alone to more than $32 million over the last two years. We'll invest an additional Stated Meeting 101 3/31/2022 $6 million to expand evidence-based programs that target those most at risk of being a victim or a perpetrator of gun violence and provide connections to services, treatment, and employment. This includes investments for our Group Violence Intervention program, the Community Crisis Intervention program, and the implementation of the local version of READI, Rapid Employment and Development Initiative, that will help decrease shootings among those at highest risk of gun violence.

These investments, designed to address the violence in the short and medium term, join the larger set of investments to address the poverty-driven root causes of violence that we've worked to address during the course of our administration. With a full set of violence prevention investments, including long-term investments, we're directing more than $184 million to help make our communities safer. 5 percent increase over FY22. And while preventing violence is not a job for police alone, this plan makes strategic investments to strengthen the Police Department's ability to solve violent crime and modernize police tools. It includes more than $3 million in forensic upgrades and policy mobility, which will facilitate the use of enhanced forensic analysis in every homicide. Last year, we funded a new crisis response tool known as co-responders or CIRT teams for 911 callers with behavioral health needs. Building on this work, the Five Year Plan continues to fund this citywide police-behavioral health co-response and significantly invest in additional non-police-behavioral health crises response services. FY23 sustains behavioral health crisis teams that are available to respond to residents with mental health crises citywide 24 hours, seven days a Stated Meeting 103 3/31/2022 we address the availability and ease of access to firearms, we will always be fighting an uphill battle. We need the ability to adopt proven gun policies that will save lives, and we'll continue to call on the Pennsylvania legislature to let us meet Philadelphia's unique needs. I can't help to think of all the incredible potential that has been extinguished by this crisis and the loss of life over the past several years. Because our young people can do anything. I see it every time I visit a school, a rec center, or one of our pre-K centers. We as a city and a society must value that life and do everything we can to remind our young people through our words and our actions that they are valued, that they are important, and that their lives matter. We must work together to keep them safe and give them the supports and opportunities that they Stated Meeting 104 3/31/2022 know now more than ever that creating a thriving city truly depends on the health of all communities. We must continue to work to eliminate health disparities and safeguard residents from threats that cause disease and injury. On this front, we're committed to ensuring that COVID-19 prevention and treatment options are available to all City residents, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Because we know that the impact of the pandemic has fallen disproportionately on people of color and communities with low wealth, we have and will continue to focus on providing resources to those at highest risk. In FY22, the Office of Sustainability launched the City's first Environmental Justice Advisory Commission, a historic step in the City's commitment to addressing environmental harms in our communities. In FY23, this Stated Meeting 105 3/31/2022 steer a community resilience and environmental justice grant program and develop processes to make recommendations to policymakers. This work would not be possible without the tremendous partnership of Councilmember Gilmore Richardson. Finally, we know that safe and stable housing is a critical foundation for health. The plan makes a major investment, $103 million over five years, in the Housing Trust Fund and continues support for the Neighborhood Preservation Initiative. NPI is a $400 million program investing in affordable housing and neighborhood services, thanks in large part to the guidance and leadership of Council President Clarke and Councilmember Quinones-Sanchez.

