Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Via Microsoft Teams Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, December 10, 2020 10:18 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN DEREK S. GREEN COUNCILWOMAN HELEN GYM COUNCILMAN BOBBY HENON COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN CHERELLE L. PARKER COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting December 10, 2020
Thank you and good morning, everyone. We're going to get started. I understand that the state law currently requires that the following announcement be made at the beginning of every remote Council session: Due to the current public health emergency, City Council is currently meeting remotely. We are using Microsoft Teams to make this remote meeting possible. Instructions for how the public may view the meeting and offer public comment are included in the Stated Meeting notice that was published in the Daily News, Inquirer, Legal Intelligencer prior to the meeting, and can also be found on PHLCouncil.com. I now note that the hour has come. Clerk will please call the roll to take attendance. Members that are in attendance, please indicate that you are present or some other word also to ensure that your image is displayed on the Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 Decker, please call the roll.
Good morning, Council President and colleagues. Looking forward to today's session. Thank you.
Good morning, Council President and colleagues and the listening public.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning to the public. Present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. And good morning, Philadelphia.
Good morning, Council President, and good morning, colleagues. Good morning to the viewing and listening public.
Good morning, Council President, and good morning, colleagues.
Good morning, Council President and good morning, colleagues. Seeking justice for Sadeek Clark-Harrison.
Good morning, Mr. President, colleagues, Philadelphia. Good morning.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues.
Present. Good morning, Mr. President and colleagues.
Good morning, good morning, good morning. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020
Good morning, Council President and colleagues. I'm present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning to the listening public.
And good morning, everyone. I want to thank you. A quorum of the Council is present. We will now come to order. Despite the great need, there Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 no invocation today. We will, however, observe a very brief moment of silent prayer for our city, its leaders, and the citizens during the current public health crisis. Can we now observe a brief moment of silence. (Moment of silence.)
Thank you. Thank you all very much. Our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, December 3rd, 2020, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, December 3rd, 2020 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, December 3rd, 2020 Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and our Journal is approved. The next order of business is requests for leave of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the members of Council, there are no requests for leaves of absence today.
Thank you. The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. And our next order of business is communications, and I'll ask Mr. Decker to please read the messages from the Mayor and any other Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 have in his possession.
From the Mayor to the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, pursuant to Sections 4-604 and 2-307 of the Home Rule Charter, I am today transmitting to the Council the recommendation of the City Planning Commission on the following bills: Bill Nos. 200571, 200575, 200576, 200577, 200578, 200592, 200595, 200596, 200598, 200601, 200602, 200604, 200613, 200622, 200623, 200628, 200576, 200613, 200626, 200656, 200661, and 200677. And I am pleased to advise you that on December 9, 2020, I signed the following bill which was passed by Council at its session on December 3, 2020: Bill No. 200574-A. And I am submitting herewith for the consideration of your honorable body a resolution appointing James Aros, Jr., to the position of Chief Assessment Officer of the Office of Property Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 Assessment; and A resolution confirming the appointment of Diana P. Cortes, Esquire, as the City Solicitor, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. And our next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. By way of a reminder, we are asking that all resolutions, including privileged resolutions, be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for the next session of Council, unless they are being referred to committee. In our current remote environment, this procedure will provide an appropriate opportunity for public comment. So I want to thank you in advance for your cooperation. Mr. Decker, can you please read the titles of the legislation that is being offered today by the members.
Councilwoman Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 Parker offers on behalf of Council President Clarke four resolutions, entitled a "Resolution appointing James Aros, Jr., to the position of Chief Assessment Officer of the Office of Property Assessment."
And a resolution confirming the appointment of Diana P. Cortes, Esquire, as the City Solicitor.
And a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Joey Temple.
I'm supposed to ask for this. Given the timeframe of the Council and us coming back and the unfortunate untimely death of Mr. Temple, can I ask Majority Leader to ask for a suspension of the rules to allow that to be on today's Calendar.
Yes, Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 Mr. President. I ask for a suspension of the rules to allow the resolution honoring the life and legacy of Joey Temple to be placed on today's Calendar. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. That will be on today's Calendar.
And a resolution recognizing, honoring and celebrating the extraordinary career of W. Wilson Goode, Jr., distinguished four-term member of Philadelphia City Council from 2000 to 2016.
And seeing that, I don't know if everybody is familiar that our good friend and Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 colleague will be retiring. Never thought he was old enough to do that. I'm going to ask the Majority Leader if we can ask that that can also be a rules suspension so he can receive his honor while he is still a member of the City Council team.
