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.
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.)
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.
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.)
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.)
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.