Thank you, Council President. I'm going to be really brief. I just want to begin saying that I'm thankful for all of our colleagues and the guests. We just came back from the Thanksgiving holiday, and as we return, I remain grateful for the opportunity to serve our neighbors and to continue to lifting up people and programs that strengthen the 9th District. I just want to say earlier this week our office is proud and excited to work with the City's Office of Innovation and Technology through the Power Up Tour. The Power Up Tour is distributing 500 free laptops across all 10 Council districts, and they're looking to increase the laptop amounts throughout the -- this coming year. In our district, we invested in young people and we also gave seniors free laptops. We're trying to close the digital divide, which is really important. So I really want to thank our Mayor, Cherelle Parker for working with our Chief Information, Officer Melissa Scott, who's doing an incredible job in really organizing this Power Up Tour, getting the Office of Innovation and Technology out into the community which is incredible. I also want to thank the United Neighbors of West Oak Lane, Donna Powell and Kenya Drincs, as well as PASSi's Executive Director and CEO, Ken Yang of East Oak Lane for hosting the event. We're grateful for their commitment to our community. And the highlight of the program for me was meeting Mr. Lawrence, also known as Flash, a beloved neighbor from West Oak Lane. He was 102 years old, and he's getting his first laptop. And so we're teaching tons of seniors how to -- or how to utilize a laptop, which is really important. They need to do their medical bills among some other things. And also, I'm just proud to have partner today with Councilman Jones as The Chair of Committee on Children and Youth. One of the things I'll tell you is that we are trying to spotlight every incredible youth organization in the city of Philadelphia. But this one was in particular. It was in the 4th District. But one of the things that was said, and we're hoping happens very soon, which is really different. We're trying to make this organization citywide because of the news that it's gotten it seems like this is an organization that could have such an incredible impact. So it'd be wonderful to see all of council support, Distinguished Young Gentlemen, because it embodies that, you know, the philosophy of helping our young men become community leaders and they're mentoring them on etiquette and how to be responsible men. So their commitment gives me tremendous hope for the future of Philadelphia. And it was proud to work with our Councilman Jones. And also thank you so much to his founder, he's Mr. Frazier. Incredible man. Thank you, Council President.
You are welcome. Chair recognizes Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr.
Thank you. I had no intention. I was going to cut you a break, Mr. President, not give a speech to the majority, but I've been so motivated by the people in this room that I felt compelled to say something briefly. First of all, I want to shout out Jimmy Harrity for making crying in Council cool. Like nobody does it better, brother. And it's okay to be in touch with your feelings. And you have led the way on that. And I thank you for that to be able to share with us on a great many things. And you -- it's on your sleeve and it's okay, and you're making it cool. The second thing is to thank Member Phillips for recognizing the Distinguished Gentlemen. And he's right. If we could put that in a bottle and spread it all over the world, this -- the city would be a better place. Young -- leaders aren't born, they are groomed. Places that they walk into, learning languages, proper rules of etiquette. Those things go a long way. Some -- you can wear what you want, but people judge you on what you wear, and they know if you know where you're at and whether you belong there. So I want to thank you for supporting that in the 9th week. We want to share from the 4th, thank you, Member Phillips. And I want to end up on -oh, thank you, Kathy GilmoreRichardson, Majority Leader, for continuing the fight to look at these nuisance businesses. They changed the quality of life in neighborhoods for the negative. And if we don't hold them accountable -- if we don't hold them accountable, they will do what they want. And I remember you taking me up 54th Street, and I was scared to death because we were going in, we were like Eliot Ness going in these doors and -- but unplugging illegal gambling machines and things like that. And you have been truly consistent. And I thank you for that. I'm going to end up with Member Young. I don't know you said it in a long-winded way, but I heard what you said about libraries. And Barack Obama said, education is the great equalizer. Now, a lot of people were advocating for low-income people or other people were advocating for middle income people, but all of them, every one of those sectors need libraries. And I want to point out something you kind of did President that led the way on something that I'd like Member Young to consider. You have a multipurpose building on Broad Street. It was a -- it was a joint venture with the hospital, rec center, and a library. I think the time has come for us to rethink public spaces. And we -- you know, and I have Carnegie Mellon, I was at the other day up East Falls with a beautiful -- talking about a beautiful Carnegie Library that we couldn't sell anyway. And -- but I have to drop a half -- well, we, you have to drop a half a million in that library just to fix the HVAC to keep it open. And so as we move forward, Mr. President, I'd like to look at that example of public private partnerships for better efficient use of space. So if a library is near a rec center, which is next to a municipal health center, that ain't a bad combination and utilization of public space. And we are looking at relocating because property values in the city, you know, the 22nd Street district used to be a place where, you know, now it's worth a lot of money and people and developers want to buy it. And maybe in exchange we create new models of public spaces that are more efficient, that are more collaborative and more useful, more importantly, to the people. And I really like us to take a look at planning and public property to look at what was done there. I, you know -- you know, we all have a district envy at times when I ride by there, I said, man, I want one of those.
So maybe we all should get one of those and look at how that can be done for a more cost-effective measure. Trying to retrofit some of these buildings, you come out better doing straight brick and mortar new construction. And I think it's a time has come that we start to evaluate that member Young. Thank you.
Thank you, Member Jones. Also just want to lend our support and condolences to Member Jim Harrity as well as Member Young who lost the family member. And as a body of council, we are here for both of you. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cindy Bass for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Council stand adjourn until Thursday, December 11th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. COUNCILMEMBERS: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the council stand adjourns until Thursday, December 11th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. All in favor will signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the motion carries. Thank you all very much. ) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the notes taken by me of the above case, and this copy is a correct transcript of the same. _______________ Samanda J. m. E. A. m. S.