Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 160855 is Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING adopted. Mr. Decker, 160859.
A resolution urging the United States Department of Defense to include the names of the 74 fallen sailors of the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, including Philadelphia native Patrick Michael Corcoran.
Thank you. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 160859 is adopted. Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. Decker, please read the title of 160365-A.
An ordinance amending Subcodes "A" and "PM" of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code by establishing a separate offense for certain chronic, non-compliant violators of the Property Maintenance Code.
This bill has been heard on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilman Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING Greenlee.
Councilwoman Reynolds Brown. Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, can you please read the title of 160767.
An ordinance authorizing the Bond Committee to sell bonds at public or private negotiated sale, to provide funds toward various capital municipal purposes; providing for appropriations to the Sinking Fund Commission for the payment of such bonds; authorizing agreements to provide credit Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING or payment or liquidity sources for the bonds in connection with issuance of the bonds, and certain other actions.
This bill has been heard on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilman Henon. Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilman Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING Taubenberger.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 160713.
An ordinance amending Section 17-107 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Contractors: Labor-Management Relationships," to provide that building service employees performing labor under certain building service contracts, receive the prevailing wage and prevailing working conditions; and to provide for certain exemptions or exclusions.
Thank you. This bill has been heard on two separate days. The question is shall the Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. (Applause.)
Thank you. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional resolutions?
A resolution commemorating October 17th, 2016 as Juror Appreciation Week in the City of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING Those opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution authorizing Council's Committee on Fiscal Stability and Intergovernmental Cooperation to hold hearings regarding the City's role in tracking, quantifying and evaluating the costs and benefits of tax expenditures, introduced by Councilman Henon on behalf of Council President Clarke.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING Those opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution recognizing and honoring the Please Touch Museum on its 40th Anniversary of being an iconic champion of childhood learning and an extraordinary place for children to explore and learn, introduced by Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I gleeply (ph) move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING (No response.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution recognizing, congratulating, and honoring Ryan Howard for his 12 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies; and commending his dedication to philanthropy throughout the City of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Johnson.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution honoring East Mt. Airy Neighbors on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary, introduced by Councilman Green.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution honoring Mt. Airy Learning Tree on the 35th Anniversary of its founding, Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING introduced by Councilman Green.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution honoring and recognizing the Philadelphia Flyers on their 50th Anniversary and acknowledging the 2016-'17 hockey season as the 50th Anniversary season of Philadelphia Flyers hockey, introduced by Councilman Domb.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Domb. Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution designating the week of Monday, October 3 through Monday, October 10, 2016 as "Christopher Columbus/Italian American Heritage Week" in the City of Philadelphia. This is done in celebration of the festivities commemorating Columbus' historic voyage to the New World and honoring Danny Aiello as Grand Marshal of the 2016 Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 10/6/16 - STATED - 2ND READING Philadelphia Columbus Day Parade, introduced by Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. Co-introduced by my colleague Councilman Johnson, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution recognizing and honoring Philadelphia Mayor Joseph Watson for rescuing African American children who were kidnapped from Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Oh. Stated Meeting October 6, 2016
Thank you. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? And the Chair recognizes Councilman Taubenberger.
Thank Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 you, Council President. Last week a very important resolution passed this body. I was very honored to be able to be a sponsor of it. What it really reaffirms -- I'd like to speak on it personally -- is the zero tolerance policy against sexual harassment in the workplace, frankly any place in Philadelphia. Recently in my capacity as a Board member of the Philadelphia Parking Authority, I made some very inappropriate, insensitive comments to the press regarding former Parking Authority Executive Director Vince Fenerty's admitted sexual harassment of a female worker. I deeply regret my ill-chosen words. In no way did I mean to minimize the seriousness of the sexual harassment charge against Mr. Fenerty. These words did not reflect how I feel and the values that I hold dear. I am not that person. My mother raised me better than that. I'm a married man and Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 daughters. I've made several public apologies since uttering these regrettable words, and I would like to take the opportunity to personally apologize to Mayor Kenney and to every member of this City Council. I am a human being. Like all of us, I'm very fallible, and I beg for your forgiveness. Sexual harassment is a serious issue here and across the country, and last fiscal year the Equal Opportunity Commission reported that 90,000 charges were received. Fully one-third of these charges included allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace. Sexual harassment is intolerable, unacceptable at any level and must be abolished from the workplace. This resolution is a timely and decisive step in the right direction, and I thank my colleagues for introducing it and passing it. And I would like to personally pledge to this resolution my Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 make this a reality. Thank you so much.