Thank you, Mr. President. I ask that we suspend the rules for immediate consideration of the resolution honoring the service of former Councilman Wilson Goode, Jr.
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 (No response.)
The ayes have it, and that will be placed on today's Calendar. I anticipate a call from my good friend, because he had no idea we were going to do this today.
Councilman Jones offers four resolutions, entitled a "Resolution congratulating and honoring Joseph A. Lukaitis, Sr. on the occasion of his retirement from the Philadelphia Police Department after 24 years of dedicated service to the residents of Philadelphia."
That will be on next Council session's Calendar.
Thank you. That will be on next's Council session's Calendar.
And a resolution Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 recognizing and honoring Rue Landau for her incredibly impactful work as Executive Director of both the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and Fair Housing Commission, and congratulating her on her new career in academia as the "Beck Professor" at Temple University Beasley School of Law.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for a rules suspension so that this resolution can be considered today. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 ayes have it. That will be on today's Calendar.
And a resolution recognizing and honoring the West Philly Panthers for their success in competing in the 2020 American Youth Football National Championship in Kissimmee, Florida.
That was supposed to be introduced by Member Thomas. He is the youth athletic person in Council now. So I don't know how we do that.
I just want to recognize he is the youth sports person in City Council.
We understand. He is the youth and he is Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 the athlete.
Council President, I have him down as a co-introducer with Councilman Jones.
Let the record reflect that. That will be on the next session of Council's Calendar.
Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez offers four bills and one resolution, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 12-2700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Permit Parking Districts,' by amending the boundaries for certain permit parking districts, and by establishing a new permit parking district"; and An ordinance amending Section 12-2705 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Issuance of Resident Parking Permits," to address the rules regarding Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 issuance of resident permit parking permits; and An ordinance amending Section 12-2705 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Issuance of Resident Parking Permits," to address the cost of resident parking permits for certain low-income individuals; and An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Lehigh Avenue, Frankford Avenue, Master Street and 6th Street.
Those four bills just read by the Chief Clerk will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution calling upon the United States Congress, including members of its Pennsylvania delegation, to support the passage of House Resolution 8113, which recognizes the inherent authority of the people of Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 Puerto Rico to call for a Constitutional Assembly on Status.
And that will be on the next session's Calendar.
Councilwoman Brooks offers one bill, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 9-4100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces,' to revise provisions concerning leave time for public health emergencies, and making technical changes."
Councilman Domb offers one resolution recognizing and honoring Drew Weissman, M.D., Ph.D., and Katalin Kariko, Ph.D., for their visionary discoveries at the University of Pennsylvania leading to development of a messenger ribonucleic acid technology which is the foundation of leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020
Thank you, Council President. I just want to thank everyone for their support of this resolution. I think it's really important that we highlight the work that was done by University of Penn partners. Because of their persistence in research and what they have done, we're months away from a vaccine. It's the work of University of Penn that is allowing all these other pharmaceutical companies to come up with this vaccine. It's pretty amazing that Penn has done this, and we should be really proud of that. So we're part of the whole like getting this vaccine done because of Penn, so I just wanted to recognize them. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. That will be on next session's Calendar. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020
Councilman Thomas offers one resolution honoring and congratulating the Academy at Palumbo Boys Volleyball team, on their successful 2019 season and their overall 15 to 6 record in the Philadelphia Public League.
Councilman Squilla offers two resolutions, entitled a "Resolution honoring the life and legacy of Philadelphia Police Captain Frank Milillo."
And a resolution recognizing Monday, December 14 to Friday, December 18 as PHLConnectED Week.
Yes. Councilman Squilla. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020
Yes. Philadelphia ConnectED, next week is the big week for how we're going through to let people know some of the changes in PHLConnectED, and so is it possible to suspend the rules to have that heard this week?
Yeah. I was kind of delaying. I thought you may want to do that. Yes. Just make a formal request for a suspension of the rules.
Thank you, Mr. President. I make a request to suspend the rules to have this resolution heard at this Council session.
Thank you. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 Those opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it, and that will be on this week's Calendar.
Councilman Oh offers a resolution recognizing and honoring legendary jazz host Bob Perkins for his accomplishments and contributions to radio and print media in Philadelphia.
Thank you. That will be on next session's Calendar.
