According to the10 resolution as it stands, that would be11 correct.12
Well, I just16 would be curious to know what the sponsor17 of the bill thinks about the amendments.18 I'll be guided by his...19
Thank you,20 Councilman. As I said earlier, these21 were the Administration's amendments.22 There was one amendment that we need to23 make, simply taking out the language24 annually two times a year. This is a25 104 2/24/11 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 110050, etc.1 six-month commission. So we need to2 delete that from the bill, because if3 it's a six-month commission, there's no4 need to have a reference to having two5 hearings, two public meetings a year.6 That needs to come out.7 These amendments are amendments8 that I can obviously live without. In9 the spirit of cooperation, if this10 Committee supports those amendments, I'll11 go along with it, but it's not something12 that I asked for. I'm trying to do this13 as diplomatic as possible.14
That was15 a very politically correct answer,16 Councilman.17
I do want22 to concur with Councilman Kenney's23 reference to the testimony and say that24 the intent of this Council was in no way25 105 2/24/11 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 110050, etc.1 attempting to put the Council -- put the2 Administration on the defensive and3 suggesting that you're not doing a good4 job or as an aggressive job as you can.5 It was simply that we are allegedly a6 partnership, and Council has the right7 and responsibility to be proactive in its8 attempt to deal with all citizens of the9 City of Philadelphia as it relates to10 coming up with creative ideas. I mean,11 we understand that the Administration in12 terms of staffing has all of the various13 departments as it relates to job14 creation. Unfortunately, we don't have a15 Commerce Department within Council, which16 I wish we did, but we do have significant17 talent not only in terms of18 Councilmembers but on staff. So it's our19 way of showing that we are engaged in the20 issue, which I believe personally is the21 most important issue that we should be22 focused on.23 So it was not the intent to put24 you guys on the defensive where you felt25 106 2/24/11 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 110050, etc.1 the need to come in and testify about all2 the wonderful things you've done.3
I understand that,9 and it was a way in which to put on the10 record the efforts that we have to create11 jobs and create an environment for12 Philadelphians for jobs. It was not in13 any way as a disrespect or disregard to14 you or the Council as a whole or the15 Chair. And we too look at this as a16 partnership. We too would say that more17 individuals -- the more we could do with18 creating the environment for Philadelphia19 to get jobs is what we're all about, and20 if this Commission can help us with that,21 augment our efforts, we're looking22 forward to working with them as well.23
I guess I24 didn't answer the question.25 107 2/24/11 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 110050, etc.1 COUNCILMAN GREENLEE:2 Councilman Goode.3
I do try my4 best to function as your Commerce5 Department within Council.6
Mr. Dow,7 I can't resist this, even though it8 doesn't exactly deal with this bill. In9 that spirit of cooperation, do you think10 it's probably a good idea when there's11 communication made by the Administration12 on a bill, that there should be13 communication with Council and sponsors14 of that bill?15
I appreciate your21 understanding in that regard, and I22 appreciate your professionalism and the23 leadership.24
I25 108 2/24/11 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 110050, etc.1 couldn't leave that one go, sir. Thank2 you.3 Councilman Clarke.4
So I'm5 comfortable with the Committee if they6 are not supportive of the amendments and7 I'm comfortable if they are.8
I10 understand your concern, believe me, but11 there was some -- and this is a public12 hearing, but there were some13 conversations behind the scene. I think14 that the testimony as originally written15 would have been a little less palatable16 to Councilmembers.17
Okay.21 All right. Duly noted. Thank you.22 Any other questions or comments23 for Mr. Dow?24 (No response.)25 109 2/24/11 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 110050, etc.1
Seeing2 none, Mr. Edwards and Mr. Nelson, why3 don't you come up together.4 Is there anyone else here -- I5 asked this before. Is there anyone else6 here to testify other than these two7 gentlemen?8 (No response.)9
Again,10 I'll try this one more time. If you have11 written testimony and you would just like12 to submit it and paraphrase your13 statements, that would be fine. Thank14 you.15 (Witnesses approached witness16 table.)17
Mr.18 Edwards, you're on the list first, so I19 guess you can go. Just identify yourself20 for the record first and proceed. Do you21 have copies?22
We'll24 distribute them. Thank you.25 110 2/24/11 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 110050, etc.1
Good morning,2 Chairman Greenlee and members of the3 Committee on Law and Government. My name4 is Mark Edwards. continue to mount. percent in3 Philadelphia and is even higher in many4 of our neighborhoods. The loss of a job5 or the inability to find one in the first6 place leaves a trail of personal7 destruction in the wake of each person8 that is affected. S. families spent at11 least one night in a homeless shelter in12 2009 than in each of the previous two13 years. 18 The creation of a Jobs19 Commission will support other important20 efforts now being undertaken in the City21 to promote job growth and reduce and22 prevent the kinds of devastating23 consequences just cited. 1 streamlined agency that unites the2 Philadelphia Workforce Development3 Corporation and the Philadelphia4 Workforce Investment Board. This merger,5 which is targeted to occur before the end6 of the current fiscal year in June, is7 part of a broader plan to improve8 coordination and enhance the local9 workforce system. It reflects the Nutter10 Administration's position that the people11 of Philadelphia would be best served by a12 single workforce system that includes the13 broad scope of adult and youth employment14 and training services. 19 For example, the Deputy Mayor20 of Economic Development has been21 appointed to both the Philadelphia22 Workforce Investment Board and the23 Philadelphia Workforce Development24 Corporation Board. 11 From my perspective, and based12 on numerous conversations that I have had13 with businessowners since January of last14 year, one of the areas we might consider15 in this new approach is to help identify16 current legislative and fiscal policies,17 laws and regulations that discourage or18 even thwart job creation and the19 recruitment of new employers to20 Philadelphia. 10
