Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, February 21, 2019 11:05 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 February 21, 2019
Good morning. We're going to get started. Can I have a little quiet, please. Thank you. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes the Reverend Steven Wetzel of the Fraternal Order of Police. He is here today as the guest of Councilman O'Neill. I would ask all members, guests, and visitors to please rise. (Councilmembers, guests, and visitors rise.)
Let us pray. Almighty and ever-living God, thank you on behalf of all who are gathered here this day for your many and abundant blessings. Thank you for life itself, for the measure of health we need to fulfill our callings, for sustenance, and for friendship. Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 ability to be involved in useful work and for the honor of bearing appropriate responsibilities. Thank you for loving us even so from your boundless and gracious nature. In the Scriptures, you have said that citizens ought to obey the governing authorities since you have established those very authorities to promote peace and order and justice. Therefore, I pray for our Mayor, for the various levels of City officials and, in particular, for this assembled Council. I am asking that you would graciously grant them wisdom to govern amid the conflicting interests and issues of our times, a sense of welfare and true needs of our people, a keen thirst for justice and righteousness, confidence in what is good and fitting, the ability to work together in harmony even when there is honest disagreement, personal peace in their lives and joy in their task. I pray for the agenda set Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 this day. Please give an assurance of what would please you and what would benefit those who live and work here in the City of Philadelphia. It is in your most blessed name we pray, oh Lord. Amen. (Amen.)
Thank you so much, Reverend, for those inspiring words. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
Thank you. Quiet, please. Thank you. Folks, if I can have a little quiet, please. Thank you. Our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, February 14th, 2019, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 the meeting of Thursday, February 14th, 2019 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly -(Brief interruption for audience members yelling.)
Okay. Let's start out with the motion again. Just make the motion.
Mr. President, I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, February 14th, 2019 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, February 14th, 2019 stand approved. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.) Stated Meeting February 21, 2019
The Journal is approved. 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.
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 the regular order of Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 like to welcome and thank everyone who has come down to witness their government in action today. We genuinely appreciate you being here. We hope your stay here today is a knowledgeable one but also a pleasurable one, so much so that you come back again. Today we have no presentations, so we will move directly to communications, and the Chair requests that the Sergeant-of-Arms delivers the messages to the Chief Clerk. Thank you. Mr. Decker, would you please read those messages.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am pleased to advise you that on February 19, 2019, I signed all the bills which were passed by Council at its session on February 7, 2019; and I am submitting herewith for the consideration of your honorable body an ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 Plan No. 194 by striking from the City Plan the southerly ten feet wide portion of Berks Street from Howard Street to Hope Street in order to conform more closely with existing conditions, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. Do you have any additional communications?
Thank you very much. Our next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee. Stated Meeting February 21, 2019
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, I offer one bill.
An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 22nd Street, west side, Aspen Street to Brown Street.
And that bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
Good morning, Mr. President. I offer no bills or resolutions this morning.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I offer one privileged resolution co-sponsored by Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 Councilpersons Bass and Brown.
A non-privileged resolution calling on the Administration to commit to increasing funding for FY20 to grow the number of youth employed during the summer months.
And that will be on today's Calendar. I'm sorry. That's non-privileged. That will be next week's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Council President. On behalf of Councilmember Maria Quinones-Sanchez, I'm introducing one bill and one resolution.
An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 194 Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 by striking from the City Plan the southerly ten feet wide portion of Berks Street from Howard Street to Hope Street in order to conform more closely with existing conditions.
And a privileged resolution declaring March 4th through 10th, 2019 as Women in Construction Week in the City of Philadelphia.
And that will be on today's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
An ordinance amending Section 16-103 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Aesthetic Ornamentation of City Structures," to modify the City's "Percent for Art" Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 requirement.
And that will be referred to committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have one privileged resolution that is co-sponsored by all of the women of Council, members Reynolds Brown, Blackwell, Gym, Sanchez, and Bass.
A privileged resolution congratulating and honoring the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women on the 33rd Anniversary of the Madam CJ Walker Awards Luncheon and for the organization's commitment to the educational, political, and economic empowerment of African American women throughout the City of Philadelphia.
And Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 that will be on today's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Domb.
Good morning, Council President. I have one non-privileged resolution and one bill for introduction co-sponsored by Councilmembers Gym and Squilla.
An ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide that Councilmembers shall not be eligible for election for more than three terms of office.