There are no other bills or resolutions being offered by the members, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. There are actually no reports from committee today, so our next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. There being no bills on the Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion concerning the resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the following resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar. They are Resolutions Nos. 200679, 200680, 200682, 200684, 200685, 200686, 200689, 200691, 200692, 200693, 200694, 200695, 200696, 200697, 200700, 200701, 200702, 200703, 200704, and 200705.
It's been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the resolutions just read by Councilwoman Parker. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, the motion carries, and we will consider the Resolution Consent Agenda shortly. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion concerning the bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the following bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars. They are Nos. 200389, 200516, 200571, 200576, 200577, 200592, 200601, 200602, 200624, 200413, 200541, 200614, 200619, 200085, 200086, 200257, 200542, 200543, 200575, Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 200578, 200595, 200596, 200597, 200598, 200626, 200657, 200659, 200660, 200661, 200663, and 200616. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the bills just read by Councilwoman Parker. All in favor please indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, the motion carries, and we will consider the Consent Agenda shortly. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Parker for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 2ND READING
Thank you, Mr. President. In addition to the resolutions and bills being considered on the Consent Agendas, the following resolutions and bills are being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. They are Nos. 200491-AA, 200683, 200698, 200588-A, 200589-A, 200590-A, 200653, 200556, 200366, 200613, 200654, 200573, 200620, 200621, 200622, 200623, 200557, 200559, 200563, 200479, and 200593. All other bills and resolutions are being held, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Before we proceed with the consideration of the public comment, we'll take a brief moment, recess to give our technology professionals some time to connect the speakers we have for today's meeting. Take a brief break. (Short recess.) Stated Meeting December 10, 2020
Thank you. We're going to get started. Now that everyone is connected to the meeting and before considering resolutions and bills we have before us today, we will consider public comment. It will go as follows: Public comment must concern matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars for possible action at a session of Council. A speaker on any of these matters must sign up in order to testify. You must call 215-686-3406 by 5:00 p.m. the day before the session to sign up for public comment. When you call, we will take your name, phone number, the number of the legislative item you are commenting on, and whether you are in support or against the legislation and add you to the list. We will then telephone each person on the list during the Council session and invite them to our remote meeting. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 Under ideal circumstances, we would have about three minutes to speak, but today we must have a time limit. That is two minutes. We have a significant number of individuals testifying. So in order to ensure that everybody has a chance to testify, we're going to do two minutes. I want to be fair, so I intend to hold faithfully to the established time limit, and once invited to the meeting and asked to begin your testimony, a timer will be started. We will monitor your remaining time throughout your testimony. (Council President's computer froze.)
So I also reserve the right to limit the number of speakers where repetitious comments are being made on the same matter and to limit the scope of the testimony to only certain items on the agenda during this emergency, which could Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 affect callbacks for the public comment at the meeting. So please be aware this is a public meeting and it's being recorded. So because the meeting is public, participants and viewers have no reasonable expectation of privacy. So by continuing to be in the meeting, you are consenting to being recorded. I will now ask the Chief Clerk to please read the name of our first speaker.
Good morning. COUNCIL SUPPORT: Chief Clerk, she's not on the line.
Calvin Williams. COUNCIL SUPPORT: He also did not answer. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020
Good morning. State your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Okay. Yes. My name is Benjamin She. Last name, S-H-E. I'm speaking against Bill 200613 about the Strawberry Mansion Neighborhood Conservation Overlay. A few days ago, there was another Planning Commission meeting giving more details for those NCOs in Strawberry Mansion with some more technical details on the applicability and regulations on development it can entail. I've been watching the process very closely, and while we sympathize with the wish for more community control and as a historically underserved community, we have big reservations on what the precedent that could come out of this overlay means when it's applied to more affluent neighborhoods across the Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 state. Specifically, the criteria for the NCO itself is not sound, in my opinion, because the number of parcels that it applies to goes far, far beyond the stipulated 25-block limit in NCOs, and the criteria for being architecturally consistent across the whole neighborhood does not apply here because of the huge variance in porches. You have several houses with and without porches. In our opinion also, the public outreach process for this NCO was rushed and compressed due to the pandemic. This was an admission from Planning staff itself, and I am told it does feel like a step backwards (inaudible) Philadelphia 2035 planning process started in 2012 to 2018, and this will only entail more (inaudible) per regulation that's (inaudible) goals and could be (inaudible) more conducive to our processes. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 So I urge Council to really reconsider the merits of this bill and to further advise that (inaudible) between Planning and the neighborhood as well. Thank you very much.
Good morning. State your name for the record and proceed with your testimony, please.
