Folks, I'm going to ask you all to please like adhere to the timeline. I got like 40-something people on the list and I want everybody to speak. Under the rules I don't have to do that, but I want everybody to have an opportunity. So can Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 you please keep to the timeline. I'm trying to be fair. Thank you. (Witness approached podium.)
Hold on. Hold on. Look, you all have your time to speak when you get at the mic. So please let the people -- ma'am, we'll start the time over.
Good morning, Council President and all members of City Council. I'm speaking about Bill No. 190659. My name is Jen Jasuta and this is about the Kensington Fishtown Business Improvement District. The way things were put together on this bill, we received this package, which has a lot of legalese, and then expects the small business owners to stop what they're doing, read through piles of legalese and find that they have Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 to, instead of just saying yes/no to the bill on a postcard that they could send back, they have to write a whole letter explaining what they're all about, and this thing seems to have been pushed through before we even had a chance to really get a coalition together or whatever of people who might be against it. If there was a postcard in there where you could tick a box, I think it would have been a better situation. A lot of people I know did not get this. There is a lot of people who don't even have the time to read these things, because they're chasing like maniacs of small businesses wearing 60 hats. I feel like we -- my taxes, regular property taxes, have gone up exponentially, to the point where I'm going to be paying over $6,100 more in 2020 than I am this year, and that was already up quite a bit. And now I'm supposed to be paying an extra almost Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 $2,000 to have somebody sweep the sidewalks that I've been sweeping for 11 years anyway. It's not worth it for me. There's other ways to keep this going, to get the streets cleaned. There's the PHL Taking Care of Business. They have a program going where they're having trainees sweeping the streets, and that can help maybe instead of putting the burden on the small businesses. Thank you very much for letting me speak.
Thank you, ma'am. Thank you for your testimony. (Applause.) (Witness approached podium.)
Hi. My name is Yosuke Arakai, South Philadelphia. It's my understanding that the plastic bag ban bill has been altered to not require businesses to participate by not enacting any penalties if they don't comply. So I'd just like to take a few Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 moments for everyone in the room to kind of mull over how efficient a bill is that is voluntary for business owners to participate in. Maybe someone has thought of something. I'd love to hear what they have to say. Now, if members of the Council that are responsible for the provisions to the bill from its original form that renders it utterly useless wouldn't mind with great pride just raising their hands for everyone to see. I don't know what to say. Like what are we reaching for? Are we reaching for legislation that will improve the health of our communities or are we reaching for headlines? I mean, because the headlines won't show that this bill is utterly useless. With that said, I think you should vote for the bill if you're willing to amend it immediately, not in four years, not in two years, not in one Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 year but, you know, next year. What we're dealing with is the support of the fossil fuel industry, who produces the millions and millions of plastic bags that are produced that immediately get thrown in the trash, only to make their way into the water that you and I drink, into the air that we breathe that cause cancer clusters from burning in incinerators. So, yeah, I really -- the indifference that this bill brings is, you know -
I really don't know what to say. (Applause.) (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Maurice Sampson. I am the Eastern Pennsylvania Director for Clean Water Action. I think I share with all the Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 people who are parents in the room the great joy one gets in watching your child open the gift and that look on their face. It's almost better than being a child and getting the gift yourself. Last week in adopting the amendment to pass the plastic bag bill, you essentially have all become elves to Councilman Squilla, because you packaged the box. The problem is, the box is packaged by Mayor Grinch, because the bill is deficient and there hasn't been the kind of time to have the kind of conversations that I would have with all of you, nor have you had the opportunity to make the kind of corrections that I know you would make if you had the time. Now, I have asked in letters I have sent to all of you and that some of you may have read in the op-ed that's been posted this morning on Philly Plan that we should table this bill. I don't think we should table this bill, but I do think what we need is to know that more Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 than Santa Claus Squilla is going to step up and make sure that this is going to get corrected, because although I've worked with a lot of you and I know you to be people of integrity, if you don't know what it is is in the package, how do you know and how can we be assured that when this comes up in the next session, it's going to come up early and that we're going to work to make it work? What I would really like is for me as a parent to not deliver this empty gift to my members and to your constituents and for us to know that you are behind Councilman Squilla, that you make that public statement that we're going to make this work, and then let's have a great holiday, and thank you very much. (Applause.)
The next five Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 speakers, Ang Sun, Murat Aritan, George Gould, Meenal Raval, Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon. I'm Dr. Ang Sun, a college professor and also an organizer of West Philly United Neighbors. My organization collaborating with seven different organizations to fight gentrification in West Philly. I'm here to oppose two bills. One is 190944-A. The second one is 190898. For the developers, there are two golden apples in their pocket. One is up-zoning. The other is the tax abatement. The tax abatement was good for Philly for a while, but it has been obviously -- it should be abolished completely, not amended. I have been living in New York City for 17 years since I was a student. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Then I was renting, only paying about $400 per room. Now I'm a homeowner, and I heard my students paying like $1,700 per month. That is ridiculous. The developers are over-developing University City. Within four blocks of my home, we have 17 developments. They are building over two solid units. I have been displaced, not because I couldn't afford the mortgage. It's not financially. I was displaced recently because a contractor is building a seven-story multi-unit building next to my door and my -- I have a newborn... (Applause.)
Our next speaker, Mr. Decker. (Witness approached podium.)
Hi there. My name is Murat Aritan. I live at 111 East Girard. I'm a longtime Fishtown resident born and raised, third generation. This is about the Fishtown Kensington Area BID development. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Let me start by saying I am one of your constituents, and the majority of the 200-plus objection letters that your constituents and me and my partners went around to collect these letters by talking to my neighbors and friends and property owners with our own time and money, something that the BID people never did. They never went and outreached anybody. They did minimal to non-existent, nothing was done to outreach the business owners to the actual communications with the people and the businesses that would be affected. For a group with the name "business" in it, they did not really care about them and what they are proposing to do and what they are going to do with it. And if you know my neighborhood, which you should if you represent us, you will know that we are exactly that, a neighborhood, and the majority of the BID corridor are not Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 businesses. In fact, 80 percent of the area affected are rental properties, homes and residents, some of which are low income and for seniors and for people who are just getting by. Take Neumann building, for example, that houses more than 100 seniors. They will have their rent increased next year if this passes. And the properties that are owned by longtime residents like Frank Richie and Mike Murawski and others who rent to low-income people, why should these people, any of these people, pay for something that only Paul and Johnny Brenda's and other people in the nightlife industry will get the money and rob us? It's wrong. (Applause.) (Witness approached podium.)