7 million over the Five Year Stated Meeting 106 3/31/2022 support our homeless service providers, including wage increases for the staff providing these critical services. For all neighborhoods to thrive, resources are needed to help some of our most vulnerable, those experiencing street homelessness and those affected by the opioid crisis. That's why this budget includes expansion of the successful low-barrier employment programs like Same Day Pay, which supports those experiencing homelessness who are disconnected from the labor market. These investments at the Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity, the Managing Director's Office, and the Mural Arts Program total more than $2 million, and $10 million over five years. This will allow the programs to form a system of accessible employment opportunities with pathways to more permanent employment. 1 million to support services and safety in Kensington. This plan represents our vision to move Philadelphia forward, and we will do that in part by creating a diverse, efficient, and effective government while driving change for our residents. Across every investment in this plan, we will target our dollars and our efforts to reverse the impacts of structural racism on our communities and our workforce, and to make concrete improvements in the lives of all residents while also paying close attention to those most marginalized in their past, in their safety, their health, and their economic well-being. By the end of Fiscal Year 2023, every department will have produced a Stated Meeting 108 3/31/2022 action plan to improve equity through their budget, procurement, and core services or programs. This work is critical to reduce racial disparities across many indicators for success, education, criminal justice, jobs, housing, health and more. And we will redouble our efforts to use data to address the most challenging problems we face, from poverty to gun violence to substance abuse disorder. The plan includes additional resources to increase the use of data to drive better outcomes for Philadelphians. That's why this week I signed an Executive Order elevating an Office of Integrated Data for Evidence and Action within the Managing Director's Office. And we've continued our work to reform fines and fees that disproportionally burden Black, Brown, and low-income Philadelphians. The FY23 budget commits $600,000 to remove the Stated Meeting 109 3/31/2022 participate in the Accelerated Misdemeanor Program so that ability to pay does not determine who gets a chance to be diverted out of the criminal justice system. And we're making investments to create an inclusive workplace. We're investing in hiring, training, professional development, and capacity-building for one of our most important assets, our employees. We are committed to ensuring that the City's workforce and culture is diverse, inclusive, and that all City employees are supported and empowered to work to make positive changes in our city. 61 billion in General Fund expenditures. This leaves us with a low General Fund balance of $153 million, which is lower than we are projecting for this current year. It is not enough to cover City finances in the event of Stated Meeting 110 3/31/2022 or unforeseen economic downturn. Philadelphia must build back towards fiscal resilience to be able to support and serve our residents through the next disruption, whatever that may be. As you review the plan, know that every program, policy, and funding priority was made with one thing in mind - how can we move all of Philadelphia forward and spur a fast, equitable recovery in every zip code and every neighborhood in our great city.

This budget is the embodiment of hope, and demonstrates the determination to make our city a better place to live, work, and visit. Six years ago after I was sworn in as Mayor, we embarked on a mission to tackle some of Philadelphia's biggest challenges - a struggling public education system, intergenerational poverty, public health crises, gun violence, an inequitable criminal justice Stated Meeting 111 3/31/2022 system, and much more. The progress we've made since would not have been possible without the support of our City Councilmembers and Administration staff. With more jobs coming back, children learning in person again, local unemployment continuing to decrease, construction booming, tourism on the upswing, and a vaccination rate among the highest in the country, I remain confident that Philadelphia's best days are ahead of us, and the investments laid out in this plan will help us reach our full potential. COVID is by no means over, and we know unforeseen challenges lay ahead of us, but I am so optimistic about the future of Philadelphia, because I know that Philadelphians are strong and resilient. The resiliency of our city and our people never ceases to amaze me. I see it when our school teachers inspire Stated Meeting 112 3/31/2022 all walks of life to reach for their dreams. I see it when our doctors, nurses, and front-line medical workers helped vaccinate more than a million people and counting. I see it when immigrants, families, and businesses choose to forge their future here in our great City of Brotherly and Sisterly Affection. Because after all, for Philadelphia to achieve the promise of its future, it will take our collective will to build the foundation that future generations of Philadelphians deserve. The coming year will be a big moment of challenge and opportunity for our city and region, and the plan laid out today will help us reach that moment. Let's rise to the challenge, because all Philadelphians are counting on us. Let's show the world that our city never backs down, never gives in, and that we are and always will be Stated Meeting 113 3/31/2022

And thank you. That concludes the Mayor's budget message. A little different than normal, but we have a significant task before us. I want to thank the Mayor and all those who put together his message. We will now move to speeches on behalf of the minority. And the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brooks.

