COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC MEETING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURAL AFFAIRS - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, December 3, 1997 11:30 a.m. - - - BILL 970589 - Naming the new library to be built in conjunction with the South Philadelphia Community Center located at 2600 S. Broad Street as the Fumo Family Branch of the Free Library. - - - PRESENT: COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER, Chair COUNCILWOMAN HAPPY FERNANDEZ COUNCILMAN W. THACHER LONGSTRETH COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER - - - VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center Plaza, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 561-2220 I N D E X BILL 970589 Tony Grecco, President, South Philadelphia Community Civic Association---------------- John DiGiorgio, Representative, UNICO National and Philadelphia Association of Retarded Citizens----------------------------------- 10 Robert Blackburn, President, Whitman Council-- 14 John Furey, President, Broad Street West Civic Association-------------------------- 16 Bernard Smith, Executive Director, Queen Village Neighbors' Association------------- 17 Tony Diodati, Director, South Philadelphia Community Center--------------------------- 19 Mary Marasa, President, South Philadelphia Community Center--------------------------- 19 - - - Public Meeting-------------------------------- 23 - - - 3 BILL 970589 CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: Good morning. The Special Committee on Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs is now called to order. I would like to recognize a quorum with the attendance of Councilwoman Fernandez, Councilman Longstreth, Councilman Nutter, and Councilman Frank DiCicco. Would the clerk please read Bill No. 10 970589.
An Ordinance naming the new library to be built in conjunction with the South Philadelphia Community Center, located at 2600 South Broad Street, as the Fumo Family Branch of the Free Library. CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: Is there anyone here to testify on behalf of this bill? And, if so, can you come up one at a time, or two at a time, actually, at that table with the mikes, speak directly into the mike, and state your name or group you represent, or any other identifying information.
Good morning, Madam Chair and honorable committee members. My name is Tony Grecco, President of 4 BILL 970589 the South Philadelphia Community Civic Association. We represent the area from Broad Street to 9th Street, and from Snyder Avenue to Pollock Street. The new proposed Fels Community Center, which will house the new library, would be located at Broad and Porter Streets, which is within the First Councilmanic District and within the service area of our civic association. I would like to begin by saying, let the record show that the South Philadelphia Community Civic Association is the organization that was instrumental in proposing the idea of naming the new library. Our association, through the efforts of Mr. John Palmieri, who is a Board member of ours, and myself have obtained the support of several community organizations in this endeavor of naming the new library. Some of those organizations are here today, and you will hear from then shortly. For the record, I have submitted to you letters of support from the Queen Village Neighbors Association, the Whitman Council, Packer Park Civic Association, Broad Street West Civic 5 BILL 970589 Association, Passyunk Avenue Merchants Association, Phil-Italia National, UNICO Village, Incorporated, Eastwick PAC, and ARC, the Association for Retarded Citizens. We also have the support of Councilman DiCicco, Councilwoman Verna, and Councilman Jim Kenney, all of whom have sponsored the bill before you today. I am happy to say that the Free Library of Philadelphia has not rejected my association's idea to name the new library after a very distinguished and honorable family from the South Philadelphia community. As the Ordinance states, the Fumo family came to South Philadelphia as Italian immigrants, and established a savings and loan which served the needs of the community and gave many immigrants the opportunity to buy homes when other banks were unwilling to take a chance. The Fumos have long been a very generous family, by freely giving of their time and money to those in need and serving on the Boards of such organizations as the Deborah Hospital, Association for Retarded Citizens, the Knights of 6 BILL 970589 Columbus, the Sons of Italy, and the Columbus Civic Association. In addition, the Fumo family have long been dedicated to the betterment of libraries. They have served on the Philadelphia Library Board and have worked tirelessly for the citizens, and especially the children, of our community to ensure the community had access to libraries. I am particularly proud to say that the Fumo family was especially instrumental in keeping the Ritner Children's Branch of the Free Library open when the city was preparing to close it. Instead of a closing, today we are faced with a new library at that location. Finally, more recently the Fumo family was instrumental, along with our wonderful Councilpersons of South Philadelphia, in helping a dream come true, as we in South Philadelphia are about to obtain a new state-of-the-art community center, and with it a new state-of-the-art, full-service library. An $8 million project, $7 million of which is funded through private foundations and fund raising by the Crime Prevention Association and the 7 BILL 970589 citizens of South Philadelphia. This is a project that most likely would not have been able to be built today with just public dollars. Therefore, the South Philadelphia Community Civic Association, all the supporting organizations, and the residents of South Philadelphia respectfully request that the Council of the City of Philadelphia permit us to name our new library as we see fit. We, therefore, support Bill No. 13 970589 and choose to name it the Fumo Family Branch of the Free Library. Thank you for your time. CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: Thank you, Mr. Grecco. Does anyone have any questions? COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr.