Hi. My name is Meenal Raval. I'm here today to speak on two bills, No. 190610, the plastic bag bill, and 190944, the tax abatement bill. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Last winter when we first met with Councilman Squilla about this bill, our concern was the force the plastics industry would retaliate with. The opposition now, it seems, comes from our own Mayor who threatens to veto this bill if we include a fee for single-use plastic bags. It seems that our Mayor yet again speaks for the fossil fuel industry, not the people that elected him. I am asking for a ban as well as a fee of single-use plastic bags. So please vote yes today and let's revise in January to include a fee. That's the only way this will actually reduce single-use plastic bags littering our streets and our waterways. Now on to 190944, the tax abatement bill. Please vote no. We cannot afford as a city to continue to give away money like this. After you vote no, let's talk about net zero energy construction. I mentioned it last week. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 It means there is at least as much energy generated as consumed at a site. Homes built with net zero energy design are more comfortable and have no energy bills, which means they're also more affordable. I heard that you, Councilman Jones, had introduced such a bill about ten years ago. It may be time to reintroduce this and maybe offer a tax credit for net zero energy construction. To learn more, please read or listen to episode 27 of Philly Talks Climate. Thank you. (Applause.) (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon. My name is George Gould. I'm an attorney at Community Legal Services and a member of PHABB, Philadelphia Against Bed Bugs. I am here today to talk about the bed bug remediation bill, 190106. We have worked on this issue for over four Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 years. At the Committee hearing, we were not informed before the hearing that there were significant amendments and the bill was effectively gutted. However, we have been working with the sponsor, Councilman Squilla, to get what we believe are significant amendments, and the bill has been amended and we cautiously are supporting it. The bill will give tenants a year after moving in to report to the landlord a suspected infestation, and the landlord will be fully responsible for the cost of remediation. In addition, if a tenant discovers infestation in other units in the building or an adjacent row house, they have six months to report an infestation in their unit, and the landlord will also be fully responsible for the full cost of remediation. The sponsor has agreed to review this bill after a period of time to see if it is working. This bill is a start. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Thank you. (Applause.) (Witness approached podium.)
Hi. Greetings. My name is Marissa Johnson-Valenzuela and I am a professor at Community College of Philadelphia. I am here today because the faculty and staff union at CCP is a member of the Philadelphia Coalition for Affordable Communities, and we -- thank you; lots of folks in the house -- and we appreciate you standing with us and supporting Bill 190859, the commercial density bill. I've also got some holiday cards for you all that will be passed out. In our classes at CCP, we see firsthand how urgent the issue of affordable housing is in a rapidly changing Philadelphia. As I'm sure you can understand, when a student loses their housing, they are unlikely to succeed in their studies. I've seen many Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 bright students struggle with homelessness and sudden eviction, et cetera. It's hard to focus on your English 101 essay when your housing has fallen apart. These students stop coming to class. They lose hope. Despite the fact that they can do the work, they struggle to continue to see college as a viable option. Over half of CCP students qualify for federal Pell grants and nearly all of our students and so many of our faculty and staff members are living paycheck to paycheck. Housing is a human right, and we can and should do better by all Philadelphians. This bill is an important step in the right direction, and this bill is a lot better than the for-profit housing CCP's administration and Board of Trustees gave away to developers to make a profit on CCP's public land. We will continue to support Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 initiatives that truly help our students and our members. Thank you for supporting Bill 190859. Thank you. (Applause.)
Dominique Howell, Joe Danihel, Francis McCloskey, Evan Kassof, Gail Loney. (Witness approached podium.)
Hello. My name is Dominique Howell. I am an independent living specialist with Liberty Resources, the Leading Center for the Independent Living in Philadelphia. Liberty Resources is also a member organization of the Philadelphia Coalition for Affordable Housing. I'm here to speak on Bill No. 190859, the commercial density bill. Our coalition and -- sorry. We have been working on making the Housing Trust Fund Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 one that meets our city's needs for over 20 years. We live in a city where over half of us renters -- where over half of its residents are renters, where 16 percent of the people are disabled and many are on fixed incomes, making anywhere between $738 and $1,200 a month. This equals to 14,000 a year or less. As the population grows, they continue to be underserved. Our coalition and member organizations have fought for more money for the Housing Trust Fund and are excited to be here today to support Councilmember Green's bill again, commercial density bonus bill, to create -- sorry. We support this bill because it would get more money to very important but underfunded programs like Adaptive Modification. At LRI, we help consumers get out of renting homes and back into the community, but our severe shortage of accessible units make it very difficult Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 to locate housing and get out of the nursing homes. If you haven't lived in a nursing home, you have no idea how awful it is. My personal story involves the Philadelphia shelter system. Myself and my four-year-old daughter were homeless for nine months and then lived in a shelter that could not accommodate me due to my disability for nearly two months. During all of this time, I was trying to find an accessible and affordable place to live. It was the scariest and hardest experience of my life. I have made it a personal and professional goal to prevent this from happening to other women and children. Seeing the post-traumatic stress my daughter still experiences is something that I don't want for any mother. I am testifying today on the behalf of myself and our members. Most of us live in subsidized housing and we know the value of it. So vote yes for the community Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 density bonus bill. (Applause.) (Witness approached podium.)
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, Governor, and others transfer private property to the government, probably illegally and unlawfully. In the 1770s, the government in Philadelphia was stealing people's private property, causing the people to draft the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Clearly, history is repeating itself, as the government that stole my home, stole my just compensation, asked the people to turn in their arms as the Red Coats did. Has Philadelphia stolen thousands of homes, as court filings indicated? Did men die on December the 7th, 1941 for this type of government? Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Failure to perform a known duty or task is treason and requires your prosecution. 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, 711, 712, 713, 716, 902, and other laws listed in SCOTUS 15-8965, 14-1330, 14-4056 appeared violated. I call on 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 25 years is egregious, extraordinary, oath-violating, and requires immediate remedy. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 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. I remind Council, it takes a lot of cooperation to create and allow all of this monumental corruption and taxation without representation. (Applause.) (Witness approached podium.)
