Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, October 4, 2018 10:55 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB COUNCILMAN DEREK S. GREEN COUNCILMAN WILLIAM K. GREENLEE COUNCILWOMAN HELEN GYM COUNCILMAN BOBBY HENON COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN CHERELLE L. PARKER COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN AL TAUBENBERGER MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting October 4, 2018
We're going to get started now. If Councilmembers will take their seats and any visitors or guests retire behind the rail. Thank you. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes the Reverend Lawrence Tom -(Audience member yelling.)
-of the Chinese Christian Church and Center. He is here today as the guest of Councilwoman Gym. I would ask all members, guests, and visitors to please rise. (Councilmembers, guests, and visitors rise.)
I know you have a full agenda ahead, so I'll keep it Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 your hearts together with mine. Lord, you've placed us here at this time and place for reasons greater than we can fathom. In this time where we've seen power abused and character crumble, enable us here to lead and make wise decisions for the flourishing of every person in this city. There is so much to be done. You've told us to simply ask you for wisdom and you would surely give it generously. So we ask, may we see with new eyes and new hearts, may we see people, all people, especially the least among us, the invisible, and be filled with compassion and conviction, encouraged to lift them up. May we see fears as well as our own circumstances differently with hope-filled eyes. Being quick to listen and slow to speak, may we honor one another and change the way things have Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 from judgment and fear. Help us to make the most of every opportunity, for time is a gift. And so we come before you with humility and gratitude and expectation that there are greater things to come, for when we call out to you, you answer. We ask all these things in the name of Christ, who loved us and gave his life for us in order that we may truly live today and forever. Amen. (Amen.)
Thank you so much. We appreciate those inspiring words. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
Good morning. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Council President. It is my Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 come back, but I am going to at 11 o'clock have a press conference with the District Attorney, some good news for Kensington. So I ask that I be recorded as voting aye for all bills and resolutions.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The record shall reflect that. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenyatta Johnson.
Thank you, Council President. I'd like to be excused today, but voting aye on all bills and resolutions.
Thank you, Councilman. The record shall reflect that. Thank you. Our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, September 27, 2018, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, September 27th, 2018 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, September 27, 2018 stand approved. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that Journal is approved. And the next order of business is requests for leave of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the majority, there are no requests of leave of absence today. Stated Meeting October 4, 2018
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair now recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the republicans, there are no requests for leave of absence.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. At this time, I would like to dispense with our regular order of business and I would like to thank everyone who has taken time out of their busy day to come down to witness their government in action. We genuinely appreciate you being here. We hope that your stay here today is a knowledgeable one but, more importantly, a pleasurable one, so much so that you come back again. So, again, thank you so much for being here. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee, who will Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Would Jeannine Lisitski and those accompanying her please join the Councilman at the podium. (Councilmembers and guests approached podium.)
And joining Councilman Greenlee, we have Councilman Jones, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilwoman Parker, and Councilman Green.
Thank you, Mr. President. Every year we recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but obviously this year here in City Council it has really hit home, as a member of our Council family was a victim of the scourge of domestic violence. But we also certainly want to also recognize those who are here today who daily look after the needs of the victims of domestic violence. So with that, this is a Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 "Domestic Violence Awareness Month." Whereas, "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" is being sponsored locally by Women Against Abuse and, through their sponsorship, they are encouraging everyone to help to increase the awareness of domestic violence in our homes and communities and decrease its negative effect on Philadelphia; and
Whereas, each year the Philadelphia Police Department responds to more than 100,000 domestic-related calls, and domestic violence is not just a local problem but a national issue where every minute 24 people are victims of physical violence, rape or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States - more than 12 million people over the course of a year are resulting in the loss of life and more than three individuals each and every day; and
Whereas, Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 fact, in teens in the United States is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, so Women Against Abuse has developed a teen dating violence prevention program called SAFER (Safety Awareness For Every Relationship) in order to address the prevalence of teen dating violence in all communities and support local schools who are leading the way in preparing their students to pursue healthy relationships; and Whereas, Women Against Abuse, in partnership with Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Lutheran Settlement House's Bilingual Domestic Violence Program and Women in Transition, the Philadelphia Domestic Violence Collaborative provides a comprehensive continuum of services to survivors of domestic violence and their families right here in Philadelphia, which includes safe housing, legal aid, counseling, medical advocacy and behavioral health services; and Stated Meeting October 4, 2018
Whereas, the Philadelphia Domestic Violence Collaborative provides education and training to the community about domestic violence issues and resources and has partnered with the City of Philadelphia to operate the Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline and, in Fiscal Year 2018, more than 11,700 calls were answered through the Hotline; and Whereas, to ensure a more holistic approach to addressing violence in our community, Women Against Abuse and its sister agencies are partnering with the City Administration's Office of Domestic Violence Strategies and over 70 different community stakeholders to implement Shared Safety: Philadelphia's Response to Relational Violence, a citywide plan to respond to domestic violence in Philadelphia; and
Whereas, to support a coordinated community response to domestic violence, the Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 organizations will hold events throughout the month of October to promote awareness about domestic violence and to build community support so that all Philadelphians will take a stand against domestic violence; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the Council of the City of Philadelphia, declares and recognizes October "Domestic Violence Awareness Month."
Further resolved, that an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to representatives of Women Against Abuse as a sincere expression of City Council's gratitude, appreciation, and commendation for raising the public's awareness regarding domestic violence. And this resolution is certainly co-sponsored by all members of City Council. Jeannine and everyone, thank you for all you do every year. Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 (Applause.)