And a non-privileged resolution proposing an Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for a limitation of Councilmembers' terms in office to no more than three terms.
Also referred to committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Taubenberger -- I'm sorry; Councilwoman Gym. Sorry.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Taubenberger now.
Good morning, Council President and colleagues. I have no bills or resolutions today. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 Mr. President. I have no bills or resolutions.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have no bills or resolutions this week.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Squilla is not here. We'll come back. Thank you very much. That concludes our introduction of bills and resolutions. And our next order of business is reports from committee, and the Chair Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 a report from the Committee of Commerce and Economic Development.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee of Commerce and Economic Development reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read that report.
The Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, to which was referred Bill No. 180864, entitled "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 Industry Classification System Codes," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation. Stated Meeting February 21, 2019
Mr. President, I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading on this day Bill No. 180864. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 180864. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. This bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. That concludes our reports from committee, and our next order of business Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bill just report from committee with a suspension of the rules has been deemed to have had its first reading. It will be on our Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. There are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar today, so the Chair recognizes Councilman Henon for a motion concerning the bills on Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the following bills on Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today: Bill Nos. 180996, 181010, 181048, 181065, 181097, 181098, 181099, 181104, 190009, 190010, 190011, 190014, 190015, and 190063. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 2ND READING properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider bills just read by Councilman Henon. All in favor please indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, the motion carries, and we will consider the Consent Agenda shortly. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Henon for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Mr. President. In addition to the bills being considered on the Consent Agenda, the following resolutions and bills are being called up for the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. They Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 are: Bill Nos. 190112, 190116, 190096-A, 170365, 181103. All other bills and resolutions are being held.
Thank you, Councilman. Before considering the resolutions and bills, we will consider public comment. It will go as follows: If you are interested in testifying on a bill or a 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's a podium there. There's a device on that podium. 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 Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 three minutes to testify for a bill or resolution. Thank you very much for your anticipated cooperation. Mr. Decker, please call the first name on the list.
Carlo Aragoncillo, commenting on 190096-A. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. My name is Carlo Aragoncillo. This is in regards to Resolution 190096. I've been Director of the Veterans Advisory Commission, City Council. I'm also the former Bravo Company Commander 392nd U.S. Army and also an Iraq War veteran. Thank you, Council President, Council of Philadelphia. So I've been in the position about a year and a half. In that I've seen incredible people, heard amazing accomplishments. These people are spouses, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and our friends. Philadelphia is rich in history Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 and tradition. A part of that is the Army, Marine Corps, and the Navy were born here in Philadelphia. Since the inception of the Veterans Advisory Commission in 1957, the Resolution 190096 is the first step in establishing improved services for the Office of Veterans Affairs for Philadelphia by engaging the community, empowering our veterans, and also educating Philadelphians on what it means to be in the military. So on behalf of the over 50,000 veterans and family members, thank you, Council President, and I commend this legislative body for making this a reality. Thank you. (Applause.)
Ralph Galati, commenting on 190096-A. (Witness approached podium.)
Born and raised in Philadelphia, proud Vietnam veteran. I'm here in support of Carlo and his team. I have personal experience with the role of Veteran Services in Delaware County, and the fact that you are legitimizing and formalizing this office is significant. It will allow you to present your office proudly to the veterans and their families in the community. It also serves I think as a great conduit for those folks and their demands to this body. So thank you very much for your support. (Applause.)
Charles Ellison, commenting on 190096-A. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, all. My name is Charlie Ellison. Full time I work at the Travis Manion Foundation. We're a national veteran service organization that develops Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 character in future generations. I am also a proud Army non-commissioned officer in my 16th year, several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, going for my sixth tour in a few months with the New Jersey Army National Guard's 44th Infantry Combat Team. Supporting this resolution goes a long way towards bringing the City of Philadelphia up to par with what other major cities are doing across the United States. The Veterans Affairs Commission here in Philadelphia, and Carlo is the Director of it, they've got a tough task ahead of them with everything from social services for homeless veterans to opioid addiction, a lot of things that all of you are very well versed in in your districts across the City, and this office is a unifying front, a one-stop shop for all veterans' resources. This slight change in the verbiage and naming convention of the office, again, it does a lot to get us up to date with other Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 cities across the country and does a lot to establish Philadelphia as a leader in the veterans community in a much-needed space. Thank you.