Hi. My name is Evan Kassof. I'm President of the Temple University Graduate Student Association, although I am here today as a food truck advocate. I'm here to speak about Bill 190851, which was about the food truck rezoning issues around 33/34th Street and Market. Food trucks serve a vital role in the fragile ecosystem of university food services. Students rely on food trucks because they are less expensive than options provided on campus by Drexel Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 and Temple's food service company, Aramark. Additionally, the trucks through their owners, employees, and menus provide a sense of cultural diversity and sincerity precipitously lacking in any campus dining hall. The dreams of immigrant and low-income families to build a business by making food they love are at stake when corporations like Aramark act in conjunction with major institutions like Drexel or Temple to clear out the competition. This is a food scarcity issue. This is a jobs and working families issue. This is an issue at the heart of the American dream. These businesses have succeeded on shoestring budgets, laser-thin profit margins, and competition from all sides. Yet now this proposed bill will see the government interceding on behalf of a large corporation at the expense of the Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 little guy. I see that there's a couple other bills today that have the same flare. I think it's terrifying that -what is it? It's like nine to one or something. All but one democrat City Council is running all these bills through about the Fishtown, about abatement, about the food trucks against the little guy for big corporation. Come on, guys. We're better than this. This isn't Scott Walker's Wisconsin State Legislature where on the last day of business they push through all these bills just to spite the incoming, more left-winging government. So please, for the love of God, for the love of small businesses, do the right thing. ) MR. McCLOSKEY: Good morning, everybody. My name is Francis McCloskey and I am a college graduate, but I guess Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 that doesn't count for much because I'm a low-income citizen. I work in the retail industry, and in the retail industry, yes, we use plastic bags. So I am here to express my opposition to this plastic bag ban. Block the ban. I do not want to lose the only job I have. It's part time, and it at least is something, something I can at least survive on. I don't want to lose it. Before I had this job, I was unemployed for eight years. I went to company after company after company. I was living off my parents, like a baby. I'm an adult. When my parents died, I lived off my sister and my brother-in-law, like a baby. I want to live like an adult. I want to keep my job. Do not ban plastic bags. I work in the supermarket industry. A supermarket finally said yes to me when I Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 was asking for a job. Supermarkets, like me, do not want to see plastic bags blowing through the streets, ending up in our rivers or, God forbid, around the necks of animals. They want to find more efficient ways to handle plastic bags. Sit down with them. Talk to them. They want to hear from you. They're willing to work for you -- work with you. I do not want to lose the only job I have. I'm struggling to find another one. I do not want to go through eight more years of unemployment. Don't make me suffer through that. I don't want to go through that ever again. I don't want to be unable to pay my bills. I don't want to rest on my sister's shoulder. She's struggling too. I may break her shoulders as an adult if I had to sit on hers. I want to keep my job. I don't want to lose it. Find more efficient ways to handle plastic bags. Don't ban them. )
Hello. My name is Gail Loney. Can you hear me? Hello. My name is Gail Loney. I am a retired compliance analyst and I live in the Fifth District. So I'm talking about Bill 190944 and 190553. I recently went to a public poverty hearing and I listened and heard a lot of stories about organizations that help and support individuals, but through the conversation, no one talked about how important housing was. And what you don't realize is that housing is a huge issue around poverty. People are being moved out of their homes. People are being displaced through higher taxes, Sheriff Sales. They're aging out and have nowhere else to go and they have no one to help them. And, in effect, losing your house, like someone said earlier with Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 regards to children, it has an effect. If a child has to keep moving and moving, they can't get the education that they need because they're so busy worrying about where am I going to stay today, where am I going to stay tonight, how am I going to eat, where am I going to go tomorrow. The abatement was to bring development and jobs and beautify and add growth to our communities, but the flip side has been ignored. People of color are not getting many of these jobs. Our communities are experiencing great disruptions socially, emotionally, environmentally. You have no way to get out your neighborhood because of so many developments all over the place. You have to reroute yourself in traffic. And so with the high-impact development, now you're saying that the communities have to decide amongst themselves how to get these community benefits from these high developers, and it's a problem. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 I want you guys to realize that we're people just like you, and you need to think from a more compassionate way when you write some of these bills. (Applause.)
Mandy Duong, Catherine Blunt, Jacqueline Wiggins, and Michael Phillips. (Witness approached podium.)
Hi, everyone. My name is Mandy Duong. I'm here to ask you to vote no on the 190944 bill. Although this bill is a small step to ending the ten-year tax abatement, it is only a small bill -- it is only a small step that will take way too long to get funding into our schools. I'm currently a student teacher at Furness High School this year, and the ten-year tax abatement has contributed to a lot of structural barriers for my Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 students. My students are learning from 20-year-old textbooks, sitting in classrooms with peeling paint, and eating expired school lunches. Some classrooms do not have air conditioning, and the heating system is very inconsistent. This detracts students from their learning. In addition, this also puts students' and teachers' health at risk, because they get triggered by the conditions at Furness. Students and teachers should have safe access to a safe, positive environment that is conducive to their learning and teaching. Furness and many other schools in Philly are in desperate need of funding and resources that the end of the ten-year tax abatement can bring. Additionally, the end of the ten-year tax abatement will help fund affordable housing and programs that can help low-income communities of color. It Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 will also end land insecurity, because there will be less incentives to turn vacant land into luxury housing, providing more space for communities to build gardens or other spaces that benefit long-term residents as a whole. This will alleviate the stressors for many of my students, which will further contribute to creating better learning environments for them. For over three years, communities and organizations across various issues of schools, housing, and land have fought to end the ten-year tax abatement in order to help the communities of Philadelphia, especially the most marginalized and overlooked ones. Finally you have moved because of our fight and our efforts, but this bill is too weak. You had an opportunity to do this by working closely with the most impacted communities, but instead you listened to the Building Industry Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Association and their wealthy developers and you let them dictate the conditions of the bill. In addition, the process was shady. We want an end to the tax abatement, and we will not accept this bill, which was introduced undemocratically. We are pushing for you to vote no. (Applause.)