Good morning. My name is Diane Davis. I am the President of the Strawberry Mansion NAC Neighborhood Subcommittee and I'm here today asking your support of the Strawberry Mansion NCO Bill 200613. With the outstanding assistance of staff in Councilman Clarke's office and the Planning Commission, our coalition was able to put this overlay together. As I understand it, the overall goals of the conservation Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 district is to make sure that a neighborhood keeps its visual character, and that is what we are trying to accomplish. In just about every neighborhood, people have a sense of civic pride, and all agree that there is something distinctive about where they live, and their community's older buildings and parks help to define the neighborhood. Strawberry Mansion is one of those neighborhoods. Only a few buildings have lost integrity of Strawberry Mansion. Therefore, maintaining sight lines and building heights will help preserve the architectural heritage and continuity in the neighborhood. We want to preserve the overall character when rehabbing old structures and building new ones. Recently we have been inundated with developers coming to the neighborhood, putting up structures because they have the by-right privilege. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 They put up buildings that don't align with the visual character of the neighborhood. They also don't find it necessary to inform the community of their plans. Therefore, members of City Council, there's an urgent need for this overlay. I have lived in Strawberry Mansion for over 65 years, and by-right I should have a say on what happens in my neighborhood and not allow developers to come in and tell us what we need. No one knows the need better than those who live in the neighborhood. I'm not against development, but development seems to be set against me. I'm asking this Council to listen to the testimonies given today in support of this bill. Hear what we have to say. Hear what we are saying to you. Hear what we are attempting to do for our neighborhood. We are Strawberry Mansion strong, and we don't intend to leave. So, again, I ask you to support Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 our efforts by supporting overlay Bill 200613. Thank you again. I'm Diane Davis. Thank you for the comment.
Sherri Brown. COUNCIL SUPPORT: Chief Clerk, Sherri Brown is not on the line. However, Queen Judith Robinson is.
Queen Judith Robinson, you're the next speaker. (No response.)
Good morning. QUEEN ROBINSON: Judith Robinson here -
Good morning. QUEEN ROBINSON: -- testifying on Bill 200613. Do we as the citizens of Strawberry Mansion have a right to request an overlay? Yes, we do. Yes, we Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 do. But with every right comes responsibility. Just to say this: These developers were invited to our community. NTI, the demolition program, brought them into the community via a demolition derby and made Strawberry Mansion a prototype area. In addition, in North Philadelphia, Bill 150409 used PHA to use eminent domain to take black people's property as the property values were increasing -- is increasing. Allowing PHA, that was a big blow to take equity out of the community. Now we're asking for investors to come under an overlay, and that's a good thing, but without any government stopgap measures or any stipulations, investors were invited into the community. So we wonder how we got here. We got here through a governmental process, giving land to developers, inviting them in, letting them know that Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 we're open for business. I look at Fairmount Park now in the reclamation area. Now I understand what that meant in the NTI. So, yes, we deserve to have an overlay. We must have community participation, people in the room that can give this bill some real direction. Thank you so much for the time.
My name is Walter Barrett and I'm calling in from Georgia, where I'm knocking on doors with my fellow union members to make sure we turn the Senate blue, but I'm here today to speak to you about the Black Work Matters Economic Recovery Act. I've spent more than 20 years as a cook in the hospitality industry, Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 and for the last five years, I've been at Sheraton Downtown Philadelphia. I was laid off from my job on March 9th, and ever since then I have been struggling with uncertainty of what comes next. I landed at the Sheraton and I planned on retiring there. I need to hold onto this job for a little while longer so that I can get the full benefits of my pension. I know that the economic impact of the pandemic has been hard on everyone, but for people with so many years in, it has been really brutal. I have seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild. They have always looked to me for direction and guidance. It's been really emotionally challenging to have to depend on them for financial help. I didn't get my first unemployment check until June. It has been really hard. My savings have been depleted, and that's a scary thing. I Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 raised my kids to be independent, and the last thing I want to do is be a burden on them. Knowing that I would have a job when this pandemic ends would be a game-changer for me financially. It would help me save with security and feel like I could retire securely and help my family the way I always have. But it's more than just financial. It's all about the relationship you foster over the decades of working in this industry, the friends you make, the contributions you make to the City. I want to spend my last working days with co-workers who have worked so hard going through so much. I'm really proud to be a part of this fight, because I know it gives my grand-kids hope to see their grandfather working to help make our world better, but it's hard to keep going on in times like this. We need our elected officials like you all to give us the hope. So I Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 urge you to pass the Economic Recovery Act so that me and my co-workers can rest easy knowing that when this is all done, we're going to have a job to go back to. And I just want to say that good things do happen in Philadelphia, but it starts with our leader. Thank you for your time.