Thank you so much, Councilmembers Greenlee, Jones, Green, Johnson, and Reynolds Brown for co-sponsoring and all City Council for all of the support that you've provided over many years in order to help overcome domestic violence in our city. We're honored to be here again this year with our partners to proclaim October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. While this month marks another year of progress in Philadelphia's ever-improving response, it's also a time to prepare for the work ahead and to ask ourselves what we need to do differently in light of the significant consequences that relationship violence continues to have on our city. Just weeks ago, we felt the loss of precious life twice, Kayden Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 Mancuso, a beautiful seven-year-old child beaten to death by her abusive father, and your own Director of Human Resources, Linda Rios, murdered by her estranged husband. These tragedies break our hearts and they tear at our community. They illuminate the need for action and change now. And in 2017, Philadelphia lost 22 lives to domestic violence. These murders represented a 22 percent increase from the year prior and, alarmingly, this trend is continuing, with Linda's loss marking the 21st person killed at the hands of an abuser this year. That's 21 missing family members, colleagues, friends, neighbors, and loved ones. As a city, we must consider the ways in which violent, coercive, and controlling behaviors that for centuries has been happening behind closed doors is affecting our communities. We must commit to stronger prevention work to Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 it starts. There are no simple answers to ending domestic violence, but we must work collectively and comprehensively across law enforcement and all health and human service entities in legislative efforts and funding support for adequate safety services, by keeping guns out of the hands of abusers, through prevention efforts, and by involving the entire community. I challenge City Council, which has long been an advocate in this work, to take the next step in addressing this epidemic, to commit to deep prevention work in our highest risk schools. Right now we're only covering about ten. That's a very small percentage. And an awareness campaign targeted to the City's workforce. While today is significant in officially marking Domestic Violence Awareness Month in our city, more importantly will be what we each choose Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 domestic violence in our community each and every day. As a community, we must do better and we must actively declare that violence, whether on our street corners or in our homes, is wholly unacceptable. I thank you for your commitment to being part of this life-staving struggle, and I know that together we can and we will create a safer and healthier Philadelphia for all. Thank you so much. (Applause.)
Thank you. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Henon, who will present a resolution recognizing Manufacturing Month and Weber Display and Packaging. Would Mr. Doherty and those Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 the Councilman at the podium. (Councilmembers and guests approached podium.)
And joining Councilman Henon, we have Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Taubenberger, Councilman Green, Councilwoman Parker.
Well, good morning, everybody, and we get the opportunity sometimes to -- well, most times to acknowledge and congratulate people and industries and organizations for their incredible, incredible achievements and longevity here in the City of Philadelphia, and sometimes we do it in a month. So manufacturing has been one of the staple small business, local employers of the City of Philadelphia since its inception. We were once called the Workshop of the World, and we still remain the Workshop of the World because Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 awesome, and hopefully we're able to attract Amazon and other sorts of businesses in the City, because we have adjusted along the way and we've adjusted in our pipeline, trying to educate our kids and our adults in new technology. So manufacturing isn't the old smokestack, smoke-filled rooms like my father worked for for three of them. Unfortunately they have closed, but some have chosen to stay and committed to the City of Philadelphia and making it work and employing our residents. If you take a look at some of the neighborhoods that we have around the City of Philadelphia, they've created the progressive design of eat, work, and play, and that includes row homes where you can go to work, you can sleep, you can worship, you can go to your local library and to your local playgrounds, and we have recognized that for a long time now, and today we recognize October 2018 as Manufacturing Month, and further Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 Display, which I'll talk to you in a second about, Weber Display and Packaging for their more than 120 years of dedication to the manufacturing industry in the City of Philadelphia. When Weber had the opportunity to be incentivized $3 million to go three miles, he says, I'm not moving three feet. I'm going to hire three more people. And that's what he has done. He currently employs 170 people in our neighborhood, and he chooses by choice because it's a passion of his. It's a family legacy to hire and pay 5 to 10 percent higher than the nearest competitor. So he is expanding his business as we speak. We are working together with the City, and they have a decent retirement. He has respectful and good healthcare, so when somebody has the opportunity to put their years in, they can retire with dignity, and I think that's what we're all about here. Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 honoring Weber Display -- and I want to thank him for all he has done. In 2012, I don't know if we remember, we created a task force, a task force of the manufacturing industry that hires over 25,000 people here in the City of Philadelphia. So with that, I'm going to turn it over to Councilman Green for the beginning of our whereas's.