Good afternoon. My name is Catherine Blunt. I am speaking on behalf of legislation 190894 and 190898 dealing with Cobbs Creek and Kingsessing neighborhoods in West Philadelphia. I am a member of the 46th Ward RCO Committee. We recently formed our RCO with the goal of preserving, protecting, and providing for our homeowners, our renters, our communities, and our neighborhoods. Many of us have lived in our Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 racially, ethnically, economically diverse, and supportive communities for many years, welcoming our new neighbors into our communities as we said goodbye to our old neighbors who moved out or passed away. We intend to remain in our homes and our neighborhoods to help shape the future of our communities while preserving the history and an appreciation for the unique community attributes and architecture. We support correct zoning or down-zoning, as we also call it, or save zoning as a way of ensuring homeowner and residential engagement in area development, especially if that development adversely impacts the character of our immediate communities and/or the larger neighborhood. We engaged in community outreach. We organized. We educated in order to promote legislation that aligns with our mission to preserve, protect, and provide for our neighborhoods and Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 communities. Our communities worked for and did support the creation of the legislation. We thank Councilwoman Blackwell for listening to our concerns and supporting us by correct zoning our residential single-family homes, blocks, communities, and neighborhood. We ask Councilmembers to support us by supporting this legislation. Thank you. (Applause.) (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon. My name is Jacqueline Wiggins. I'm a long-term resident of North Central. I live in the Fifth Council. Today I'm representing the Stadium Stompers, a community-based movement to prevent any further encroachment of Temple University in my neighborhood for any high-impact development projects with square footage in the range of 100,000 to 250,000 square Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 feet, especially in the form of a stadium. Now about Bill 190944. It seems to be moving along at a pace that many everyday taxpaying residents may not be aware of. Oh, they know change is coming, but at whose expense. If people were to know the details of how our schools and other services were being put to the side in favor of big business in the building industry in particular, they would have grave concerns to worry about what I call the human trinity - food, shelter, and clothing. It is tiring to see how some folks can benefit from housing development and how a municipality, our city, can favor this sector, but give short shrift to decaying schools and other needs of our city's residents. This tax abatement must end and end right now. You know the people in this town. The Isley Brothers put it very nicely. Fight the powers that be Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 when certain principalities -- oops, I meant to say a municipality is not in sync with the will of the people. And please know this, as I know you do, the people united will never be defeated. Vote no 190944. Vote no. (Applause.)
Michael Phillips, Cleveland Best, Tiffany Green, Charles Carrington, Jihad Ali. (Witness approached podium.)
Tiffany Green. I'm here to oppose Bill 190553, which is the community benefit agreement. I oppose the rezoning inside the bill because of the fact it takes away the property owners going down to the ZBA and being able to present their case. If you can't -- if you don't agree with the community benefit agreement that is set up with the developer -- because developers want rezoning. They don't Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 want to go down to the ZBA. And so at this point, if you do a rezoning bill and you allow that to take away the ZBA process, then independent property owners, some people that don't live in the neighborhood, will not have an opportunity to go down to the ZBA and present their case. I'm asking you to hold that bill, because it needs to be re-amended and everything like that. Secondly, I want to talk about the fact that I have a real concern with the fact that I feel that activists, particularly black women activists, are being shunned here. I didn't appreciate some of the things that was said to me regarding talking about uncooperative and that type of thing. The reality of it is at this particular point is that we came down here in 2013, '14, '15 with a pureness of heart, asking for help, and we fell on combativeness, not willing to meet with Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 us, not willing to hear what we have to say. And the thing about it is is that some of you and many of you voted for Michael Nutter's bills. You voted for his zoning bills. You voted for his pro-development bills, and you planted them seeds. And when them seeds came back, it came back with the highest poverty rate in the City, in the country. It came back with the worst case redlining in our area. It came back with no blacks going into the housing, no blacks being able to get mortgages. An independent investigation came and ran on national news how Point Breeze and others had the worst case redlining. So we feel as though we have been vindicated. Don't try to vilify black women activists or activists that come down here trying to say that we trying to block progress. We're not blocking progress. How could we be blocking progress at this particular point when Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 you have the highest poverty rate in the country, when you have an increasing homeless rate? At this point, you have 26,000 residents getting ready to lose their home to Sheriff Sale and 6,000 are seniors. If anybody is to blame, blame yourself. You can't have a two-facedness. You sit up here and vote for developers and then act like you all care about the poor.
Thank you for your testimony. (Witness approached podium.)
How you doing? My name is Charles Carrington. I'm the President of Local 427 and I represent Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 the sanitation workers and enforcement officers for the City of Philadelphia. It's my understanding that you're introducing a bill, 190659, and I'm here to oppose that bill wholeheartedly, because at the end of the day, no one does this job to clean this city better than anybody in Local 427. I applaud -(Applause.)
I applaud Councilwoman Parker for the things that she's trying to do. She's trying to introduce some things in her district to get the streets cleaned, but she's partnering with the union to make sure these people have an avenue of getting full-time jobs and getting wages. So I ask you to take a look at, let's say, after the Made in America event. The turnaround, how we open those streets up, we get those streets clean, we do that in hours. So that proves that nobody around here can do our job better Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 than us. So when you want to introduce bills that's going to take away from union jobs, we ask that you partner with us where these jobs can lead to union jobs and people can have better wages and become good-paying citizens for the City of Philadelphia. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you for your testimony. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, Council President Clarke. My name is Jihad Ali. I'm a citizen of Philadelphia. I have been involved in coming down to Council for almost 15 years. I'm an active participant. I'd like to think of myself as an activist also. I'm here today to ask you to -to thank you, Council President Clarke and Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, for introducing Bill 190553, which is known Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 as the community benefit agreement. It's really leveling the playing field, because too many benefit agreements existed in other parts of the City for a long time, but this levels the playing field. Because I could tell you, Councilwoman Blackwell can tell you, many times we were negotiating with developers. They called us crooks. They said every time we demanded something for the company, we were strong-armed. So this really gives us a legitimate way to be able to say we want something for the community. I'm also here for Bill No. 190891. That's for -- I want to thank Councilwoman Blackwell for the EOP plan. That's for the Penn medical site that they're going to give. Without you, Councilwoman, we would have been kicked to the side, because the Administration when it comes to these issues with big-time developers, we really lose at the table. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 I also want to thank you for Bill No. 190898, which was for the neighbors on the 5300 and the 5400 block of Angora Terrace and the rezoning of their houses, which were built as duplexes, but unbeknown to Planning, they changed them to single-family houses. So we thank you for that. In closing, I'd like to thank the Councilpeople that are leaving, Councilman Greenlee and Councilman Taubenberger. Thank you for always giving us respect when we came down here to talk. And Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown and Councilwoman Blackwell, I can only tell you when I think about legislation, I'm reminded of Dr. Martin Luther King. And I think when he came and gave his speech of two Americas, I've often thought of Philadelphia being two Philadelphias. Dr. King said the power of legislation was to change behavior, and your Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 legislation throughout the years has changed behavior, and I thank you for serving us well and thank you for your service. (Applause.)