Thank you so much for your testimony. Before we go to the next person, the Chair would like to recognize Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I do have to run to a personal matter. I'd like to be recorded aye on all bills and resolutions moving forward. I plan to get back before the end of the session. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. Leave shall be granted. Proceed, Mr. Decker. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020
Good morning. My name is Rosslyn Wuchinich and I'm the President of Unite Here Local 274, Philadelphia's hospitality and food service workers union. I'm thrilled to be here today with many members of our union who are watching online to testify in full support of Bills No. 200557, 200563, and 200559. This legislation, in a sense, is very simple. It's just ensuring that hospitality workers in our city will be able to return to their jobs when those jobs return. But that protection and that promise is historic and it's essential. We are deeply thankful to the sponsors of this legislation, Councilmembers Gym, Johnson, and Thomas. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 Thank you to all the co-sponsors of the legislation, and thank you to all the members of the Law and Government Committee who voted it unanimously out of committee. There are certainly many employers who have and will do the right thing by making sure their employees are offered their jobs back when business resumes. Unfortunately, there are some who will not. This legislation protects our industry's workers from any unscrupulous employers who might dare to use this pandemic to further their financial interest. And it protects against those who would do so at the expense of long-term employees who are overwhelmingly black and overwhelmingly female. We are proud to have been part of City Council's collaborative process with stakeholders to craft legislation that addresses the industry's concerns while protecting workers in Bill No. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 200557. We are also proud to stand with you today to expand existing protections in The Philadelphia Code through Bills No. 200563 and 200559. Your support for these bills today is a victory for worker justice, racial justice, gender justice in Philadelphia. We thank you and urge you to vote in favor of these three bills, the Black Workers Matters Economic Recovery package. Thank you.
Good morning. Just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony, please.
All right. My name is Charles Patton. I am a cook and Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 I worked at the Philadelphia International Airport for seven years. I'm testifying in support of Bills 200577, 200559, and 200563. Together, we call this the Black Workers Matter Economic Recovery package. I organized my union at my job to better my life and better the working conditions of my co-workers. I, like so many others, was laid off last March because of the pandemic. I think that everybody in my position should have the right to return to their job no matter how long it takes, because nobody lost their job because of something they did. At the airport, we worked hard to make these jobs good enough to support our families on, and I want to make sure everybody has a right to go back to those jobs when the economy recovers. I don't know how long that's going to take. When my company first offered a voluntary recall, I was unable to take it because I care for my elderly mother, who Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 suffers from diabetes and diabetic neuropathy, which makes her a fall risk. She also has fibromyalgia, which is aggravated when she falls. It has been harder to line up help from home healthcare providers because of the pandemic, making it even more difficult to figure out everything. At the beginning of the month, I did -- at the beginning of November, I did decide that I was ready to go back to work and was asked to be put back on the schedule. I was planned to return, but my company decided it wasn't profitable enough for me to come back to work yet. And now with indoor dining being in effect again, I don't know when I'll get back to work. I have a union job with recall rights and an employer who is working with us. I can't imagine what workers who don't have some of the basic protections that I have are going through right now. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 So I urge you to pass the Black Work Matters Economic Recovery package. These three bills are critical to ensure the final security -- the financial security of hospitality workers across the City. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. I'd like to recognize Councilman Squilla one more time.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to be recorded as voting aye on all bills and resolutions. Thank you.
Just want to request a leave of absence? You're going to be leaving -
Yes. Request a leave of absence and to be recorded aye on all bills and resolutions.
Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 Thank you. Leave shall be granted. Thank you, Councilman.
The next speaker is Reverend Greg Holston. COUNCIL SUPPORT: Chief Clerk, Reverend Holston is not on the line.
Good morning. Just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony, please.