Whereas, careers in manufacturing are characterized by above average wages and rewarding work with a well-defined career path. There are over 20,000 manufacturing jobs in the City of Philadelphia, yet area manufacturing companies regularly have difficulty filling open positions; and Whereas, thanks to the ongoing work of the Mayor's Manufacturing Task Force, manufacturers, government and non-profits have started to address the skilled-labor shortage they face through Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 outreach, education and program development; and
Whereas, Philadelphia's manufacturing companies add to the vitality, prosperity of our community by providing above average wages and creating family sustainability. Manufacturing makes a significant contribution to the local, state and national economy; Whereas, Philadelphia and the region helps to support an estimated 17.2 million jobs in the United States - about one in six private-sector jobs. Nearly 12 million Americans (or 9 percent of the workforce) are employed directly in manufacturing; and
Whereas, since 2012, the first Friday in October has been recognized as National Manufacturing Day and has been previously recognized by this body. To celebrate Manufacturing Day, groups locally, regionally, and nationally will sponsor Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 to create greater awareness and consciousness of the manufacturing sector; and Whereas, this year the City, led by the Office of Industry and Manufacturing, with external partners including the School District of Philadelphia, Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center, Philadelphia Works, Weber Display and Packaging, NextFab, Rhoads Industries, First Quality Retail Services has expanded the celebration to span the month of October; and
Whereas, there will be events around the City including tours of local manufacturing facilities for Philadelphia School District students; a manufacturing summit focusing on leadership, talent and culture and technology; a 3D Printing Innovation Challenge that will engage students in using 3D printing technology to create a Philadelphia attraction presentation; and Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 Whereas, Manufacturing Month aims to communicate the opportunities in the sector and spotlight the range of products made in the City of Philadelphia for fields including aerospace, food and beverage, healthcare, packaging, and technology; and
Whereas, Weber Display and Packaging began operations over 120 years ago at a facility at 5th and Locust Street. David Weber developed multiple patents in corrugating packaging and was an innovator in the industry; Whereas, in 1992, Weber Display and Packaging was named Philadelphia's manufacturer of the year. Currently located in Port Richmond, the company continues to expand and thrive and reported its highest sales to date in 2015;
Whereas, Weber Display and Packaging is now the 2nd and 3rd generation anchored company Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 and familial ties and seen tremendous growth. Since 1991 the company employed 80 dedicated people and has since expanded its operations to 170 workers at the oldest corrugated house in the United States; and now, therefore, be it Resolved, by the City Council of the City of Philadelphia, we hereby recognize the month of October 2018 as Manufacturing Month. Resolved further, but with personal privilege, when we created the Office of Manufacturing in the City of Philadelphia, this Council has sought to include workers in all of its zoning notifications. When we went through our zoning reform, any industrial, light industrial or ICMX, the Zoning Board is now notified because of the importance and the recognition that each and every Councilmember sees. So notification has been a part of that. I also have been saying for Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 years, we talk about jobs. We just went through a rough year debating how we include all workers in the City of Philadelphia. The manufacturing industry, I have been saying since day one, is looking for over 1,000, 1,000 Philadelphia employees as we speak. So I will pass out at the end of Council a career, not job expo, a career expo on manufacturing opportunities that will directly employ over 1,000 people. So we're going to have over 50 employers that are looking for help right now, not next week. They're looking for help right now, over 1,000. That's what manufacturing -- that's how it started here and that's why we remain the Workshop of the World in the City of Philadelphia. So with that, an engrossed copy of this resolution will be presented to the representatives of Weber Display, Jim Doherty and his packaging company in the City of Philadelphia, further evidencing Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 admiration of this entire legislative body. So I want to thank you all, and congratulations to Weber Display. (Applause.)
And the Chair recognizes Mr. Doherty for remarks.
Thank you very much. First, I'd like to thank Councilman Bob Henon for his support through the years for our company. He has been a great advocate for Weber Display and Packaging. Our company was founded in 1893 at 5th and Race. We moved down to Richmond and Tioga Street, the Port Richmond section in 1925. We've been 94 years at that location. Like Mr. Henon said, we're looking to grow. We've grown our business. We're very proud to be Philadelphians. While not as tasty as a Tastykake or an Amoroso roll or a Dietz and Watson hoagie -- and, by the way, all Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 our customers -- we're very proud of what we do down at Richmond and Tioga Street. Again, we're a family-run business. And I'd just like to thank Council. And we live in the greatest city in the world. I don't care what they say up in New York. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you, and congratulations. Our next order of business is communications, and the Chair requests that the Sergeant-of-Arms delivers the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk. Mr. Decker, please read those messages.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am pleased to advise you Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 3, 2018, I signed the following bill which was passed by Council at its session on September 20, 2018: Bill No. 180077-A. And I am submitting herewith for the consideration of your honorable body an ordinance amending Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code," Subcode "R," entitled "The Philadelphia Residential Code," by adding amendments to the 2015 edition of the International Residential Code, as adopted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Subcode "EC," entitled "The Philadelphia Energy Conservation Code," by adding amendments, as adopted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Subcode "P," entitled "The Philadelphia Plumbing Code," to allow for technical amendments to be made by regulations, all to conform with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code Act, all under certain terms and conditions. Stated Meeting October 4, 2018
Thank you, Mr. Decker. Do you have any additional communications?
Thank you. Those messages will be printed in today's Journal. Our next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
Good morning, Mr. President. I offer up one bill and I wish to speak very briefly now on the bill.
An ordinance amending Chapter 17-1500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Annual Disparity Study and Participation Goals," by providing for further detail relating to, among other things, North American Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 Industry Classification System Codes.
Referred to committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Very briefly, Mr. President. We all know that we're celebrating 34 years of Minority Enterprise Development Week. Fittingly, this year's theme is Elevating Equity. Kudos to Councilman Curtis Jones for being recognized as one of the champions of MED Week. Our continued challenge is greater accountability when it comes to elevating all types of minority-owned businesses. We all know that we live in a majority-minority city and majority city of women. As of 2003, before the implementation of the disparity study, 7.8 percent of all City contracts were issued to M/WBE firms. I repeat, 7.8 percent. That means that 92.2 percent of all City contracts were issued to firms Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 that are not minority, women-owned or disabled. According to Iola Harper, our Deputy Commerce Director, 31 cents out of every dollar spent by the City in for-profit contracting opportunities are spent with a person of color, a woman or a person with a disability. Is this progress? Yes. But we must do more. Why? If we as a city are serious about reducing economic marginalization and expanding our tax base in the advancement of minority and women-owned contractor development for the next generation, it makes good business and is an imperative. We cannot say that we're making progress if all of the contracting with M/W/DBEs is evident only at the lower rung. The disparity study legislation, spearheaded by Steven Chintaman and led by always former Councilman Goode that we're introducing today, will allow OEO to report now the classification of businesses in greater Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 detail. This is not a new practice. We are only now looking at adopting the federal standard that is also used in the United States census. I would certainly have more to say about this new goal for a more comprehensive disparity study once we have public hearings. The end goal is more precise transparency in the reporting of M/W/DBEs in both prime and subcontracting opportunities. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I introduce one bill, one privileged resolution, and one non-privileged resolution.
An ordinance establishing a one-way regulation on Aspen Street, from North Markoe Street to North 46th Street, eastbound.