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon. My name is Laverne Friend and I'm here to speak on Bill No. 190944, the tax abatement. Now, I just found out not too long ago that the School District was given $550 million. Is that correct? I need somebody to say yes or no, one of you Councilpeople in agreement with that. I just wanted to know for the clarity of my heart, because I couldn't understand where if the school superintendent said he need $50 million to get the asbestos cleaned out of the schools and the developers and the contractors was getting over $70 million, so why couldn't Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 the school get their money? Why couldn't you hold the tax abatement up so that the schools can get the money? Is anyone going to answer that question? Did the schools borrow $550 million? Can I get a yes from any one of the Councilpeople? Because I need my heart satisfied. Because if not, if they did not get that money, then it's a disgrace. It's truly a disgrace to allow this ten-year tax abatement to go as it is, because I already know in my heart that it's going to be passed. I don't need to play no games. I knew from day one three weeks ago when all those names bashed Councilwoman Cindy Bass that that bill was going to be passed. So, you know, it's no sense in us acting like it's not, because it is, and I am so sad in my heart about it. I truly am sad about that, because I'm watching people make money off the backs of taxpayers that almost can't afford their own taxes, and I'm watching them move in, move out, Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 two to five years they're gone, rip the house out. And I'm not against anybody to make any money legally. I really am not. But I am against the fact that we have to sit around and come up with a bill like this. Y'all put your heads together, 17 members, and this is what you come up with? This is a disgrace. It truly is. And then you didn't wait for the new members to come in. I need y'all to hold that bill. It need to be held, because it's a disgrace. (Applause.)
Hi, everyone. I'm Munish Datt. I'm from India. I came in Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 this country 30 years ago. I started a business in the Drexel 15 years ago. When I know the Councilwoman was Jannie Blackwell, I felt like I was in the right hand. I feel like I'm in home. And she did keep us alive. I heard a bad thing, Drexel don't want a lunch truck, and Jannie Blackwell always fight for us, keep us alive. And I feel like it was Mother Teresa came in my life, you know. She just remind me of Mother Teresa. (Applause.)
So she's leaving us. It's very sad. Also we having the same issue again. Before she leaving, Drexel trying to get us again out. Hopefully she doesn't pass this, because we are -without this place, I can't live. I have two heart attack. I really can't afford the third one, you know. So please, Jannie, think before you sign that bill. I know Drexel has a lot of money. I don't have a lot of Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 money, you know. We are very poor. We work very hard. I go in the rain, snow, hot weather, every single day in that corner, feeding every single student and faculty member. I have 7,000 people signing in two days they want us there. So please do not throw us out from there. This is only thing I have. My kids, I don't want them to do this work. I want them to go to college. Only way I can send them to college, if I have a job. So please think for us. Thank you so much.
Thank you. (Applause.) (Witness approached podium.)
Good afternoon. I'm Nghe from South Philly with VietLead and we're part of a coalition working across issues demanding an end to the tax abatement, and I'm here to urge you to vote no for this watered-down bill, Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 190944. Every day our young people pass shiny new developments against tumbling toxic schools. At the same time across the neighborhood, black, brown working-class Philadelphians are being pushed from their homes and gardens because of rising rents, property taxes, and Sheriff Sales. For more than 20 years, the ten-year tax abatement has been the driving force behind development and displacement in Philly, and after years of grassroots organizing calling for an end to the abatement, we're extremely disappointed with what has transpired over the last few weeks. A lot has happened since Councilmember Cindy Bass introduced the bill on November 21st to decrease the tax abatement on newly abated residential property over a period of ten years, and then the Building Industry Association like influence the whole process with the Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 City Council and the Mayor deciding to listen to them and push back the implementation date to December 31st of next year, which is unacceptable. We are urging the City Council to vote no on the proposed bill. A no vote ensures that new Councilmembers will have an opportunity to take part in voting on this issue that will have a significant impact on their tenures. This is not only fair; it is just. The process has been unduly rushed at a cost of potential impact on the bill. In order to rebuild trust, we demand the Councilmembers be included in any and all review processes of abatement's impact on our communities moving forward. We are on the front line and deserve to be considered in identifying metrics, analyzing the data, and leading our path forward. We are the experts here. These are our lives, neighborhoods, and schools, and the floor Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 bill is not enough. We will continue to push for complete end to the abatement until we win. Our communities cannot wait. It is essential that City Council start a fund to address our toxic school commissions now. Our kids can't wait. And for a different reason, we agree with Mayor Kenney's declaration to Council. If he wants to make this change, we must ensure that we get it right, and we ask Councilmembers, how can you ensure that you are getting it right when you can't define the bill you're signing. So we urge you to do the right thing, vote no on this bill.
There are no other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. President.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 now move to our Calendar. And at this time, we will now consider today's Resolution Consent Agenda. I will ask the Clerk to read the titles of all the resolutions on the Consent Agenda. After each title is read, any member may object to the inclusion of the resolution on the Resolution Consent Agenda. Upon such objection and without debate, the resolution will immediately be removed from the Resolution Consent Agenda and placed on today's regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, can you please now read the titles of the resolutions on the Consent Agenda.
Resolution No. 190970, entitled a "Resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Mantua Urban Renewal Area, identified by house numbers and street Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 3601 through 3615 Haverford Avenue, 3623 through 3637 Haverford Avenue, 3603 through 3627 Mount Vernon Street, 622 through 624 North Thirty-Sixth Street and 628 through 634 North Thirty-Sixth Street"; and Resolution No. 190972, entitled a "Resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area, identified by house numbers and street addresses as 1532 North Marshall Street and 1543 North Seventh Street"; and Resolution No. 190973, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of certain properties located in the Fifth Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 190974, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2166 Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Street located in the Fifth Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 190981, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1703, 1707, and 1711 North 55th Street located in the Fourth Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 190982, entitled a "Resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Haddington Urban Renewal Area, Unit No. 1, identified by house numbers and street addresses as 5508 Haverford Avenue, 5510 Haverford Avenue, 5512 Haverford Avenue and 5514 Haverford Avenue"; and Resolution No. 190984, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to dispose of certain property located in the Second Councilmanic District, which Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 transferred by the City to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority by conveyance of such property to the Philadelphia Land Bank"; and Resolution No. 190985, entitled a "Resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Point Breeze Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 1324 through 1332 South Capitol Street"; and Resolution No. 190986, entitled a "Resolution appointing Eric Bodzin to the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Land Bank"; and Resolution No. 190987, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of certain properties located in the Seventh Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 190989, entitled a "Resolution calling upon the Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 and Health Administration to recognize Secondary Traumatic Stress as a workplace hazard, recommend steps to address mental health injury as a psychological hazard in the workplace as they do with physical injury, and create a standard for Secondary Traumatic Stress"; and Resolution No. 190994, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1853 East Ontario Street located in the First Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 190996, entitled a "Resolution approving the appointment of Lloyd Remick to the Veterans Advisory Commission"; and Resolution No. 190997, entitled a "Resolution approving the appointment of Charles Forshee to the Veterans Advisory Commission"; and Resolution No. 190998, entitled a "Resolution approving the appointment George Perez to the Veterans Advisory Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Commission"; and Resolution No.