Thank you, and apology accepted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Council President. First let me just commend Councilman Taubenberger. I think everybody who knows him knows what a gentleman he is, and certainly he has apologized, which that's between him and the voters and the public, but certainly I'd like to commend him on his courage and forthrightness to step up and once again just be clear with the public. So thank you very much, and it's a very much to be commended. Today is an odd day, Council President. I hate to point out that Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 with President Obama. So I don't know what's going on here today, but whatever it is, I just want to bring back my resolution. I just wanted to talk about it a little bit, because it was just -- one of my staffers was doing some research and came across Philadelphia Mayor Joseph Watson. He served as Mayor from 1824 to 1827, and the remarkable thing he did is, he received notification that Philadelphia children, African Americans, were being kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South, and he and the Constable, with funding from City Council, went out and got those kids back. Ten youth were recovered. And then he acted as the prosecutor. They caught the gang that was doing this. But I just thought, wow, I did not know that. It's one of the wonderful Philadelphia facts about what our government did in this critical time to show leadership and humanity, and I just thought this person should be Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 recognized, Mayor Joseph Watson. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilman. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Yes, Mr. President. I appreciate Councilman Oh pointing out that three republicans sided with President Obama and former Secretary of State Clinton, but I think what's more significant as the story is that 14 democrats sided with Donald Trump. Thank you.
You got to love this place, I'll tell you. It's the best job I've ever had. On behalf of the majority -Councilman, did you want to come back?
I do, because I am a member of the minority Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 party, who has now sided with President Obama. But the reason that I wanted a word was, it's always difficult to lose a staff person, particularly one who is doing very, very good work, but to lose that person to the United States Navy is I think important for our country, and my scheduler, Andrew Brenner -- Andrew, please stand up -- he is leaving. (Applause.)
He's leaving very shortly for the Officers Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He was given his commission with your permission, President, in this very hall. I think that's very, very important. I just want to acknowledge the service he's about to give to our country. And, Andrew, thank you very, very, very much. (Applause.)
Thank you. And thank you for your Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 a great ceremony. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to highlight the discussion around poverty. I'm really concerned as I've watched the debates unfold and the campaign rhetoric that we're experiencing that we keep forgetting the theme around poverty, and that's why the legislation sponsored by Councilwoman Gym today and supported by all of us around closing loopholes and being very targeted at when we subsidize development, we expect development to provide, as Councilman Jones mentioned, family-sustaining jobs. But I'm really concerned and I want to encourage all of us as we go down to the last 30 days of this election cycle that we start talking about the issues that are important to us. We as a city continue to experience a decrease of HUD funding, which is vital as we talk Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 the City, the family-sustaining jobs. And Councilman Oh always refers to this issue around adequate education and really preparing a global workforce. I feel like this is getting lost in this debate. And when you represent a constituency that I represent and a constituency that we see in the City of Philadelphia, I think we need to bring that in the forefront. And so since we're getting visited by all of the candidates, let us continue to put that on their radar, because there's not enough discussion about what this country is going to do to help women, single mothers, to help support public education, and to have a real robust economic development strategy that allows poor people working for -- go from being poor to the working poor and being able to afford a house and send their children to a publicly funded school that is adequate. So I feel like that's getting Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 and I just feel like we need to continue to remind ourselves and, more importantly, the candidates that are running for office. So thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Very important note. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I do want to take a moment for two items today. First I wanted to recognize that we have a student here with us from Mastery Lenfest Campus, Ms. Aliya Wilson, who is in the 10th grade, who is spending the day down in -(Applause.)
-- down here in Council. We hope she'll come back. And she's originally from Southwest Philadelphia. And we're just pleased and proud and honored to have her Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 Also, earlier we did introduce a resolution regarding stop-and-go establishments, everybody's favorite topic, particularly those who have been working on this for many, many years, and I wanted to specifically recognize Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, who I know has been working on this issue, along with Senator Art Haywood in the Northwest. Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez has done significant work, as has Councilman Jones and Johnson around stop-and-go establishments. And we actually did a tour in my district to see how many of these, quote/unquote, restaurants do we have in the 8th District, and we found 28 of them, 90 percent of which don't sell food even though they call themselves restaurants. So what do they sell? They sell beer. And another quarter of them, 25 percent of that number, sells liquor. And we think that that number is actually Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 higher, because there's some funny business going on with the liquor sales as well. These, quote/unquote, restaurants, 70 percent of which don't have tables and chairs, over 90 percent don't have restrooms and over 90 percent do advertise the sale of food on the exterior of the establishment. So our resolution today is actually calling on the Liquor Control Board, along with the Department of Health and L&I, to actually investigate what these establishments are. We know they're not restaurants. We know that they are not bars, but what are they? They're somewhere in some sort of a hybrid in between a liquor store, a beer distributor, and a bar, and we need to better clarify what these establishments are, because children are able to go into these establishments and purchase popcorn or potato chips or candy, which some of them do sell. So that's something that we are really looking into. Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 for the investigators to look at the distance. These are all pretty much in the same types of neighborhoods. We did an analysis and found that all of these establishments in my district are between a one- and six-minute drive one to another, and that there are approximately six per square mile throughout the district. So you have your choice of any of these establishments. And that's not even including the other liquor sales, which would include bars and beer distributors in the neighborhood. So we're really looking forward to this investigation, and I just wanted to bring it to folks' attention. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you so much, Councilwoman, for your diligent work on this. You have 28 in your district. In some cases I might have that many in one block, I'll tell you. So trust me, it is an issue. I'm Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 taking the initiative to deal with that very, very troublesome issue.