Grecco, back in the late '80s, the library was faced with being closed during that winter because the heating system was broken and could not be repaired. Are you familiar with that 8 BILL 970589 situation?
Somewhat, yes, I am. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Just for the record, I was working for the Senator at that time. And we received a call at his office, and we were informed that the library would, in fact, not be open that winter because of the heating situation. And I was sent down there one evening to discuss the dilemma with representatives of the library and the community. And I reported back to the Senator what was going to be happening, meaning that the library would not open that year. There was a source of money that was available in those days, Legislative Initiative Funds, or something more commonly known as WAMS, that our illustrious Governor decided is bad money. But, anyway, we were able to procure $50,000 through Senator Fumo that enabled that library to get a new heating system, and they never lost a day of operation. And that library, could you explain a little bit about that library, what it does. That's 9 BILL 970589 the Children's Library; right?
That's the Children's Branch that's been there for quite a few years. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: And it is rather unique. And it is really a facility that is part of the whole fabric of that community; would that be correct?
That's correct. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: And had we lost that library, I think it would have just been one more blow to South Philadelphia, and the city in general. And it would have given people another reason, maybe, to think twice about whether they still want to live in the city, and things like that. And those are the kinds things I think we need to continue. But I wanted to get it on the record, had it not been for the Senator -- and maybe that's not all the reason why the library should be named in his family's honor -- but I think it is just one of the many hundreds of things he has brought to South Philadelphia and his family has done over the 10 BILL 970589 years. I just wasn't sure if you were the president or involved in the civic group back then.
Yes, I was. And also I would like to mention that his wife Jane was on the Library Board, I believe, at that time, also, and worked very hard to keep it open. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Yes, I think you are correct. Thank you. CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: Thank you, Councilman DiCicco. I have one question. The new library is going to be built at 2600 South Broad?
No; it is the 2400 block, between Porter and Ritner Streets. CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: Okay. That's what I wanted to know. Thank you, Mr. Grecco, for your testimony. And can we now have the next person. MR. JOHN DiGIORGIO: Thank you. Good morning, Madam Chairperson and other committee 11 BILL 970589 members. My name is John DiGiorgio. I am here to testify on behalf of two nonprofit entities, UNICO National and the Philadelphia Association of Retarded Citizens. Both of these entities have been assisted by Senator Fumo in carrying out their charitable functions. Beginning first with the Philadelphia Association of Retarded Citizens, I am the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the association. I have previously forwarded to Ms. Miller a letter co-signed by myself and Dr. Bonnie Zedick, Executive Director of the Association, in support of the resolution before the committee today. In carrying out the functions of the association, which is located in the Chairperson's district, 2350 West Westmoreland Avenue, our General Counsel, Jim Greenlee, often uses his good offices in Harrisburg, in the State Senate, to secure funding for our programs. Council advises that, throughout the years, Senator Fumo's assistance in facilitating 12 BILL 970589 funding for the Association of Retarded Citizens has been crucial and beneficial. In particular, I recall one occasion several years ago when Senator Fumo personally secured a substantial annual subsidy for PARC. For this, the directors and the staff of PARC were extremely grateful. Dr. Zedick and myself have no 10 hesitancy in representing to this committee the great support the Senator has rendered over the years to PARC and its activities in the city on behalf of retarded citizens. Secondly, a word from UNICO National. UNICO National is an Italian-American service and charitable organization devoted to rendering assistance to the needy and in preserving the traditions of Italian-American culture. One of the chief celebrations of our Italian-American culture is the annual Columbus Day Parade in Philadelphia. UNICO has long participated in the committee which plans and carries out this function. 