Thank you. My name is Kaydene Grant. I am a member of the Women's Community Revitalization Project, a concerned citizen, a former Philadelphia School District teacher, and a former teacher with Philadelphia's Opportunity Network. I'm here to speak on the importance of passing the impact tax Bill 200556. As a former teacher within the Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 Opportunity Network, I faced many challenges teaching in an alternative high school. I was tasked with pulling out the potential from students who face many social and economic issues, including students who have been kicked out of multiple schools, students who were in (inaudible), and students that require house visits just to get them to come to school. One particular student shined above the rest. He showed up to school early, just ten minutes after the teachers arrived. He ate the packaged breakfast and lunch with no complaints, unlike his peers. He would stay in the student lounge to complete his assignments until the last school employee left. Even to the average eye, a star student. But every teacher knows our job is to see the child, not just the student, and learn the why behind every behavior, good or bad. I learned this student arrived Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 early every morning because he had to be out of his shelter early. He ate the school breakfast and lunch so he wouldn't have to take food out of the mouth of his siblings. He stayed late so he can finish assignments because he had to go to work every night to help his mom and five other siblings. They were trying to save up money to find a place to stay. You see, after his grandma died, they couldn't afford to keep up repairs and pay the increased taxes on the house, even though the house was paid off. They struggled to find rent that they can afford. He said for now, they were in shelter, but he promised his mom it will only be temporary because he will do whatever it takes to get them into a place of their own. He was supposed to graduate last June, but being in a shelter made it impossible for him to log into virtual school. I checked up on him a few months ago, and he was worried about his Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 siblings not being able to physically attend school. He said virtual learning from home is impossible when you are homeless. This is just one story, but it reflects the reality of hundreds of students across Philadelphia. The many vulnerable Philadelphians need you to pass this bill. This bill will bring affordable housing such as more affordable rental units. And I don't mean affordable according to HUD's small definition. They define affordable as earning more than 48,000 per year for a family of four. Nearly half of Philadelphians earn less than 48,000 a year. I mean affordable so that a mother doesn't have to place her children in a shelter where the younger children don't have a safe place for virtual learning while the older child works and can no longer go to physical school early every day. We want to thank City Council Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 President Darrell Clarke for introducing this legislation, and hope that this body will vote to ensure truly affordable housing for all.
The next speaker is Beth McConnell. MS. McCONNELL: Good morning, Council President.
Good morning. MS. McCONNELL: My name is Beth McConnell. I'm the Policy Director of the Philadelphia Association of CDCs. We urge Council to pass Bills 200556 and 200366 today, the legislative package to invest in affordable homes, community economic development, and job creation. Philadelphia desperately needs action to stimulate economic activity to recover from the devastating impacts of COVID on our local economy. That action also must be equitable and center Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 recovery strategies on attacking the inequality that has led to people of color in Philadelphia being the hardest hit by shutdowns, job losses, and the health crisis of COVID. While some may tell you that the development impact tax will hurt economic activity, you must remember that the activities these funds will support will create economic activities for the people and places that have been hurt the most by COVID and its impacts. The work that CDCs across Philadelphia do on these activities and have done over the last 28 years have led to a $5.4 billion economic impact in Philadelphia, including an added $18 million every single year for our schools. This included building new affordable homes, repairing and preserving existing affordable homes, improving our neighborhood commercial corridors, and supporting small businesses. These investments build wealth and opportunity for neighborhood Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 residents, again particularly people of color that have too long been denied access to these critical opportunities. We continue to call on Council to dedicate at least a quarter of those funds to support our corridors and the other for affordable homes. Create an advisory committee with community representation, and work with the building trades unions to bring down the cost of construction for projects funded with these and other public subsidies. We applaud Council for taking this bold move to support our communities during this unprecedented crisis. Nothing less than bold is necessary to create a more equitable Philadelphia. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Good Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 morning. Just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Yes. I am Dr. Cora M. Turpin. I'm a Northern Liberties resident, and I've been a committee person for many years. I am against your bills that you have, 200556, 200653. My disappointment is that these bills for $400 million have no provisions to protect the elderly, who have stabilized these neighborhoods for decades, people too old for loans but whose homes suffer most from neglect because of their financial inability as a result of inflation, increased medical costs, and the real estate taxes that this city requires. I understand that a tax freeze on the real estate are limited by the state. However, if you are taxing the developers for low taxes, then the same can be done for residents over 65 who have paid escalating taxes for decades. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 I have every confidence that our esteemed Council will find ways to grant subsidies and the like that result in no increase in real estate taxes for people 65 and older regardless of income. I hope there is a common determination to do this, for many of you are also aging and will find that however generous your salaries are, your purchasing ability during retirement will continue to dwindle all the days of your lives. You will not be able to compete with the higher salaries of youthful workers and will be -- you will see the quality of your life eroded. Please do not pass these bills, and generate other bills that ensure homeowners the stability for all ages of residents. Thank you, and I appreciate your attention.
Good morning. COUNCIL SUPPORT: Chief Clerk, he's not on the line.