And a resolution hereby recognizing October 9th as Charles W. Bowser Day in Philadelphia, in recognition of his lifelong dedication to public service and his significant contributions to the African American community in Philadelphia.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 situate in the Third Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
And that will be on next week's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today on your behalf I offer one resolution.
A non-privileged resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the New Kensington-Fishtown Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 128 Melvale Street.
And that will be on next week's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon. Stated Meeting October 4, 2018
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I offer one resolution, privileged.
A privileged resolution recognizing Sunday, October 14, 2018 as General Casimir Pulaski Day in the City of Philadelphia.
This week's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Good morning, Mr. President. One bill, two resolutions on my behalf, and I'd like to also offer three bills and two resolutions on behalf of Councilman Johnson.
An ordinance amending Section 9-205 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Sidewalk Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 Sales," by prohibiting vending on both sides of 77th Street between City Avenue and Overbrook Avenue.
And an ordinance amending Chapter 12-2700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Permit Parking Districts," by amending the boundaries of Permit Parking District 2 and Permit Parking District 31.
And an ordinance amending Chapter 12-3000 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Use Of An Automated Red Light Enforcement System To Prevent Red Light Violations," by authorizing the installation of red light enforcement systems at the intersection of 70th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard.
And an ordinance Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Mole Street and Ellsworth Street; St. Albans Street and 23rd Street; Kimball Street and 20th Street; Kater Street and 21st Street; Dickinson Street and 15th Street; Carpenter Street to 20th Street; 8th Street and Oregon Avenue.
And a privileged resolution honoring and recognizing the 15th Anniversary of WURD Radio and celebrating the station's role as the voice of the African-American Community.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Legislative Oversight to hold hearings regarding diversity and inclusion in procurement and capital expenditures by the Philadelphia School District.
Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 Today's Calendar.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Fifty-Second Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Thirty-Eighth Ward of the Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 City of Philadelphia.
And that will also be on next week's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Council President. On behalf of Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, I offer one non-privileged resolution.
A non-privileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Eighteenth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
That Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 will be on next week's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have one privileged resolution.
A privileged resolution recognizing October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and honoring Traci's Beautiful Inside and Out, a non-profit breast cancer support organization whose mission is to help survivors maintain a level of normalcy.
And that will be on this week's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Domb.
Good morning, Council President. I have one bill and one privileged resolution.
Thank you, Councilman. Stated Meeting October 4, 2018
An ordinance amending Section 21-2302 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Form of Fiscal Impact Statements," by amending Exhibit "A" to add job growth or loss information.
And a privileged resolution recognizing and honoring Richard Vague, recipient of the 2018 Icon Award, presented by the Germination Project for his hard work and dedication to the City of Philadelphia.
And that will be on this week's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gym.
Good morning, Council President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 Taubenberger.
Good morning, Council President and colleagues. I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
A privileged resolution recognizing and honoring Boeing and Leonardo Helicopters on the announcement of the winning selection of their bid to replace the United States Air Force fleet of UH-1N "Huey" helicopters, to be proudly made in Philadelphia.
I failed Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 to mention Councilman Bobby Henon is a co-sponsor of that.
Okay. Thank you. The record shall reflect that. And the Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer two bills on behalf of Councilwoman Bass.
An ordinance revising parking restrictions on East Willow Grove Avenue, both sides, between Crittenden Street and Stenton Avenue.
And an ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Allens Lane, Bryan Street, Mount Pleasant Avenue, Mower Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 Street, Sedgwick Street (extended), Lincoln Drive, Ellet Street, and McCallum Street.
Referred to committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
A privileged resolution authorizing Council's Committee on Streets and Services to hold hearings to ascertain whether current and planned road repair efforts will address unsatisfactory road conditions.
And that will be on this week's Calendar. That concludes our introduction of bills and resolutions. We have no reports from committee today, so our next order of business is the consideration of the Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 2ND READING Calendar. There are no bills on the First Reading Calendar, so the Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee for the purpose of calling up resolutions and bills on the Final Passage Calendar today.
Thank you, Mr. President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today: Nos. 170247, 180848, 180851, 180295-AAA, 180498-AAA, 170678-AAA, 180504, 180739, 180740, and 180744. All other resolutions and bills are being held.
I'm sorry. I didn't see that. Also being called up, 170247.
That's a Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 hold. I'm sorry. That's a hold.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Before considering the bills and resolutions that are on the Final Passage Calendar today, we will have our public comment session. If you are interested in testifying on a bill or resolution that is on the Final Passage Calendar today, if you have not already done so, you may sign up at the table to my left. When your name is called, you will go to the middle of the Council Chambers. There is a podium with a device on it. When the light turns green on that device, it will be your time to speak. When the light turns yellow, you will have 30 seconds to conclude your remarks. When the light turns red, we'd ask that you please adhere to our guidelines and conclude your remarks. You will be given three minutes to testify on a bill or resolution that is Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 on the Final Passage Calendar today. And with that, Mr. Decker, can you please call the first name on the list.