Hello. My name is Vashti Bandy and I am commenting -- I am a longtime resident. I have been living at 2133 Catharine Street since I was seven years old, and I am here to speak in opposition to the changes to the LOOP bill that are being proposed today. As a longtime homeowner, homeowners are outraged and I am outreached personally and demand that this bill not be passed. This new bill will have a negative impact especially on low- and moderate-income property owners, as well as minority homeowners like my Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 mom who are on a limited or fixed income by denying them access to LOOP. This bill will give to the have's and take away from the have not's. The issue at hand is City Council has allocated only a limited number, a limited amount of money for this program, and the new bill will allow people who are upper-income homeowners to grab some at those limited slots that should be available to low- and moderate-income homeowners. Why? Over the next few years, the OPA is going to bring all properties in the City up to their actual market value. That's their plan. This will necessitate and increase an assessment from 150 to 300 percent on all properties. Most of these increases are going to take place in gentrified areas like my neighborhood, including Point Breeze, North Philadelphia, and Southwest Philadelphia and the Graduate Hospital area where I live. Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 Low- and moderate-income individuals who live in these affected areas will not be able to get LOOP because the demand by upper-income property owners will have already exhausted the amount of money allocated by City Council for this program. Here is why: Most of the properties in my area have not actually been assessed at their OPA value, at the -- blah, blah, blah. Sorry. Actual. That's the word I was looking for. Have not actually been assessed at the actual value. So as a consequence, someone came in, they bought a house at $400,000, $450,000. The assessed property tax value is maybe 300,000 now. When that assessment comes through, it might -- it would be raised. It may be raised 150 to 300 percent. But a person who can afford to buy a $300,000 to $400,000 house is a completely different person than somebody who, like my mother, came in at $30,000, bought that house, and has lived in it Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 for 27 years. So this is not an apples and orange comparison. And if it was an unlimited amount of money, that would be fine, but it's not. It's a limited amount of money. So you're basically forcing people to choose -- you're basically forcing people to -- more people to scramble for less slots, and it is not fair. Don't get me wrong. I support a bill that will help low-income property owners, but this bill is not doing that. And so I thank you. I'm out of time. (Applause.)
I'm probably not supposed to talk while I'm up here. Just a real quick question. I just want to make sure I understand. Your issue has to do with more people of Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 an upper-income level being -
So do you know that the current bill as LOOP currently constitutes is the same number as this revised bill in terms of eligibility -
-from the income perspective? So the same people -
It's from an income perspective, but it is safe to say that like -- my issue is somebody who came in and bought a $300,000 house or a $400,000 house. It also fixes that at the tax value.
-making sure that there's not enough money -- that there's enough money to Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 make sure that we accommodate the lower-income individuals.
That's what I want out of this bill. I want this bill to accommodate the lower-income individuals and allow lower-income individuals to actually have access.
So if there's more people eligible, there needs to be more money. We basically have to raise the cap in terms of the money from the City to accommodate everybody.
All right. I just want to make sure I understand your two -
I'm so glad you asked me, because I realize I'm reading this and I'm like (indicating), but thank you. Thank you so much.
I think we're going to be in a position to address both of those issues, but I Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 understand.
Oh, I'm sorry. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Yeah, Council President. Just for a point of information, and I'll let you clarify at the appropriate time, but there was a significant increase in terms of the cap, more than $5 million. So the cap was raised to allow more individuals to be a part of it. And also for the record, individuals with tax-abated properties also aren't eligible to participate in the LOOP program. I just wanted to clarify that information just for the record.
Thank you, Councilman. I'm somewhat Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 limited in terms of what I'm supposed to say up here, but thank you, sir.
Anthony Fedele, commenting on 190096-A. (Witness approached podium.)