13 BILL 970589 We are, thus, mindful of the tremendous assistance that Senator Fumo has rendered over the years in finding ways to help with the funding of this cultural celebration. On behalf of President John Albonase and the other members of the Philadelphia Chapter of UNICO National, we are proud to point out to the committee the fine work that the Senator has done in supporting this important cultural institution. To sum up, then, both PARC and UNICO are able to represent to Council that Senator Fumo has an outstanding track record of assistance to charitable nonprofit organizations. The Fumo family in general has a long history of assisting the unfortunate and in aiding in public service activities, like libraries. Indeed, Miss Jane Sochetti, as pointed out by Mr. Grecco, was a valued member of the Library Board. Accordingly, we have no hesitancy in recommending that an appropriate recognition of the efforts of this group would be naming the new library after the Fumo family. CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: Okay. Thank you, 14 BILL 970589 Mr. DiGiorgio. Do any members of the committee have any questions? Okay. Thank you. Anyone else here to testify on the bill? Please come forward to the table. Please state your name, who you represent, or any identifying information you would like to present.
Good morning, Chairperson Miller and distinguished committee members. I will be very brief. My name is Robert Blackburn. I am the President of the Whitman Council, a neighborhood advisory committee that receives funding from the Office of Housing and Community Development to provide assistance on housing issues to the residents in the southeast corner of Philadelphia. Like most neighborhood advisory committees, we do much more than that. We organize and conduct neighborhood clean-ups, advocate neighborhood views on zoning issues, marshal resources, and distribute food baskets at Thanksgiving and toys for kids at Christmas to those 15 BILL 970589 in our neighborhood who are having a tough time. Basically we do anything we can, with our limited resources, for our neighborhood. So much of what we have been able to accomplish is a direct result of assistance that we receive from Senator Vincent Fumo. Over the years our neighborhood has often been the beneficiary of legislative grants obtained by the Senator that have enabled us to, among other things, provide home repair money for our residents, smoke detectors, paint, food for our Thanksgiving baskets. Through the Senator's help we have been able to maintain a regular schedule of street and alley cleanings, as well. The Senator and his staff have always treated our requests courteously and professionally, and have never tired of providing superior constituent service to any of the residents that we refer to then. The Senator for years has fought for jobs at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and in the Port of Philadelphia, two of the largest sources of employment for Whitman residents. 16 BILL 970589 The Whitman Council is proud to be associated with Senator Fumo, and we wholeheartedly support the naming of the new library in honor of the Senator and his family. Thank you. CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: Thank you. Are there any questions for Mr. Blackburn from members of the committee? Thank you, Mr. Blackburn.
My name is John Furey, President of the Broad Street West Civic Association. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: That's Furey with a Y; right?
Furey, yes, F-U-R-E-Y. I am one of the "Meddi-Gons" (slang for"Americans"). Married to an Italian girl, though. I would just like to lend our support to this bill, with such a prestigious family as the Fumo family. All of us active in the community come across the Senator in many ways. He is always there for the community. 17 BILL 970589 We use that facility, as well. Our service area is from Broad Street west to 20th Street, and from Snyder Avenue south to Packer Avenue. We are a newly formed civic association, and we are learning fast, developing, and trying to mirror Mr. Grecco and his organization, which is doing a fine job. We hope to be half as successful as they are. And we know, to be successful, we will need the influence of prominent political figures, least of which would be Mr. Fumo. And we support the bill whole heartedly. Thank you. CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Furey. Does any committee member have any questions? Thank you. Anyone else here to testify? Thank you. Good morning.