Thank11 you, Mr. Edwards. Why don't we hear from12 Mr. Nelson and then if there's any13 questions.14 Mr. Nelson, please identify15 yourself.16
Yes, sir. Thank17 you. My name is Bob Nelson. I'm18 President of the Philadelphia OIC. Good19 morning, Mr. 21 OIC, if you don't know, was22 founded in 1964 by the late Reverend Leon23 H. 2 percent. 15 Let me add another number to16 that. I attended a workshop of United17 Way a couple of months ago and prior to18 the start we were given a multiple-choice19 quiz. Two of the questions and answers20 were as follows: How many adults in21 Philadelphia have not completed a high22 school diploma? 7 And the implications of that8 are staggering, as there were 200,0009 adults who do not have what used to be10 the basic credential. In the 21st11 century, the basic credential, at a12 minimum, is an Associate degree but more13 so a Bachelor's degree. 19 There is another phenomenon now20 being played out. Historically OIC has21 served the most disadvantaged among us,22 those among the 200,000 I articulated23 earlier. 1 example, when they go to get a job, they2 are now standing in line with people who3 have a college degree. 9 This economic crisis has forced10 people to take whatever job they can get,11 even if that means making a significant12 career change. 16 Let me share an example. We17 recently graduated a student from our18 housekeeping course who has a Bachelor's19 degree in biotechnology and a Master's20 degree in chemistry. 9 The Jobs Commission may be a10 great idea, but only if the work focuses11 on the following questions: Where are12 the jobs and what are the educational,13 experiential and skill sets requirements14 for the job? 20 Moreover, there must be surveys of the21 small business community, community-based22 organizations, churches and certainly23 through PWDC to create a database of24 prospective employers. 19 Also creating this Jobs20 Commission may be a good idea but only if21 it galvanizes the broad range of22 community employers to offer those23 opportunities. 1 for us. 7
Thank8 you, sir.9 Are there any questions or10 comments for either Mr. Edwards or11 Mr. Nelson?12 (No response.)13
Seeing14 none, thank you both very much. Thank15 you for all you do. Thank you for your16 patience and hanging in there to testify.17 Is there anyone else here to18 testify on this bill or resolution?19 (No response.)20
Seeing21 none, that ends the hearing of the22 Committee on Law and Government. We will23 now go into the public meeting.24 The Chair recognizes Councilman25 122 2/24/11 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 110050, etc.1 Kenney for amendment to Bill 110050.2
Thank you,3 Mr. Chairman. Again, congratulations on4 all your hard work on this bill.5 I move that Bill No. 110050 be6 amended as was discussed in testimony7 today.8 (Duly seconded.)9
It's been10 moved and seconded.11 All in favor please say aye.12 (Aye.)13
Hearing16 none, the amendments are approved.17 Once again, Councilman Kenney.18
Thank you,19 Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No.20 110050, as amended, be reported out of21 this Committee with a favorable22 recommendation and a request made for a23 rules suspension to allow first reading24 at our next Council session.25 123 2/24/11 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 110050, etc.1 (Duly seconded.)2
It's been3 moved and seconded.4 All in favor please say aye.5 (Aye.)6
Hearing9 none, Bill No. 110050, as amended, is10 reported out of Committee with a11 favorable recommendation, rules of12 Council suspended to allow for first13 reading at our next session of Council.14 Once again, Councilman Kenney15 on Bill No. 110060.16
I will17 respectfully defer to the Commerce18 Director of City Council for that motion.19
Otherwise25 124 2/24/11 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 110050, etc.1 known as Councilman Goode.2
Thank you,3 Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill 110060 be4 reported out of Committee with a5 favorable recommendation, the rules of6 Council be suspended so as to permit7 first reading at our next Council8 session.9 (Duly seconded.)10
It's been11 moved and seconded.12 All in favor please say aye.13 (Aye.)14
Hearing17 none, Bill No. 110060 has been reported18 out of the Committee with a favorable19 recommendation and a suspension of the20 rules to allow for first reading at our21 next session of Council.22 Once again, Councilman Goode on23 Resolution 110063.24
Thank you,25 125 2/24/11 - LAW & GOV'T - BILL 110050, etc.1 Mr. Chairman. I move that Resolution No.2 110063 be reported out of Committee with3 a favorable recommendation.4 (Duly seconded.)5
It's been6 moved and seconded.7 All in favor please say aye.8 (Aye.)9
Hearing12 none, Resolution 110063 is reported out13 of this Committee with a favorable14 recommendation.15 There being no further business16 before the Committee on Law and17 Government, thank the members and18 everyone here. The Committee stands in19 recess.20 (Committee on Law and21 Government concluded at 12:10 p.m.)22 - - -23 24 25 126 CERTIFICATE2 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the3 proceedings, evidence and objections are4 contained fully and accurately in the5 stenographic notes taken by me upon the6 foregoing matter on February 24, 2011, and7 that this is a true and correct transcript of8 same.9 10 11 12 13 --------------------14 MICHELE L. MURPHY15 RPR-Notary Public16 17 18 19 (The foregoing certification of this20 transcript does not apply to any reproduction21 of the same by any means, unless under the22 direct control and/or supervision of the23 certifying reporter.)24 25