Almost good afternoon actually. My name is Anthony Fedele. I am a United States Army veteran, coming up on 20 years now. I've been in the City for about 13. I used to run a program called The Mission Continues here in Philadelphia and have since handed it off. I'm currently finishing up my MBA at Drexel University, and I'm here to talk about the motion for Carlo and the Veterans Advisory Committee. I wanted to kind of paint a picture of what the veteran space looks like in the City of Philadelphia and why something like this is so important. We Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 have an amazing group of what we call professional veterans who are in the business sector, who are very good at promoting the businesses and working alongside each other to bring businesses to Philadelphia. The problem is, there's a much larger group of veterans in the City that are doing a lot of stuff behind the scenes that aren't able to get any of the recognition, aren't able to get any of the support that's desperately needed. I, along with some of my other brothers and sisters, feel like an initiative like this will give Carlo the opportunity to bring some of the resources that are needed to these organizations that are on the ground level that are doing all of the work behind the scenes. We have almost what's called a great divide in this city right now where we have these professional veterans who are running around promoting themselves as the face of the veterans community, Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 but that's not the case at all. We're already laying a lot of groundwork for programs that we want to bring to the City that other cities are doing, like Pittsburgh and New York City. These programs aren't getting any attention and they're not getting the resources. We're hoping to change that. This movement is happening, and it's going to happen very fast, and I think being able to make this change right now would give Carlo the opportunity to be a part of this movement and bring the City of Philadelphia into the forefront of the veteran space and be a conversation topic for the amount of support that they're able to give the veteran organizations who are doing all the groundwork. I hope that it moves forward, and I thank you.
Linda Gerald, Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 commenting on 181103. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, everyone. My name is Linda Gerald. I'm a resident. First of all, I'm not a public speaker. And I'm a resident of -
Just say your name for the record. Just say your name for the record.
I'm a resident. My name is Linda Gerald. I'm a resident of the 1200 block of 30th Street in North Philadelphia. Like I said, I'm not a public speaker, but I'm just here on behalf of the bill. And I just want to say that I am a resident and I've been a resident for maybe over 15 years there in that area, and I think that me as a person to give back to the community, Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 that's why I don't want to go anywhere. It seems like there's so much construction around that area, I'm being pushed out of the area, but the Lord has me there for a certain reason, and that is to be a stable person in the community, a senior person, because I run a food bank. There's a food cupboard in the community where we service the people in the neighborhood, and also I work with the Share Program, the Coalition Against Hunger, in which we feed and clothe and visit the people in the community. So I think I would be an asset if I was allowed to stay in -- God is going to let me stay -- in the community to help out, but also to help the other seniors in the community. We do a lot of street ministry, a lot of street work, cleaning the streets, with Habitat for Humanity. We do a lot in that area to help the people, but I think I would be an asset and not a liability. But I would stay there and I've been there Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 over -- I'm 68 years old. I've been in the community over 50-some years, but in that area over 15 years. But this bill would allow me to keep functioning in that area as a productive citizen for the City of Philadelphia. Thank you.
Thank you, ma'am. Thank you for your testimony. (Applause.)
Monty Wilson, commenting on 181103. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, members of Council. My name is Monty Wilson. I'm from Community Legal Services. I'm here today to speak in support of Bill 181103, proposed amendments to the LOOP program. Many of you know that I've been working on behalf of low-income Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 homeowners who are struggling with their property taxes for years, and I want to let you know that I appreciate Council's ongoing efforts to help homeowners preserve their homes, particularly when they're struggling with property taxes. CLS supports this bill, because over the years we have seen steady increases in the number of homeowners coming to our office seeking help regarding their property taxes. Last year we saw 279 people coming to us for problems with their property taxes. This year we're on track to see 430 people. An increasing number of those are dealing with their assessment problems. That's becoming the newest thing. Property tax issues are now the number one issue that comes to intake in my office at CLS and the number three issue we see overall. This bill, as many of you know, will help homeowners by reducing the cap in the LOOP program to 150 percent Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 increase. That will allow people like Ms. Gerald, who is my client, to cap their taxes, but pay the taxes they can and remain in their home as a valuable asset to the community. Without this amendment, she will not be eligible for LOOP and her tax bill will nearly triple. We strongly support this bill. I understand there is concern about people having access to the bill and low-income homeowners having access to the bill, but I don't see that as a reason to oppose that. I see that to seriously address making sure that there's enough money or at least the cap on the hold harmless provision is high enough that everyone who is eligible for LOOP and can benefit from it gets that benefit.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. (Applause.)