190999, entitled a "Resolution approving the reappointment of Jose Melendez to the Veterans Advisory Commission"; and Resolution No. 191000, entitled a "Resolution approving the reappointment of George Ginder to the Veterans Advisory Commission"; and Resolution No. "
With that, the Chair recognizes Councilman Henon for a motion to adopt each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of each of the resolutions on the Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Agenda. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda be adopted. All in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda have been adopted. We will now consider today's Bill Consent Agenda, and I ask Mr. Decker to please 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 immediately be removed from the Consent Agenda and Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 our regular Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, can you please now read the titles of the bills on the Consent Agenda. And I can understand why you got some water.
Bill No. 190786-AA, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 17-1400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Non-Competitively Bid Contracts; Financial Assistance,' by making revisions to definitions; to contract and reporting requirements; to exceptions; and to enforcement provisions; and making related changes to Section 20-613 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Ethics Related Matters Incorporated as Part of this Chapter'"; and Bill No. 190106-A, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 3 of Subcode PM ('The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code') of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code to add provisions Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 bed bug infestation; adding Chapter 9-4500 of the Code, entitled 'Responsibilities Concerning Bed Bug Infestations,' to establish various requirements for landlords and tenants relating to bed bug infestation and to establish requirements related to bed bugs in connection with certain residential occupancies and the sale of residential property"; and Bill No. 190638-A, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Cedar Avenue, 52nd Street, Locust Street, and 46th Street"; and Bill No. 190784-A, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' to provide for a height allowance for certain solar collectors"; and Bill No. 190811-A, entitled "An Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' to revise certain provisions of subsection 14-507 entitled '/CDO, Central Delaware Riverfront Overlay District,' to revise certain provisions of subsection 14-702, entitled 'Floor Area, Height, and Housing Unit Density Bonuses'"; and Bill No. 190830-A, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code to revise certain provisions of Section 14-500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Overlay Zoning Districts,' by modifying the /CTR, Center City Overlay District, Society Hill Area to create additional standards concerning height, parking, signs, and special reviews"; and Bill No. 190860-A, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 7 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Housing Code,' by adding a new Chapter 7-200, entitled 'Preservation of Affordable Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Housing'"; and Bill No.
190659, entitled "An ordinance establishing a neighborhood improvement district, to be known as the Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District, in an area that generally includes both sides of Frankford Avenue from the west side of Delaware Avenue to the southwest side of Lehigh Avenue, both sides of North Front Street from the north side of Poplar Street to the south side of Montgomery Street, both sides of East Girard Avenue from Frankford Avenue continuing to the west side of East Fletcher Street, the north side of West Girard Avenue from Frankford Avenue to Front Street, and the south side of West Girard Avenue from Frankford Avenue to Howard Street, and certain blocks of streets that intersect portions of these streets; designating the Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District, Incorporated, which has organized itself as a Pennsylvania Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 corporation, as the Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District; approving a plan for and report concerning the District; authorizing the Director of Commerce, on behalf of the City, to execute an agreement with the Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District, Incorporated relating to the District; and authorizing the Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District, Incorporated to assess property owners within the District a special property assessment fee to be used in accordance with the approved plan; all in accordance with the provisions of the Community and Economic Improvement Act"; and Bill No. 190717, entitled "An ordinance continuing the Philadelphia Hospitality Improvement Levy District, a business improvement district encompassing certain existing and future hotel properties within the boundaries of Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 of Philadelphia, and continuing the Philadelphia Hospitality Improvement Levy District Corporation to serve as the neighborhood improvement district management association for the District; approving a new plan for the District, including a list of proposed programs and services related to the development and promotion of the hotel and tourism industry in the City and County of Philadelphia and their estimated cost; providing for special assessment fees to be levied on eligible hotel property owners within the District to fund such programs and services; authorizing the Director of Commerce, on behalf of the City, to execute an agreement with PHiL DC relating to the District; and reauthorizing PHiL DC to assess eligible property owners within the District and collect or cause to be collected special assessment fees to be used in accordance with the approved plan; all in accordance with the provisions of the Community and Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Act"; and Bill No. 190766, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Market Street, 22nd Street, Ludlow Street, 24th Street, Chestnut Street, and the Schuylkill River"; and Bill No. 1 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Homestead Exclusion,' to increase the amount of the homestead exclusion"; and Bill No. 190553, entitled "An ordinance establishing a new Chapter 17-2300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Community Benefits Agreements,' and requiring Community Benefits Agreements for certain High Impact Projects or Development Projects that receive City Support or Financial Assistance"; and Bill No.