Joe Danihel, commenting on 180851, 170678-AAA, 180744, and 180351-A. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. This is an official decree of the people in writ of mandamus quo warranto and, as such, requires immediate action and remedy. Every week Council, Mayor, and others transfer private property to the government, probably illegally. Last week the lack of affordable housing was again on the agenda. Are Governor, Senator, Mayor, Council, and others spending low-income housing money to build a mall on my stolen home? Obviously housing Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 low-income constituents is not a priority. At what point does a public servant become an oath-violating elected monarch? Ignoring your constituents is not allowed. Stealing my home is a jailable offense. Your constituents are tired of your refusal to represent them. If committing one crime one time would land people in jail, why do my numerous complaints to the Attorney General and the District Attorney go unprosecuted? Is the Attorney General part of this RICO-style conspiracy to deny rights? The constitutions require immediate remedy of this breach of law, breach of close, breach of fiduciary duty. Your oath of office requires you to act or face prison. 42 USC 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 18 USC 241, 242, 2381, 2384, PA Constitution, Article I, Sections 1 through 28, 26 PA CSA 703, 705, 708, 709, 712, 713, 716, and other laws listed in Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 SCOTUS 15-8965, 14-1330, 14-4056 appear violated. I call for the federal and Commonwealth governments to perform their constitutional obligations to investigate and prosecute all involved in the theft and illegal deed transfer of my home, 1038 West Wyoming Avenue. The denial of God-given 42 USC 1982 property rights for 24 years is egregious, extraordinary, oath-violating, and requires immediate remedy. A just government must obey the rule of law. This color of law government must have its Charter to govern revoked until a constitutionally compliant government is installed. Public servants cannot refuse their sworn duty to act any more than a fireman can refuse to fight a fire. The sovereign people require oath, law, and Constitution be enforced, and jail is required for all who violate their oath, Constitution or law. Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 I remind Council, it takes a lot of cooperation to create and allow monumental corruption. (Applause.)
Garrett O'Dwyer, commenting on 180739, 180740, and 180744. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Garrett O'Dwyer and I am the Health Programs and Special Projects Manager of the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations. On behalf of PACDC, we're excited to see progress on Bill No. 170678 and look forward to working with Council and the Administration to make this program a success. I'm also here today to testify not just on PACDC's behalf but also on behalf of nine other organizations: Asociacion Puertorriquenos en Marcha, Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 HACE, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, LISC Philadelphia, Mount Vernon Manor CDC, New Kensington CDC, The People's Emergency Center CDC, Project HOME, and Rebuilding Together Philadelphia. These groups wanted to be here today to testify, but are very hard at work in our neighborhoods and could not attend. We support the passage of Bills No. 180739, 180740, and 180744. This package of bills will transfer $19 million in general funds to the Division of Planning and Development to develop new affordable homes, to repair or preserve existing affordable homes, and to support down payment and closing cost assistance. It will memorialize an ordinance, an agreement between the Kenney Administration and City Council to transfer an additional $53 million over the next four years and will create a new sub-fund of the Housing Trust Fund to receive future payments. We applaud Mayor Kenney and Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 City Council for reaching this agreement and want to specifically acknowledge the leadership of Councilwoman Sanchez, Council President Clarke, Councilman Squilla in sparking the policy debates here in Council that led to where we are today. As you know, PACDC and our members advocated strongly for language in the sub-fund ordinance to guarantee that at least half of the revenue go to support households under 30 percent area median income. While we are disappointed that that language was not included, we still support this package of bills. We also remain committed to advocating that as decisions are made about how the resources are spent, the lowest income households are priority. We can use some portion of the funds for moderate-income households to help them preserve their homes or become homeowners. This work has value in all neighborhoods but particularly in Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 middle-income neighborhoods and rapidly gentrifying communities where moderate-income residents are getting priced out. But the quality of life of our lowest-income households is severely harmed by the lack of affordable housing. The needs of these individuals and families is most urgent, and they are the most desperate for help. This $72 million agreement is a significant investment in the affordable housing needs of Philadelphians, but with more than 100,000 households searching for safe, quality, affordable homes, we can't stop here. We applaud Council for pledging to find ways to boost that investment to a minimum of $100 million over the next five years, and we stand ready to work with you to make it happen. We also call on Council and the Kenney Administration to agree to a mechanism to make these annual appropriations permanent and dedicated so Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 they extend beyond FY24. Again, thank you, City Council and Mayor Kenney, for this significant step in solving Philadelphia's growing affordable housing crisis.
My name is Atiba Kwesi and I'm here to speak about I think the vote that's going to happen today on the Sheriff Sales, the moratorium. And I can't speak as fast as these other people, so I'm going to do the best that I can. I represent an organization Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 called the West Philly Voting Block, and we have formed a coalition, Black Homes and Community Preservation Coalition, and we did all of this because we were made aware back in December and January that there was a list of owner-occupied tax delinquent homes in Philadelphia. Now, remind you, this is the 50-year anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. There were 28,000 people on this list for Sheriff Sale for tax delinquent. Six thousand of these people were senior citizens. And I thought about my grandmother and the house I grew up in. My grandmother washed floors for a living. But I was the only house on the block that I could always bring my friends over and we had something to eat. I didn't have to go ask my grandmother nothing. She always made sure we had something that we can eat and we can share with our friends. And I'm thinking about these senior citizens living in their homes for 40, 50, and 60 years, Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 some of them second-generation homes. I come from West Philly/Overbrook section. I'm thinking to myself, how is it possible that after 50 years of the Fair Housing Act we have 6,000 senior citizens in this city that are going to lose their homes because they owe less than $10,000 on their home for tax? And a lot of these taxes come from water bills if you research this. And we asked the Councilpeople to research it. I've been here before. Understanding that there are a number of things that are going on in this city, and one of them is redlining. And I said back in March that a lot of these people that are losing their homes especially to tax delinquency but also to mortgage foreclosures are being forced out of their homes through redlining, through the denial of loan modifications and other denials by the banks. August the 4th Wells Fargo put in that -- they made a statement that Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 they had mistakenly denied 629 people loan modifications and they took 400 of their homes. We're asking for a moratorium so that we can find out how many other people have lost their homes through a mistake that they claim that they made. How do you mistakenly take 400 people homes? How do they all, 629 of them, how are they all black people? Make me understand that. Did the computer pick that? I'm done.
Madeline Dunn, commenting on 180851. (Witness approached podium.)
Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 Ms. Dunn, just say your name for the record.