Thank you, Council President. I want to take a moment to uplift the four resolutions that I am both passing and introducing today that recognize inspirational Philadelphia women. The first resolution, co-introduced with Councilmember Quinones-Sanchez, honors our guest today, Reverend Bonnie Camarda, who we were so Stated Meeting 114 3/31/2022 us today and provide the invocation. Her years of serving the City as a public interest organization, including the Salvation Army, Esperanza, and others, has empowered the Latinx population across the City and changed Philadelphia for the better. The second resolution, co-introduced with Councilmember Gym, recognizes Ellen Somekawa, a fearless Asian American activist and champion for young people at a time when violence against API community is one on the rise. It is essential that we celebrate the work of legendary organizers like Ellen and stand in solidarity with her relentless fight for social justice. The third resolution honors retired nurse, activist, and current President of Cecil B. Moore Freedom Fighters, Karen Asper Jordan. Her dedication to housing justice, racial equality, and community empowerment in the streets of Philadelphia is unmatched, Stated Meeting 115 3/31/2022 grateful for her lifelong commitment to civil rights. The last resolution celebrates Paula Peebles. Paula's decades of organizing includes coordinating the student walkouts at a young age to protest the lack of Black history being taught in schools and spending years as an active member of the Black Panther party and just a few years ago organizing protests for social justice after the murder of George Floyd, and her lifelong commitment to the social movements has been an inspiration. So many other issues these women fought for are ongoing struggles, and for that reason, it's worth remembering who laid the groundwork for our present-day movements for justice. And on the last day of Women's History Month, I want to express my deepest gratitude and admiration for these women, and along with my fellow women on Council, I commit to paving the Stated Meeting 116 3/31/2022 of Philadelphia women to be leaders in the fight for economic, gender, and racial justice. Thank you so much, Council President.

Thank you, Councilwoman. With respect to Paula Peebles, you can add her years of pushing the Fifth District Councilmembers, Councilpeople, to continue to thrive towards rebuilding North Philadelphia. Thank you. Speeches on behalf of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.

Thank you, Council President. And as you were making reference to Paula Peebles, I also had to reflect on the late Nadir Williams and the work that she did as well. I got to know her when I was a young lawyer, and enjoyed her cooking and her fish as Stated Meeting 117 3/31/2022 her. But, Council President, I wanted to just take a few moments and I want to thank my colleague Councilmember Jones, Chair of the Public Safety Committee. This Tuesday we had a hearing on the work of ManUpPHL, and they did a study. As many people know, ManUpPHL was founded by Solomon Jones, and the Chair of that organization, Dr. Brian Ellis, did a report called Listening to the Streets, and it focused on talking with young men who unfortunately got caught up in the gun violence situation that we see in the City of Philadelphia. Now, we first had a hearing when ManUp was just getting started February 11th of 2020, and at that time, we were concerned about the violence in the City of Philadelphia. In 2019, we had 356 homicides in our city. We all know we had 562 homicides last year, and we're already on a pace to push past that. Stated Meeting 118 3/31/2022 really talked about some of the solutions and things that they identified talking to young men. It also talked about the sense of urgency that we have to address this public safety issue and crisis in our city. And when I think about the Mayor providing his budget address this afternoon, that sense of urgency in a time is a concern that I have that although there were a number of investments made in our budget, I don't get that sense of urgency in reference to addressing this public safety crisis in our city. Many of us as members of this body have called for that type of urgency to address these issues. This is an issue that's impacting us all across this country, and I just don't get that sense coming out of this budget. 4 billion from the American Rescue Plan, it's this body that's actually created some of those creative ideas where we spent and allocated millions of dollars last year to anti-violence initiatives. When I think about PHL Rent Assist, environmental justice, some of the other initiatives that I heard this afternoon, those are ideas that came from Council. And so I really hope that as we continue to move forward through this budget process, that we will have that sense of urgency, because I'm concerned about the fact that the City of Philadelphia lost a significant number of people over the past year, about 20,000 people, the biggest drop since 1975. When we looked at the census, we had 30,000 African American families leave the City of Philadelphia. I don't want to go back to 1975. m. was a ghost town. We had a situation when the City Law Department, from my recollection, was borrowing legal pads from law firms, and the City was on the verge of bankruptcy. I don't want to go back to that time. The most expensive resource we have is time, and the urgency we need to have is now. And I look at the opportunities we have from life sciences and the ability to connect young people who are coming out of our neighborhood schools or coming out of our colleges to go into this growing industry, opportunity here in the City of Philadelphia, where we can be a global leader in life sciences and really help to address the poverty in our city, when I think about the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which is over a trillion dollars from the federal government, and how we have so many critical investments we need to make here Stated Meeting 121 3/31/2022 I just hope as we continue to work with the Mayor through this budget process, that Council will continue to provide these type of ideas and urgency to move forward our city, because we know time is of the essence and I don't want us to go back to where we were.