190853, entitled "An Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 the eighth amendment of the redevelopment proposal for the Point Breeze Urban Renewal Area, being the area generally bounded by Washington Avenue, South Twenty-Fifth Street, Reed Street, the rear property lines of the 1400 and 1500 blocks of South Taylor Street, Tasker Street, South 25th Street, Moore Street and South Broad Street"; and Bill No. 190859, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code to revise certain provisions of Chapter 14-702, entitled 'Floor Area, Height, and Housing Unit Density Bonuses,' by amending the provisions for Mixed Income Housing"; and Bill No. 190866, entitled "An ordinance amending Subcode A of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'The Philadelphia Administrative Code,' and Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' to revise certain provisions concerning building permits in the /NCO, Neighborhood Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 District"; and Bill No. 190889, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Spring Garden Street, Lancaster Avenue, 38th Street, Hamilton Street, and 31st Street"; and Bill No. 190890, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Chestnut Street, 45th Street, Ludlow Street, and 46th Street"; and Bill No. 190891, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Spruce Street, 34th Street, Civic Center Boulevard, and University Avenue"; and Bill No. 190893, entitled "An Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Ogden Street, 40th Street, Parrish Street, and Preston Street"; and Bill No. 190894, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Locust Street, 49th Street, Baltimore Avenue, and 58th Street"; and Bill No. 190897, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Haverford Avenue, 42nd Street, Powelton Avenue, Market Street, and 46th Street"; and Bill No. 190898, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Cobbs Creek, Baltimore Avenue, 49th Street, Grays Avenue, 58th Street, Springfield Avenue, and Cobbs Creek Parkway"; and Bill No. 190902, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by 22nd Street, Market Street, 21st Street, and Ludlow Street"; and Bill No. 190916, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Walnut Street, Front Street, South Street, and 8th Street"; and Bill No. 190917, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Broad Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Street, Snyder Avenue, 7th Street and Oregon Avenue"; and Bill No.
190850, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Office of the City Treasurer, on behalf of the City, to enter into one or more agreements with FIS AvantGard, for the installation and maintenance of an information management system for use by the Treasurer's Office"; and Bill No. 190911, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 13-100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Water, Sewer and Storm Water Rates,' to provide for enforcement of prevailing wage provisions of the Code that apply in connection with the receipt of charity water rates"; and Bill No. 190935, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the issuance from time to time of one or more series of general obligation bonds to provide funds to refund certain outstanding general obligation bonds of The City of Philadelphia; authorizing the Mayor, City Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 City Solicitor or a majority of them to sell the bonds at public or private negotiated sale; setting forth the purposes for which the proceeds of the bonds will be expended; providing for the maturities and for other terms and conditions and for the form of the bonds; providing that the bonds may be redeemable prior to maturity; providing sinking funds for the bonds and for appropriations to the Sinking Fund Commission for the payment thereof; authorizing agreements to provide credit enhancement or payment or liquidity sources for the bonds and certain other actions"; and Bill No. 190436, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to grant to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, a temporary construction easement on a portion of the parcel or parcels of land in and about the area Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Girard Avenue, North 34th Street and Zoological Drive, commonly known as 3400 West Girard Avenue"; and Bill No. 190892, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to convey to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development all or a portion of certain parcels of land in and about the area bounded by University Avenue, Civic Center Boulevard, Hamilton Street and 34th Street, for further conveyance"; and Bill No. 190896, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to convey to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority all or a portion of a parcel or parcels of land in and about the area bounded by South 50th Street, Pentridge Street, South 51st Street and Willows Avenue, for further conveyance"; and Bill No. 190942, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to enter into an Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 a lease agreement with St. Agnes MOB for use by the City of all or a portion of the premises located at 1930 South Broad Street"; and Bill No. 190555, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 270 by placing on the City Plan Sigma Way from Erdrick Street to Tackawanna Street, northeast of Vankirk Street, and Tackawanna Street from Vankirk Street to Sigma Way, northwest of Erdrick Street"; and Bill No. 190557, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the paving of Sigma Way, from Erdrick Street to Tackawanna Street, and Tackawanna Street, from Vankirk Street to Sigma Way"; and Bill No. 190644, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 12-2700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Permit Parking Districts,' by changing certain boundaries and establishing new permit parking districts"; and Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 190645, entitled "An ordinance authorizing James Herman, doing business as KFN Holdings, to construct, own, and maintain a proposed exterior stairway at 1248 through 50 North Front Street"; and Bill No.
190743, entitled "An ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: South 15th Street from Morris Street to Mifflin Street; South 16th Street and Moore Street; 16th Street and Ritner Street; Bancroft Street and McKean Street; Ellsworth Street and South 23rd Street; Watkins Street and South 18th Street"; and Bill No. 190745, entitled "An ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: South 17th Street and Passyunk Avenue; 17th Street and McKean Street; Carlisle Street and Moore Street; McKean Street and South 15th Street; South 24th Street and Snyder Avenue; Hicks Street from Ritner Street Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Street"; and Bill No. 190851, entitled "An ordinance authorizing Steven Cook to install, own, and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 1301 through 05 North Howard Street"; and Bill No. 190852, entitled "An ordinance establishing a no truck parking regulation on both sides of Sheffield Avenue, from Walker Street to Cottage Street"; and Bill No. 190858, entitled "An ordinance regulating the direction of movement of traffic on certain portions of Ruth Street"; and Bill No. 190867, entitled "An ordinance regulating the direction of movement of traffic on certain portions of Elkhart Street"; and Bill No. 190868, entitled "An ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of Jasper Street and East Clearfield Street"; and Bill No. 190899, entitled "An Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Section 9-212 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Newsstands,' by revising requirements for sales, design, and advertising"; and Bill No. 190900, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Pennsylvania Department of General Services to construct, own, and maintain a proposed set of non-standard bollards at 1503A through 11 Arch Street"; and Bill No. 190901, entitled "An ordinance authorizing MMB Contractors, Incorporated to construct, own and maintain hardscaped patios, an accessible ramp, and planter boxes at 2225 Spring Garden Street"; and Bill No. 190903, entitled "An ordinance authorizing Aspen Operations to install, own, and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 741 North 23rd Street"; and Bill No. 190904, entitled "An ordinance establishing a no truck parking regulation on Brown Street between North Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 22nd Street and Corinthian Streets, both sides"; and Bill No. 190905, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 9-205 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Sidewalk Sales,' by allowing for sidewalk sales near the intersection of Cottman Avenue and Bustleton Avenue"; and Bill No. 190910, entitled "An ordinance amending Bill No. 050670, entitled 'An ordinance granting permission to Center City ERUV Corporation, in order to demarcate the boundaries of a Center City eruv district, to construct and maintain a clear nylon cord and other ancillary facilities including a maximum of ten poles along, over, and in certain public rights-of-way and City streets,' to modify applicable boundaries"; and Bill No. 190915, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 195 by striking from the City Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 vacating a dead-end portion of Cumberland Street extending from Beach Street to a terminus southeastwardly therefrom, reserving and placing on the City Plan a right-of-way for sewer and drainage purposes within a portion of Cumberland Street being stricken, and plotting on the City Plan a right-of-way for sewer and drainage purposes extending from the said terminus of Cumberland Street to the Pierhead Line of the Delaware River and authorizing acceptance of the grant to the City of the said right-of-way being reserved"; and Bill No.