Oh, I'm sorry. Madeline G. Dunn, West Philadelphia, 85 years West Philadelphia. I'm here today to just say to you that I've been supporting this battle for a long time, and I'm happy, I'm happy because I spoke to Curtis today, something is going to happen here hopefully that's going to help bring some ending to some of this. This piece is big. This piece is big. And I always felt that we, homeowners in West Philadelphia and across the City of Philadelphia, were the backbone of the City, and I did until about the last 10, 12 years when I look at people losing homes because they can't pay this, they can't pay that. And the wages aren't going up, but the people up here are getting more and more and more and the people down here have less and less and less. Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 (Applause.)
And so I'm saying we're looking for a way to do it, the moratorium. We want you to not get rid of one house until we find out exactly what the problems are, and as they get the problems solved, then we can start to work on it. We're asking every family, every family, please come to these meetings. Please come out and tell us how it's affecting you and your family. I saw a lady on the Parkway with her buttocks, pulled her pants down up to the air, because she probably didn't have any water in the house and is on the street. It's a sad situation. Philadelphia looks bad over the world.
Reverend William Moore, commenting on 180100. (Witness approached podium.) Stated Meeting October 4, 2018
Thank you, Mr. President and members of this Council. I do appreciate very much the opportunity to address this bill that is before Council regarding the Alpha Center. Mr. President, you represent the district --
Sure. I'm sorry. Thank you. Reverend William B. Moore, Pastor of the Tenth Memorial Baptist Church. I have pastored the Tenth Memorial Baptist Church for the last 44 years and I've seen the changes in the community, and much of that you have been a part of, of which we are grateful. However, the district now is a tale of two cities. It is a city that is Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 blooming with development, with persons coming into the community and forcing out people who live in the neighborhood because they cannot pay their taxes. They cannot pay their bills. And I know this Council has grappled with this, but it is being replaced by people who make more money than the people who live in the community, and the taxes are to the point that they cannot pay them. And the people who move into the community do not become a part of the community. They come and they go to work and they come back. We don't even know who is in the community. They do not go to our schools. They do not attend parent-teachers meetings. They do not shop in our neighborhoods. As a matter of fact, the people that you see sitting on the steps and porches who were once there is no longer there and they're being replaced by people who live on the rooftops of the houses and do not interact with the community. And yet we Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 have a university that has a lot to offer, and because of their failure, their inability to have an honest conversation with the community, it has exacerbated our problems. I am not against Temple University. I am for Temple, but I am against their inability and their unwillingness to talk to the neighborhood about programs and buildings that the community does not ask for and does not want. And I would say that shiny buildings and land deals certainly do not take the place of honest conversation, and those conversations may be painful, but they do not -- they do need to be had. So I stand to oppose the Alpha Center, because the community did not ask for it and programs, that we had no say in them. And so I stand to oppose it. And the final thing is the arrogance of it. I have in my hand the card of a lady who has a contract to fit Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 out a building that has not been approved by this Council. Thank you, Mr. President.
Jacqueline Wiggins, commenting on 180100. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, City Council. My name is Jacqueline Wiggins. I am a member of the Stadium Stompers. I'm also a member of the No Stadium No Deal Coalition. I'm a long-term resident of North Central. I'm also a committee person, 32nd Ward, 11th Division. It's Diamond-Norris, 17th to 20th. I am talking in terms of Bill 180100. This will be the fourth Thursday that I have spoken in opposition to the Alpha Center that Temple University wants Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 to have built. At a community meeting on September 25th, the people of the area met, and I will read again their comments with respect to this Alpha Center: Why build this thing at 13th Street? No more encroachment, Temple. Temple never fulfilled the charrette agreement. That building in the end will be for Temple University. This was a quiet neighborhood until the students came. Take that center to Broad and Diamond. Take that center back to campus where there is land. Councilman Clarke, when you arrived, nothing changed. The people said the same thing. They voiced their opposition, and we continue to voice our opposition to Temple's encroachment east and west of Broad Street. Civil rights activist Walter Palmer gave the historical context of Temple's reach east and west of Broad. We have yet to have the type of conversation about the Alpha Center or Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 the stadium in our neighborhood. We demand that this happens. We implore City Council to vote no on Bill 180100. Thank you.
Bianca Parker, commenting on 180100. (Witness approached podium.)
Hello. My name is Bianca Parker and I'm a resident, and this is my fourth time speaking in opposition to Bill No. 180100, and I steadfastly oppose and want to say no and urge my Councilmembers to reject and do not allow the passage of Bill No. 180100, which will authorize the furtherance of predatory encroachment of Temple University's campus footprint, extend SP-IN district, building of a research facility, and expansion of Temple police Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 surveillance and subject our African American children to racial experiments. Camera surveillance is a common research method utilized in studies. Just as the Tuskegee experiments exploited African Americans for scholarly and scientific gain, Temple University plans the Alpha Center for research of North Philadelphia preschool children. This plan also competes with existing area day cares. Temple failed four schools during five years of a School District funding contract. Young African American children would be subject to mental health treatment and studies, as staff, ungraded Temple University students would be treatment providers at the psychology clinic. Patients of Temple University psychology clinic would be subject to research studies. Temple must abandon plans for Alpha Center to expand campus. Temple must abandon plans that subject African Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 American children and African American adults to research studies. And Temple must abandon plans for dental clinic that already exists. I've said it once and I'll say it again and again and again. I'm going to voice opposition to this travesty and I'm going to speak up and out against Temple, and I urge Councilmembers to vote no to early learning research and mental health labeling of African American preschool-aged children in North Philadelphia and urge Councilmembers to say no to Bill No. 180100. Thank you. (Applause.)
Paula Peebles, commenting on 180100. (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Paula Peebles. I am speaking in opposition to Bill 180100. And as my colleagues have indicated earlier -- and I want all Councilmembers to stop looking at their phones. (Applause.)