Emmanuel Bussie, commenting on 190027. Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Emmanuel Bussie for the record. I'm commenting on 190027, I believe. It's related to -- I believe it's related to -- you know I'm not going to talk about that, but for the record, I got to say what it is, oversight. It's going to get into oversight, but it's not -- so let me see my timer. I'm on 2:19. Can you start my timer over, please. Thank you. So I come down here every couple weeks to talk to you guys, rarely ever to criticize. My intent is always to inspire and motivate Council. I consider you my colleagues. I consider most of you my friends. Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 I'm coming -- I speak today about oversight. The oversight that I'm talking about is the oversight of Local 98. The oversight of Local 98 and its reach into our electoral politics, our local electoral politics. Imma just share with you a little bit about what happened this weekend at Jannie Blackwell's event and why I believe it happened. What happened at Jannie Blackwell's event was disruption. I remember when I was small, my mom and my pop came home, which got me in politics, which got me interested in politics, because they came in and told me about a fight, a fight on the floor of City Council. I was like, what? I mean, I was five or six. And you know who was fighting on the floor of City Council? John Street and Lucien Blackwell, fighting on the floor of City Council. They were disrupting City Council as Councilmembers, but you know why they were disrupting? Because what disruption Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 is, an alteration of the norm, a changing of the status quo. So what Lucien Blackwell and John Street was doing was disrupting what was normal, because they thought it wasn't right. Now, I believe that we haven't broken down to the point where we can't have dialogue. So that type of disruption may not be appropriate at this time, because I believe you can come talk to Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell. I don't believe that that level is appropriate at this time. But I'm a big fan of disruption. I'm a huge fan of disruption. I'm willing to disrupt as you can get. But the reason I rise today, because our Councilmembers, good Councilmembers, are indicted. See, the meaning of indicted is to be formally charged or accused, and when you let Bobby Henon go unquestioned without a hearing, it's an indictment of all of you. How can you let this man sit Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 here -(Applause.)
-- in Council, a colleague of yours with a 152-page indictment, 116 charges, and you ask no questions? See, that's the problem. It's not the fact that -- it's not whether or not you innocent until proven guilty. You have an obligation due to your Charter to ask questions. How dare you as my representative refuse to ask a question? So, again, this is not a criticism. You are my friends. I love Maria Quinones-Sanchez. I'm going to say it again, I love Maria Quinones-Sanchez. Curt is my man. I absolutely think David Oh is absolutely tremendous. Like, Mark is the man. I mean, you guys are my friends, but it is an indictment of you when you go silent. How dare you? Thank you.
Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 Thank you for your testimony. (Applause.)
Tiffany Green, commenting on 181103. (Witness approached podium.)
Okay. Tiffany Green. I want to speak on Bill 181103. I oppose this bill, and let me say why. Because sometimes a gift is not always a gift, and sometimes it looks like you're helping the poor, but actually you're helping others in return. I believe if this bill is passed, you will see upper-income people come out in droves and apply for LOOP. I think they're sitting back waiting for this bill to go through. And I think that at this particular point, this bill needs to be held, because you have areas like Point Breeze and other areas where we are being bombarded with these high-end houses, and more and more people Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 are going to require LOOP. You only have a certain amount of money allocated for LOOP, and so at this particular point, we need to keep it open for low- and moderate-income people. This bill needs to be put on hold until we figure out how to make sure that the needy is in the program and not the upper-income people. I understand what Monty is trying to do. I understand, but Monty has low- and moderate-income people coming to his office. We have not seen the force of upper-income people who will be coming out of the walls when this bill goes through. So I am encouraging City Council to put this bill on hold, because it's not fair that someone living on Lombard Street who house might be reassessed at a million dollars or worth a million dollars but meet the income requirement of under 91,000 can qualify for LOOP. That does not make sense. Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 (Applause.)
I think that we need to stop watching -- start watching this, because at this particular point, things are really starting to get out of hand down in the communities regarding this gentrification, and everybody is starting to feel the whole pressure of it and we have to be careful on how much we are giving to upper-income people as opposed to the low income. It looks like we're getting a lot, but in reality when you on the ground floor, it's not really a lot. Also I want to say thank you to Councilman Johnson. I was glad to talk with you regarding us meeting in reference to Bill 180973. Hopefully we'll meet on that 115-page bill, and I'm hoping that we can work something out at this particular time. Okay? All right. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 Thank you for your testimony.
M. Shikomba, commenting on 181103. (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Madeline Shikomba. Can you hear me? This bill must not be passed. I'm talking about 181 -- I said Madeline Shikomba. I hope you started as my name.