190918, entitled "An ordinance authorizing Coscia Massimo to install and maintain an existing exterior building ramp at 2723 East Cumberland Street"; and Bill No. 190936, entitled "An ordinance authorizing Reka Patel, owner and operator of the newsstand located on the northwest corner of 30th and Market Street, to construct, use and maintain Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 in, under and across the northwest corner of 30th Street and Market Street, for the purpose of supplying electrical service to the newsstand"; and Bill No. 190938, entitled "An ordinance authorizing Neal and Linda Pakvina, owners and operators of the food truck, Linda's Cart, located at the northeast corner of 43rd Street and Woodland Avenue, to construct, use, and maintain conduits in, under, and across the northeast corner of 43rd Street and Woodland Avenue for the purpose of supplying electrical service to said food truck"; and Bill No. 190939, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 9-205 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Sidewalk Sales,' by providing an exception to the vending prohibition encompassing the vicinity of the intersection of Lindbergh Boulevard and 84th Street"; and Bill No. 190941, entitled "An Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 Charles Peruto, doing business as Peruto Development, to construct, own, and maintain a proposed exterior stairway at 1640 through 42 Fitzwater Street"; and Bill No. 190713, entitled "An ordinance amending various provisions of Subcode 'P' of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'The Philadelphia Plumbing Code,' by making additional additions, deletions and amendments to the City's adoption of the 2018 edition of the 'International Plumbing Code,' as published by the International Code Council"; and Bill No. 190824, entitled "An ordinance renaming and designating the property commonly referred to as Mill Creek Park, located at 4615 Fairmount Avenue, as the 'Lucien E. Blackwell Park' in the City of Philadelphia"; and Bill No. 190829, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property and the Parks and Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 to lease from the School District of Philadelphia certain land and improvements known as a portion of South Philadelphia High School, owned by the School District of Philadelphia"; and Bill No. 190864, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 6 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Health Code,' by amending Chapter 6-200, entitled 'Preventive Medicine,' to require the reporting of information related to substance use treatment, drug overdose treatment, and related information, to the Department of Public Health"; and Bill No. 190912, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the City Solicitor to enter into a multi-year contract with a provider of codification, editing, and marketing services to produce printed and electronic versions of The Philadelphia Code and related services and material"; and Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 "
Thank you, Mr. Decker. We will now move on to our vote. These bills having been read on two different days, the question for each bill now is shall the bill pass finally. The Clerk 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. Mr. Decker, call the roll. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019
Aye on all bills, except for Bill No. 190638-A in which I previously recused myself.
Councilwoman Reynolds Brown. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019
Aye on all bills. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative for each of the bills, the bills on the Consent Agenda are passed. We will now -(Applause and booing.)
We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 12/12/19 - STATED - 2ND READING And, Mr. Decker, please read the title of 190610-A.
An ordinance amending Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Regulation of Businesses, Trades and Professions,' by adding a new Chapter 9-4500, entitled 'Prohibition on Use of Certain Bags and Checkout Bag Charge,' to permit the use of only certain bags by retail establishments at the point of sale or for a delivery.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. Before we vote on this legislation, I just wanted to say that this has been a long time coming. The bring-your-own-bag legislation is historic for the City of Philadelphia. It's been a long process, and I'm pleased to do my part to improve the environment for generations of Philadelphians to Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 12/12/19 - STATED - 2ND READING come. We need to stop being a disposable society and work towards and strive towards becoming a more reusable society. I know more work is needed to ensure the retailers, large and small, have low-cost options for their customers to reduce litter and waste in the City of Philadelphia in their neighborhoods. Although fees are not desirable, studies have shown that they reduce single-use bags. In the next session, I will continue to work with all stakeholders and my Council colleagues on a solution that is best for the City's environment, and this will be a legislative priority. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. Mr. Decker, call the roll -hold on one second. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 12/12/19 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Mr. President. Before we call the roll on this bill, I'd like to be recorded as aye on all resolutions and bills on the Consent Agenda.
Thank you. Let the record reflect that. Thank you, Councilman. Mr. Decker, call the roll on 190610-A.
Councilwoman Gym. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 12/12/19 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilman Squilla. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 12/12/19 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 15; the nays are two. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 190944-A.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Real Estate Taxes,' by modifying the duration and/or amount of certain tax abatements, and by providing for periodic evaluation of the abatements authorized by Sections 19-1303(2), 19-1303(3) and 19-1303(4).
This bill has been heard on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 12/12/19 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Bass. Hold on one second. I'm sorry. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gym.
Thank you very much, Council President. I want to thank and acknowledge the folks who spent time coming here today to speak on the importance of change for the ten-year tax abatement. This was a long journey. I want them to know that their voices resonated through the course of a number of years that we've had the discussion about the ten-year tax abatement, going back as many years from when Councilman Goode had introduced a whole series of bills to reform the ten-year tax abatement, and many of us also followed in his footsteps when the new term came through. But today is the first change that we've seen, unique in the history of Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 12/12/19 - STATED - 2ND READING a 20-year program. It's a first step, and people are right to be here to demand more for their schools. It's a complete crisis. It's why we're making this change. And just because we made this change doesn't mean it's over. We need to take a first step and we need to keep fighting. We need to keep fighting and demanding affordable housing, sustainable jobs, good schools, safe and clean school buildings, rent control, a green new deal, all the things that our kids deserve, but this is a first step, and I'll be looking forward to voting for it. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Councilwoman Blackwell. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 12/12/19 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilwoman Parker. Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 12/12/19 - 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, please read the title of 190848.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-3200 of The Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 12/12/19 - STATED - 2ND READING Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Keystone Opportunity Zone, Economic Development District, and Strategic Development Area,' to provide for additional extensions of certain benefits.
This bill has been heard on two separate days. The question is -- I'm sorry. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Council President. I need to be excused for the remainder of the session, so I want to be voted aye on all bills and resolutions. Unfortunately, I won't be here to wrap up the session to acknowledge our four colleagues who will be moving on, but I just want to personally thank them for their contribution to this body as well as to the residents and constituents here in the City of Philadelphia, and I wish them much success in their future endeavors. Thank you very much, Council Stated Meeting December 12, 2019 12/12/19 - STATED - 2ND READING President.
Thank you, Councilman. Leave shall be granted and you shall be reported as voting aye. Mr. Decker, call the roll.