As my colleagues have said before, we've been here every week to speak in opposition to 180100 and ask City Councilman to the Fifth District, Darrell Clarke, you are the source of the misery of black people in North Philadelphia. (Applause.)
And you know I don't care if you take it personal. I don't care. Because the fact is, know why we concluded that? Because we have sent you a letter in the spring to come and meet with us. You have refused to come and meet with us. Everyone else you will meet with. When the Asian community said Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 they did not want a baseball field in their community, you all didn't put the baseball field there. I heard Councilwoman at-large Blondell Reynolds Brown just said this is a minority-majority city. However, the way you Councilpeople carry out laws and bills in this body, you carry it out as if we are minority-minority. (Applause.)
A few more points. We are in opposition to Alpha. I'm not going over about Alpha Center. It has already been indicated. We're here every time. You keep holding the bill, Darrell, thinking that we not going to show up. We going to show up every week. You tried to be slick with the bill. And, Councilpeople, look at the bill, 180100, where they've combined two, one to say to allow Temple to expand their master plan over to 13th and Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 Susquehanna where they will take the Elverson School. As if it's not enough that they're taking John Wanamaker High School -- I mean John Wanamaker Middle School and William Penn High School, now they're looking to take another school at 13th and Susquehanna to allow for studification. These people that do not live in our community, they come every nine to ten months for education, then they disappear. You heard Reverend Bill Moore, the convener of No Stadium No Deal, just explain to you how they sit up on their rooftops and look over after indigenous people like myself that reside in North Philadelphia. It's unfair what you do, Darrell. You're not being slick, because we see what you're doing. The Alpha Center, City Councilpeople, is combined in that bill where it says to rezone the parcel for development of the Alpha Center. You Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 know why they want y'all to do that? So that we won't show up to zoning to oppose it. So he tried to covertly put both of the bills together in one. But we are aware of that. That's why you are the source of the misery of black people in North Philadelphia, Darrell. And then -(Applause.)
I'm all right. I'm getting ready to close up. The late great Cecil B. Moore, something that he coined. You have been honored by our vote, Councilman Clarke, and John Street before you. You know one thing he often said? You are my color, but you're not my kind. (Applause.)
Ogbonna Hagins, commenting on 170408. (Witness approached podium.)
Great morning to you. How you doing, everyone? My name is Ogbonna Hagins. I'm an educator, publisher, and I'm here to -- I'm for Bill 170408, resolution calling on and urging the School District of Philadelphia to permanently prohibit the suspension of elementary-aged students from the first through the fifth grade. Obviously I oppose that, but one of the things that I absolutely think needs to happen, particularly because the majority of our Councilmembers are Afro American, the inclusion of Afro American studies in our School District of Philadelphia. The primary -- the students that attend our public schools are primarily Afro American. We should not be studying about Christopher Columbus discovering America, not in 2018. (Applause.)
Maybe ten years ago, maybe 15 years ago we could Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 celebrate, what is his name, Christopher Columbus, but we know now that he was lost. We know what he meant to Africans and Afro Americans. So we have to eliminate lifting Christopher Columbus up, as well as keeping our children in school and not letting them be suspended below the fifth grade. And, furthermore, we have to also make sure that our students can read on grade level. We cannot be insisting that they stay in school, but they're staying in school and they can't read on grade level. We know what the statistics are. Whatever has to be done -- and I have some idea and there are other people in the City that have ideas on making sure that our students can read, because just to push them out is not good. I'm going to give you one example. When I was teaching at Dobbins, there was a student that had a 63 average in his senior year, and all the teachers, Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 the administration asked me, well, why don't you just push him on out? And the reason that I didn't push him out is because he was absent 28 days out of that school year. He could have made up his own three points to graduate. I saw him about eight years, nine years later and he thanked me for failing him, because he was able to learn the things that he wasn't able to learn or wouldn't be able to learn if I just pushed him on through. So that's my statement for today, and in the spirit of Benjamin Lay, we will be speaking about the injustice that's going on in Philadelphia as a result of the City Councilmembers not doing what should be done to make sure that our children are educated. The truth, they're taught the truth, not just thrown in school and just thrown lies.
Thank you for your testimony. (Applause.) Stated Meeting October 4, 2018
Tiffany Green, commenting on 170678-AAA and 180851. (Witness approached podium.)
I'm asking to give out -- can you give out these pictures for me? I want to give them out. Can you give them out for me? I think all should take a look at these pictures before I speak. It's important. I'd like for Council President Clarke to get a copy and maybe the rest can share this picture. To my brothers and sisters over here who want affordable housing, I support you, but this bill right here, this mixed housing bill --
Ms. Green, just state your name for the record.
All right. Did they give out the picture yet? I want you all to see these pictures. They're very important. This right here, this mixed housing bill that you want to put forth is giving out height bonuses. Okay? Now, the height bonuses are detrimental to row house homeowners. And the reason why I want you to see this picture, because this is a two-story block with new development going up to 50 feet. The thing about it is, this is an RM-1, RM-1 intertwined with a lot of RSA-5's throughout the City of Philadelphia in different neighborhoods. And so this bill needs to be done by district and not citywide. First of all, you're giving a developer -- he's going to give you money for a Housing Trust Fund. What you need is mandatory inclusionary zoning, mandatory affordable housing zoning, not Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 no housing bonus, not no height bonus. (Applause.)