This bill must not be passed. Why? Let me tell you what's been happening in my area. I live in the Graduate Hospital area. Half the houses in that area were under-assessed. From 2015 to 2018, the average assessment was $380,000 on $500, $600, million-dollar houses. Now come 2019 to catch up, OPA assessed them to $600,000, $700,000. Now, do you think people who have been getting away with Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 under-assessments want to pay that difference? No. What do they do? Take their behinds down to Council saying they got to pass a new LOOP bill so that that jump of 150 to 200 percent, they will not be affected. They still can pay that low income. And these people are buying houses at $450,000 to $550,000. If you don't believe me, check your facts against the thing. And don't tell me you have your facts, because I have mine. Okay? And remember that that's one of the criteria. They meet the second criteria of residency because most of them have bought their houses in 1997, 2004, 2005 and so forth. So they meet the residency. Do they meet the income? Yes. The average income for my area is $82,989. LOOP, to meet the new income, is 91,800. Don't tell me they don't meet that. They need three criteria to qualify for LOOP. This bill must be Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 held, because there's too many of them. I can point to one block. I just went to one block. I went to one block, 2000 Bainbridge Street. I counted on that block nearly 15 people qualify for LOOP, 15 people. And when they qualify, how much money you going to have left for the low-income people? This bill must not be passed. You must hold it until we straighten out what's going on in here. (Applause.)
I'm tired, yet I am (unintelligible), but I want other people to qualify. And I mean the people who really, really need it. You open up this bill and, like Tiffany said, they'll be running down here to qualify, and then when you turn around, you won't have enough money. You have to allocate maybe more money to meet the low-income people who should be on that bill. So I'm telling you right now, please do not pass this bill. I sent you Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 a list of the homes in the 2000 block of Bainbridge Street that actually qualify for this. You got my e-mail on this. Look at it. Please do not pass this bill. I want it passed because -- I really favor this bill for people who have low income, but you cannot pass this bill. You have to revise it and amend it. Please do that, and do so now and don't wait until later and then come down here looking sad. I'm telling you, do not pass this bill.
L. Grace Lewis, commenting on 190112. (Witness approached podium.)
My taxes are paid. They are up to date. And I vote. I live Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 where they bought a lot, one lot, in the middle of the block.
I live in Point Breeze. Johnson. Hi, Kenyatta. I live where they bought a lot and they are beginning to build a three-story structure, without informing the residents. The construction on that block are two-story houses. That particular lot happens to be across from my house. The building of that house will interrupt my privacy, my serenity, and the sanctuary of my home. I pay taxes. 2019 is up to date. And I vote. The community should not be Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 impacted without being informed as to what's going to be happening to where they live. We do not live in barren lands. We live where people pay taxes. My family has paid taxes there for 50 years, a half a century. And you're not Indians. You didn't discover anything new. You have come into an organized community, and you need to assimilate to where you have come. New structure is wonderful. Change is going to happen no matter what happens, but you have to conform. There are many, many areas in South Philly with lots of lots where you can start something new. I object, and I'm going to protest the building of that building, because I don't feel free in my home. I like to keep my curtains open. I have cafe curtains so you can't see from the street, but my drapes I keep open, so every time I walk in my bedroom, I see the sky, whether it's the night sky or the day sky. When I lay in my bed, I Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 can see the planes ascending and descending from the airport, and I even see that big star and the Big Dipper twinkling at me from my room. I don't want to have to lose that privilege. Now, what I want them to do is stop that building, because not only are they building without informing the community, I see where they have disrupted the foundation of the neighboring streets. They've already had to call License and Inspection at my behest. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony, ma'am. (Applause.)
Jacqueline Wiggins, commenting on 181103. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. My name is Jacqueline Wiggins. I'm also a Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 committee person, 32nd Ward, 11th Division, and I am speaking today about Bill 181103, and thank you, Council President Clarke, for giving a few minutes this morning with respect to understanding or trying to understand this bill. I'm in opposition for this reason, and it was mentioned by the previous speaker. It has to do with people understanding what this is about. There are many senior citizens like myself who live in North Central Philadelphia who probably don't have a clue as to what is going to happen. What they look like something that will help, but we need clarification. And so I stand before you requesting that every single Councilperson, district and at-large, would please, please rethink this particular bill so that more people, more homeowners, particularly African American homeowners, can understand what is going Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 on. The gentrification in our neighborhood is absolutely outrageous. Of course, there's always going to be time for things to be renewed, but with this particular bill, I think that we really have to have residents understand more clearly. We need more time. We need more time to understand what "Tax Exemptions for Longtime Owner-Occupants of Residential Properties" to revise the standards for eligibility and the benefit determination, under certain terms and conditions. Bill 181103 needs further clarification. Thank you.
Carol Green, commenting on 170408. (Witness approached podium.)