Thank you, Mr. President. And I want to thank Councilwoman Bass for working this area and certainly agree with your statement. We defined stop-and-go's from what was then the Purple Fox at 49th and Baltimore, and all that she says we've been through. Every now and then the law changes and they take out all we've done. We fought so hard and so long on this very issue. So I'll pull out some of the language and some of the law that we've been through. We did these tours and visited these stop-and-go's where -- they still -- they've come back. The law changes and then we're back where we started with these little windows that Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 there, where children are trying to buy a candy bar and somebody else is getting a shot, as they call them, for liquor through these little things. So I am going to pull out some of our stuff and get to the Councilwoman. And, as you know, you talk about the 28 you have in the small area. We've been through here, and it's just sad when the law changes and we have to revisit these things, which brings me to the point of education. And we all know that two members of the SRC announced that they are going to be gone in short order, step down. And that's another issue that we want to mention, because you know we introduced a bill that passed and it went on the ballot that dealt with the public and how they felt about the SRC and how they felt about our representation. So now we're here again, but this time we are grateful they did. But these are exciting times, because it gives us a chance and the public a chance to talk Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 to happen in public education and what's going to happen with our representation and what level will exist with the School Reform Commission, with that board and with the public and with local representation. So I'm looking forward to this dialogue that will happen between us, the Administration, and the Governor on where we go from here with the School District of Philadelphia and can't wait for us to have our first discussions all together. Thank you. Thank you all, colleagues. (Applause.)
Thank you, Councilwoman. Thank you so much. I'm sure we'll hear a lot more on that issue. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. In these Chambers today we've talked about criminal justice, Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 poverty, slavery, kidnapping, international trade agreements, living wage, sexual harassment, stop-and-go's, red and blue states. I want to lighten it up a little bit. Yesterday I had a lot of -- I had a really good day. We had MED Week. We had a lot of good things going on. The high point of my day was in Hestonville at a rain garden, redone, a vacant lot that was trash strewn. A lot of bad things happened on that lot. Commissioner Debbie McCarty from the Water Department, people from Cahill, from Parks and Recs, all of them got together and transformed about a quarter of an acre into one of the nicest places on earth. We had a mural that was used tile in, the natural light to glisten off of it. I had to touch the mural. It was like transformative. We had a gazebo put out there. We had rainwater, bio-retention basins added. It stops a four-corner intersection from flooding. Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 when I say to you that I'm truly thankful, it took four years of -- Morgan Cephas started on the project when she first got here and by the time yesterday it was completed, but it was worth the wait. And I want to encourage all my colleagues, if you aren't taking advantage of the Water Department's ability to transform lots and save rainwater runoff, you should, because it improved the quality of life in that neighborhood, Hestonville. It increased the property values in all of the circumference of the lot. It was awesome. So if you're not doing anything or particularly my at-large counterparts want to come to 55th and Heston, right off of Lancaster, you come there. And by the way, Hestonville is the family of Charlton Heston. So it has some historical value beyond just a beautiful place to live, work, and play. Thank you, Mr. President.
Stated Meeting October 6, 2016 you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just got a quick reminder for tomorrow, Friday at noon. You can join me for the Columbus Day resolution and then we're followed by a great Italian lunch right over in the Caucus Room. So if anybody is hungry tomorrow here in Council. Sunday is the annual parade down South Broad Street. We'll step off at Broad and McKean at 11:30 and then proceed to Marconi Plaza for a great Italian festival. We hope everybody will join us, except for Hurricane Matthew. So it should be a good time.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. This concludes the speeches on behalf of the -- with the exception of one more. No? Okay. You're going to do the -- Stated Meeting October 6, 2016