Good morning. CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: Please state your name. 18 BILL 970589
I am Bernard Smith, Executive Director of Queen Village Neighbors' Association. The Senator has been a friend to Queen Village for an awful long time. He has supported a number of projects in our area, which include the Southwark Housing Development, South Street Bridge, and others. The legislative initiative of grants that have been alluded to before me went a long way in development of pocket parks, summer camps, regular clean-ups, and other quality-of-life projects in our area. The association wholeheartedly supports the ordinance naming the new library to be built in conjunction with the South Philadelphia Community Center, located at 2400 South Broad Street, the Fumo Family Branch of the Free Library. Thank you. CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: Thank you, Mr. Smith. Do any committee members have any questions for Mr. Smith? Okay. Thank you. 19 BILL 970589 Anyone else here to testify on this bill? Please state your name.
I am Tony Diodati, the current Director of the South Philadelphia Community Center, and an employee of Crime Prevention Association, who will be involved with the building of the library and new community center. CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: Can you speak closer. Pull the mike a little closer. Thank you.
Good morning. My name is Mary Marasa, and I am here to support the bill to have the name the Fumo Family Library. We represent a thousand members. Thank you. CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: Thank you. Do any committee members have questions for these two?
Let me just say, we are, Crime Prevention Association, in support of the community groups. And they are in favor of the library being named after the Fumo family. So we support the bill. 20 BILL 970589 CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: Okay. Thank you. Any questions? COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Tony, are you familiar that originally when the suggestion came about to name the library, it was originally suggested that they name it the Vince Fumo Library? Are you familiar with that?
Yes. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: And then that was not acceptable to the Senator. He didn't think he deserved that honor solely?
That is correct. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: And this all came from the community. I guess the bottom line I am trying to get to is, this all began with the community. It was not initiated by the Senator or any of the Fumo-crats.
No. No. 22 Having grown up and lived in South Philadelphia, gone to school there, I think one pleasant development is that we have all these community groups, representing the total community 21 BILL 970589 of South Philadelphia, actually in support of an endeavor, which I think in itself is why Crime Prevention is very delighted to be supportive of this. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: Okay. Any other questions from committee members? We want to thank you for your testimony.
Thank you. CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: Anyone else to testify? I would just like to thank those that came to testify. We appreciate your interest. I really feel that you have a real commitment to the development of your South Philadelphia neighborhood. And I think it is great. I was really impressed with how many groups have come together to agree on this, and particularly when we go to meetings all the time, groups can't agree, and they are fighting back and forth. So this is really great. There being no further questions, nor 22 BILL 970589 anyone else here to testify, this ends the Public Hearing portion of our meeting. (Public Hearing adjourned.) - - - 23 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC MEETING of the COMMITTEE ON PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURAL AFFAIRS - - - Wednesday, December 3 1997 - - - Public Meeting conducted by the Committee on Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs, held in Room 400, City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the above date, to consider action on the following: BILL 970589 - - - PRESENT: COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER, Chair COUNCILWOMAN HAPPY FERNANDEZ COUNCILMAN W. THACHER LONGSTRETH COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER - - - 24 PUBLIC MEETING CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: The Public Hearing is adjourned, and now we open our committee meeting, Public Meeting. The Committee on Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs will now vote on Bill No. 970589, if there are no other questions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I make a motion that Bill No. 970589 be reported out of the committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading at the next regular session of City Council. (Duly seconded.) CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: All in favor. Opposed. Let it be noted that this bill was passed with a unanimous recommendation. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. CHAIRWOMAN MILLER: This ends the Public Meeting portion of this Special Committee on Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs. Thank you. (Public Meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m.) 25 C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Wednesday, December 3, 1997, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: COMMITTEE ON PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURAL AFFAIRS _____________________________________ DEBRA A. WHITEHEAD, RPR