Excuse me. My name is Carol Green and I need prayer. I'm Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 going to comment on Bill 170408. And first of all, I wanted to say, I wanted to apologize to everyone here who might be looking at me. Maybe they can see me on TV if I'm on television. I'm going to apologize for what I did last week if I was wrong. Please forgive me for that if I was out of order. And I know like when I used to go to school, there was a teacher there named Ms. Intenzo that I'm fond of, and during that time, the teachers were allowed to beat you. And she would teach us with a pointer, like she would point on the geography map, if that's what you call it, but she would -- she could beat us with the pointer if we were disobedient. And she didn't hit us real hard, but they could beat you in school. And what I would like is if children that are in school that are disobedient, that are very disruptive, maybe they're really upset about something and they're very disruptive in the classroom, I'm not Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 saying that they should be beat, but what I'm saying is that God -- that the people should let God lead them as to what to do with the children. I don't know if they should be suspended from school, but to disrupt the school is not good. And in Proverbs Chapter 23, if you read that, you'll see it's all right with God if we beat the children as long as we don't abuse them. Thank you.
Ogbonna Hagins, commenting on 190112. (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Ogbonna Hagins and I'm actually -- I'm going to actually speak on 181103. I'm a resident of the Second Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 District, and I've actually witnessed the gentrification firsthand. When I first got my property, it was about $30,000, and it's been assessed now well over 300. But one thing I want to mention is that the people who have come into the neighborhood are extremely well off, and in regards to them not having their properties assessed at the market value and it's going to be freezed, it's like -- it's a war against the poor, you know, and I think that what's going on here is that our representatives are not looking at and identifying long-term residents and the needs that they have. So I am definitely opposed to this. I'm definitely opposed to it. And I'm opposed to a lot of things that's going on in the Second District, and that's one of the reasons why I'm running for the Second District seat. So we have to stop not caring about poor people. There's a constant war against poor people that obviously when you look at Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 the district, certain areas are not being tended to. Is it because they didn't vote? Is it because -- why? So for me, for me as a citizen of Philadelphia, an Afro American, with a large population, the poorest big city, as they say, it's blood on y'all hands that our people are losing out. The Afro Americans in this city are losing out with a majority of Afro American leadership. I oppose this bill.
Rochelle Bilal, commenting on 181103. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. I'm speaking against Bill 181103. And in my three minutes, let me try to say this: Long-term residents gets very little from this city. Around we are turned to say that people who can afford to pay their Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 taxes and the increases get a break. So when you start telling us this, then you just about to give some more Trump breaks in this city. Trump give breaks to the rich, and now our City Council want to give breaks to the rich also? (Applause.)
That is a problem when you're going around here telling us that you don't want Trumpism in this city. Yet here it is again. You really need to go back and look at this bill. You also need to consider businesses, non-profit organizations that been in this city, that has property here since 1972, that does reach out for the City, that gets no break. None. We have a building on Girard Avenue who taxes went from $1,500 to dag near $8,000 in one year, and because we been there since 1972, we don't get a homestead. Nothing. We don't get a Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 break. Nothing. So if you're going to do this, start looking at those who work, give to the City, pay they taxes, do developments and do programs that works with the people in the City before you keep trying to give the rich another break. Can we get some breaks? We are asking City Council to start looking at those who need a break. And it's not those who can afford. How many Trump breaks do you want to give in this city? How many? I'm just saying, I hear what you're trying to do with this. I know you're trying to include other people. I'm just saying take it back, look at it, look at the parameters that you're dealing with, and then let's come back and discuss this again like grown people here and constituents of the City who pay taxes every single day. (Applause.)
And I got 35 seconds. That's right. You can't cut me off, Council President.
Now I got 29 seconds. So Imma use every bit of this. I'm just saying as a constituent in this city -- and I'm not telling nobody what position I'm running for. I'm just letting you know this bill needs to go back and you need to take a real good look at it, and then look at the businesses that been here forever. Thank you.