I want us to build upon what we've already invested in and done as a body so we can move forward for the benefit of our entire city, not only now but into the future. Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson.

Thank you. Thank you so much, Council President, and thank you, colleagues. I look forward to working with each of you to achieve a budget that will provide safety, opportunity, and justice to every Stated Meeting 122 3/31/2022 But, Mr. President, I wanted to share a bit of good news as we continue down towards the road of our city's recovery from COVID-19. This morning I extend a warm welcome to the distinguished men of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, Mighty Eastern Region, under the leadership of JR Reeves, their Regional Director. I welcome them to the great City of Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Effectiveness, for their Eastern Region Conference, the first in person since the COVID-19 pandemic began. They have over 600 registered attendees and have several thousand members in the region who will be patronizing businesses around this city throughout the remainder of this week and this weekend. We have visiting members from states spanning Virginia up to Maine, including the countries of Stated Meeting 123 3/31/2022 Germany, U.S. Virgin Islands, Switzerland, Liberia, Nigeria, and Ghana. Mr. President, this is just a preview for things to come, as we will also host the finer women of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated in July and we will have more than 6,000 registered attendees from across the nation and around the world. Earlier this year, this body passed a resolution for the Sigma Founder's Day, which is January 9th, 1914, and for this week's Eastern Region Conference. Yesterday at the onset of the conference, the men of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated volunteered with Philabundance. The men of Sigma will continue with the business of their fraternity with their business sessions in the coming days, and I wanted to take the time out to welcome them and give them a hearty warm welcome to the City of Philadelphia. Have a great weekend, men Stated Meeting 124 3/31/2022 Fraternity, Incorporated, Eastern Region.

Awesome. Awesome. Much needed good news. That's awesome. Look forward to it. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.

Thank you. I also wanted to share some good news and just some really good spirits. You know, I'm going to say that even though March is the end of Women's Month, I assure you, Councilmember Green, that women will continue to uplift each other. And I just wanted to take a special note and thank all of my Council colleagues who held women's events throughout this month, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Oh. I want to thank Councilmember Brooks for her highlighting of Reverend Bonnie Camarda, Stated Meeting 125 3/31/2022 Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson who every week has reminded us of some of the fabulous women in the City of Philadelphia and her legends reception yesterday. I want to just highlight the fact that the recognition of young women, along with some of the more experienced seasoned women, as Joann Bell, my good friend Joann Bell, Sue Jacobson, and of course Ketsy Losada, my former chief of staff and future political leader here in the City of Philadelphia. I think that this conversation around women and justice even as we look at our budget, I appreciate so much Queen Judith Robinson every week reminding us that women are the ones uplifting this city. So I want to thank her in particular, because she has been consistent in that messaging, and we appreciate it. She reminds us that this community and this city will only be Stated Meeting 126 3/31/2022 to support women and the work that they're doing, and part of the work that we do is obviously uplift our men, and I say that as a mother of two boys and a grandmother of two boys. There's no better way for me to improve the world than to ensure that those men are doing what they need to be doing. So thank you very much, Council President.

Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Thank you so much for your message. I think that concludes our speeches today. We have our work cut out for us over the next two months. We will aggressively digest the Mayor's budget, and hopefully the outcome will be one that the citizens of the City of Philadelphia will be proud of and this will make a much better place as we plan for the future to enhance our wonderful city here. Stated Meeting 127 3/31/2022 that, the Chair recognizes Councilmember Jones for a motion to adjourn.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, April 7th, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Council stand adjourned until Thursday, April 7, 2022, 10:00 a.m. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. The motion carries. And I want to thank you all very much and, again, please be safe. Thank you all. Love you guys. ) Stated Meeting 129 3/31/2022 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, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L.