Because at this particular point -- and then you're bamboozling the people because you're saying, oh, we're going to get 73 million over five years. Well, let's do the math. 73 million, if it costs $100,000 for affordable because a developer say it costs about 150 for new construction, if you divide the 100,000 into 73 million, you only get 730 units over five years, affordable housing. Well, let's look at CDR. We went to CDR on Tuesday. You had seven projects totalling 500 units, majority market rate. We have a developer right now on Chocolate Factory. He wants to put 286 units. He said he only does market-rate units. You know your little friendly developer I'm talking about. Okay? He only does market rate. So if he only does market rate, that means he's willing to do a little -- give a little Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 money to the Trust Fund. But in order for you to have inclusionary, you must have mandatory inclusionary zoning. When the developer comes to L&I, he needs to know that he should do 60/40. 80/20 is not a balanced reinvestment. You leave us at a disadvantage. It need to be 60/40 or maybe 65/35, but you can't sit up here, because when you have this height, you have people sitting on their step looking, gentrification, I'm going to be pushed out. When the kids are playing in the street, gentrification, I'm going to be pushed out. And now you're saying in this height bill, you're going to let somebody go up to 60 feet? 60 feet? No. This bill does not need to be passed, because only 726 units is not going to help us over five years when you have developers building 1,000 -- we have Bill [sic] Blatstein want to build 1,000 units at Broad and Washington Avenue, 1,000 market-rate units -- Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 (Microphone turned off.)
Ms. Green. (Witness speaking without microphone on.) (Applause.)
Aurica Hurst, commenting on 180851. (Witness approached podium.)
Good evening, good afternoon, good morning, whatever time zone you're in. My name is Aurica Hurst and I'm a resident of Philadelphia. I graduated from John Bartram High School and I also graduated from Temple University in 2016. Right now I'm a community organizer for an organization called One Pennsylvania, and I'm here to support that there needs to be mandatory funding for the Housing Trust bill, permanent funding for it ongoing. But I'm here alone to support Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 the bill for -- the resolution for the moratorium that Councilman Curtis Jones introduced last Thursday. Now, I'm here with an article that states how redlining segregated Philadelphia, and I'm here to urge Councilmembers, everyone, every last Councilmember here and everyone that's not here, please speak to them about the article in nextcity.org talking about how redlining segregated Philadelphia. We need this moratorium. My grandparents own a home on Whitby Avenue and also on Spruce Street. One is on dialysis and the other one suffered from a stroke not too long ago. I'm here today as a concerned citizen and as a community organizer. I speak to hundreds of community members every week about them being pushed out of their home and having been redlined 50 years ago. (Applause.)
They are taking out Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 reverse mortgages. They do not feel comfortable going to banks and asking for loans. They are being denied constantly for equity loans to fix up their homes to compete with the gentrification that Tiffany Green just spoke about. And City Council is here and a majority of them are African American. They need to support the moratorium that needs to do an internal investigation into the redlining practices done by mortgages -(Applause.)
-- banks, also by our lending companies in the City of Philadelphia. As a 27-year-old college graduate, I'm a renter and I do not know when I will be able to purchase a home because of these redlining practices ongoing, even though I have a credit score above 700. I'm in fear even going to a bank, because I know as a black woman, I will be given a higher interest rate. Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 (Applause.)
I have four nieces and I have two nephews. I do not want their future to be pushed out into the counties of Montgomery County, Delaware County, into Northeast Philadelphia where we're being pushed out to, because I grew up in Southwest Philadelphia and nothing is being done about Southwest Philadelphia for affordable homes. Just like Tiffany Green stated here today, that bill for the Housing Trust Fund, it needs to be amended, because it's not going to be enough affordable homes to compete with the thousands of units that are coming into Philadelphia. (Applause.)
If you do your research, over 30,000 units are going to be needed to demand the housing demand in Philadelphia, over 30,000 units, and they're going to be on market value. If we have a city that is categorized as working poor, working poor, there are Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 half a million people that are working two or three jobs that cannot afford to pay rent. So with that being said, if the City Council that is predominantly Afro American, I know you guys do not live in Philadelphia County, but if you care about your constituents, you will support this moratorium and you will support the ongoing research and you will support more funding for affordable homes, because right now fixed income, people are not going to make more income. And if I'm already working and I'm making more -- if I'm making a little bit of salary, in ten years when I want to purchase a home, I will be unable to, because as a black woman, I know that I'm being discriminated against. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thomas Earle, Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 commenting on 180739, 180744, and 180740. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, Council President and members of City Council. My name is Thomas Earle. I'm the Executive Director of Liberty Resources, the Center for Independent Living in Philadelphia. We're a member of the Coalition for Affordable Communities, Philadelphia Coalition for Affordable Communities, and I'm here to testify to support the much-needed infusion of over $70 million of expired tax abatement revenue into the Housing Trust Fund or the concept of a Housing Trust Fund, but we are very against the creation of a sub-fund, which was deliberately created to be exempt from the main requirements of the existing Housing Trust Fund that Councilwoman Blackwell and Blondell Reynolds Brown passed in 2005 that required at least half the money go to people or households earning 30 percent of the area median Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 income or below. That is not a compromise. We hear that this bill or this series of bills is the result of a careful compromise. It's not a compromise when this legislative body does not include people who are impacted by these bills at the table. These meetings took place behind closed doors. Deals are struck. Special interests are stroked, like the fair trades, the electrical union, private for-profit developers, and the vast majority of City residents who can't afford to live in the City are ignored. Okay? (Applause.)
So you can ignore us, but we are not going to ignore you, and we will hold this legislative body accountable. There will be an election in May. (Applause.)
People with disabilities, seniors, working poor Stated Meeting October 4, 2018 10/4/18 - STATED - 2ND READING families, and other interested parties are going to vote. So we ask that you vote no on the sub-fund, yes on the new money, and do your jobs and open your hearts and listen to your voters. (Applause.)
There are no other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. President.
Thank you, Clerk. We will now consider the bills and resolutions on Second and Final Reading Passage on today's Calendar. Clerk, would you please read the title of our first resolution.