Joy Crudup, commenting on 181103. (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Joy Crudup. This is my first time ever being down here, but I'm here to speak on Bill 181103. I am a resident of the 2100 block of North Marvine Street, which is in North Philly, and actually I had no idea about this bill until I came down here this morning, and I am opposed to the bill. I don't believe that new developers who come into our city who had a ten-year tax abatement already should be eligible for a bill when you have people who lived here for years and years and they are struggling. That was the purpose of the LOOP bill. So it's not fair that those who had a ten-year tax abatement are able to benefit from the same thing that we benefit from, because we're struggling a little. Also I wanted to say that the Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 housing that I live in in the 2100 block of Marvine Street, they weren't built by developers. My aunt and -- well, two of my aunts and another young lady came in and sat down with Mayor Goode and some other people and they got funding so that those houses could be built. So it's not fair for us who have lived there all this time. And, Mr. Clarke, you are from -if I'm not mistaken, you are from Yorktown, and I do know that your dad had a company, because they used to come and cut our grass every other year. And I just want you to take a moment and think back to your parents and if they were here now living in Yorktown and had all these developers, would they be okay with this bill being passed? I have nothing else to say, but please don't pass the bill. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony, ma'am. (Applause.) Stated Meeting February 21, 2019
There are no other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. That concludes our public comment session, and we will now consider today's Bill Consent Agenda. I would ask Mr. Decker to read the titles of all the bills on the Consent Agenda. After each title is read, any member may object to the inclusion of the bill on the Consent Agenda. Upon such an objection and without debate, the bill will be immediately removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on our regular Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, can you please now read the titles of the bills on the Consent Agenda.
Bill No. 180996, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 No. 118 by striking from the City Plan and vacating a widened portion of Warnock Street, on the easterly side thereof between Berks Street and Norris Street, and relocating the easterly houseline of said Warnock Street so as to align with the easterly houseline of the unaffected portions of Warnock Street as extending from Berks Street to said Norris Street"; and Bill No. 181010, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan Nos. 12-S and 19-S by relocating the northeasterly houseline and curbline of Tasker Street, from Christopher Columbus Boulevard to a point southeastwardly therefrom, relocating the southeasterly curbline of said Christopher Columbus Boulevard from Tasker Street to Reed Street varying distances northwestwardly, and relocating a portion of the southwesterly curbline of Dickinson Street, from said Christopher Columbus Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 point northwesterly therefrom, a uniform distance northeastwardly"; and Bill No. 181048, entitled "An ordinance authorizing Mohammed Talouli to construct, own and maintain a proposed exterior stairway at 4955 through 57 Frankford Avenue"; and Bill No. 181065, entitled "An ordinance establishing parking regulations on Germantown Avenue, East Hortter Street to Gorgas Lane, both sides"; and Bill No. 181097, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Haverford Avenue, both sides, 31st Street to 32nd Street"; and Bill No. 181098, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 46th Street, east side, Larchwood Avenue to Osage Avenue"; and Bill No. 181099, entitled "An ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Locust Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 45th Street; South 46th Street and Spruce Street; South 45th Street and Kingsessing Avenue; Wiota Street and Powelton Avenue; Stiles Street and North 50th Street; Springfield Avenue and Farragut Street; St. Marks Street and Spruce Street"; and Bill No. 181104, entitled "An ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Wilder Street and South 12th Street; Tasker Street and South 8th Street; Gerritt Street and South 12th Street; Reed Street and South 12th Street; Dickinson Street and South 9th Street; South 11th Street and Wharton Street"; and Bill No. 190009, entitled "An ordinance establishing a no parking regulation on Ivy Hill Road in the vicinity of Mansfield Avenue"; and Bill No. 190010, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 12-2700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Permit Parking Districts,' by creating a new Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 36 in the vicinity of Cottman Avenue, Roosevelt Boulevard and the Tacony Creek"; and Bill No. 190011, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 9-213 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Farmers' Markets,' by revising the limitations on a permissible location on Castor Avenue"; and Bill No. 190014, entitled "An ordinance granting permission to Vincent Cappello, owner and operator of Vinny's Fruit and Produce located in the right-of-way on the north side of Dickinson Street between 9th Street and 10th Street, to install, use and maintain certain electrical wires, conduits and appurtenances in, under and over the right-of-way on the north side of Dickinson Street between 9th Street and 10th Street"; and Bill No. 190015, entitled "An ordinance establishing parking restrictions on East Gowen Avenue, Devon Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 Street, south side"; and Bill No. "
Thank you, Mr. Decker. These bills having been read on two different days, the question for each bill now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker shall call the roll, and upon being called, each Councilmember shall vote aye on each of the bills, nay on each of the bills or indicate those bills for which the member is voting aye and those bills for which the member is voting nay. Stated Meeting February 21, 2019 Decker, please call the roll.