A privileged resolution honoring Pastor Dicie Gilmore for her leadership, compassion and dedicated service to the community, in recognition of April as the National Month of Hope and the power of healing and resilience. Introduced by Councilmember Bass.
Chair recognizes Councilmember Cindy Bass for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of Pastor Dicie Gilmore, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the 4/16/26 - STATED - 2ND READING resolution will be adopted. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Chief Clerk, please read the title of the next resolution.
A privileged resolution honoring Temple University's Jazz Band and Terrell Stafford on winning the 2026 National Collegiate Jazz Championship, and recognizing this accomplishment as a source of pride for the City of Philadelphia. Introduced by Councilmember Ahmad.
Chair recognizes 4/16/26 - STATED - 2ND READING Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution will be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Chief Clerk, please read the title of the next resolution.
Council President, there are no further resolutions in my possession.
Any speeches on behalf of the Minority? The Chair recognizes Councilmember Nicolas O'Rourke.
Thank you, Mr. President. Really briefly, today we all voted on a resolution calling on Congress to pass the Living Wage for Musicians Act, which would essentially raise the payment rates for performing credited artists on stream. And I hope it's obvious that I'm against the way that executives in our system hoard profits, but there's almost no 21 clearer example of the corporate capture of people's collective cultural genius than what we see in music streaming as of today. We all know in the original music city, that is Philadelphia, that musicians deserve a whole lot more. So I appreciate my colleagues for joining me and calling on Congress to pass this important legislation so many of our constituents would benefit. Also, I'm proud of this body for standing up and showing our constituents that we can heed their voice and meet their needs with some quickness, not just hear what they're saying, but saying what they're saying. And I have to shout out my Minority Leader on her and her team for coordinating the Council Offices who've participated in our ICE Out trainings outside of City Hall and for leading so strongly inside this building. What we all did on Monday with passing Member Brooks's and Member Landau's ICE Out legislation I think is historic, and I'm just so proud of all of us for that. Thank you so much, Mr. President.
Thank you. Speeches on behalf of the Majority? Councilmember Curtis Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. As I think about our legislative body, we're one of one. There is no other legislative body that I know of that has presentations, public comment, legislative business all in the same session, and what it requires is patience. We have to be patient to listen to that public comment. You have the patience of the job sometimes having to monitor and make sure that the comments are relevant. But when my colleagues introduce a resolution that honors people that come here, that's worthy of noting too, and it is important when we deal with women against abuse and we recognize their success. When Coach Isaiah Thomas brings in a team that has won a championship, recognizing that all of our children aren't bad, that they do positive things. You take that away from us and all you will hear is problems, because we get a lot of them and we deal with them, but we have to be patient with each other, patient to listen to people who have an opinion, right or wrong it is their opinion, and people who have celebrations throughout this city that are meritorious of being recognized in this chamber and put on the record of this Council forever. And so, if they're patient with us, we'll be patient with them. And I think it's worth being patient with each other. Because at the end of the day, there's no other body like this body that I know of. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Member Jones. And being a former member of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, there's no other body such as this body that's the body for the people, rather you agree or disagree. We allow a variety of different opinions as well as opportunities for individuals to come here to be acknowledged, but that's why local government is on the front line. The buck stops with us to represent the people. Very well said, Member Jones. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad.
Thank you, Council President. And I so thank Councilmember Curtis Jones to say this because we get a lot of criticism about honoring people and acknowledging people --
We only get criticized by the people who want to be acknowledged and never got a citation.
So thank you, Councilmember Jones. I want to also thank all my fellow Councilmembers for your partnership, your wisdom and leadership as we enter Week of 4 budget hearings. They have been long. But if you listen carefully, there's a lot of information that has been asked for, delivered and still on wait to get some more information. And then I'd like to start by joining my colleagues in recognizing April 11th through 17, 2026 as Black Maternal Health Week in the City of Philadelphia. This past weekend I had the pleasure of joining Black Nurses Rock for a community baby shower focused on Black maternal health. Black women experience maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity at higher rates than other racial and ethnic groups. This is unacceptable. I have personal experience of my mother being orphaned and her mother dying due to issues of childbirth. And so, this is a really critical issue and I am very happy to co-sponsor today's resolution with Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson honoring Black Maternal Health Week. And I'm grateful for my fellow Councilmembers' leadership on this. I'm also excited to announce that next week we'll be joined by members of Temple University's Jazz Program in honor of the resolution that was co-introduced by myself and Councilmember Jeffrey Young. Jazz is a distinctively American art form born from the Black experience, representing a key contribution to American culture, often called American classical music. So I am so pleased that we are going to have our students who were recognized today with my resolution, and there will be a three-piece ensemble that will arrive at City Hall before our session next week to serenade us before Caucus and as we enter Council chambers. I hope you will all join me early next Thursday for a morning of music. And lastly, I'd like to invite the public to a joint hearing on online grooming and youth safety next week, April 24th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in City Hall, Room No. 400. I will be joined by fellow Councilmembers, advocates and experts and those impacted to raise awareness about online grooming, review the city's current response and explore policies that better protect youth and families. Thank you to all. I yield back, Council President.
Thank you and good job with the hearing you have coming up. And for all the parents whose children play with Roblox and all the different games where you can talk to other children on the other side of the line, and you really don't know if it's another child on the other side of the line. So thank you for your work in bringing this to awareness because it's something that's very, very serious and important. Councilmember Rue Landau.
Thank you, Council President. Today I introduced a resolution to celebrate April 15th as World Art Day here in the City of Philadelphia, and I want to thank Cesar Viveros for coming today who has overseen the Iglesias Community Garden, along with other wonderful art in Philadelphia for decades. This year's theme, Cultivating Community Through Art, is so impactful, having seen so many diverse communities across the world and right here in Philadelphia rise up and collaborate like never before during the second Trump term. Throughout our ICE Out legislative process, I've been amazed by the community responses as well as by the art created alongside it. I know everyone here has seen some amazing butterfly imagery in the halls these last few weeks. And that's because art is one of the best vehicles to bring communities together and make sense of the world around us. Speaking of ICE Out, I'd also like to thank the Committee of the Whole for meeting this Monday to discuss the ICE Out legislation, which heads to final vote next week. I know I speak for myself and Minority Leader Brooks when we say we are grateful for the opportunity to move this package forward. Thank you so much. (Applause.)
Thank you very much. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilmember Isaiah Thomas for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Council President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Council stand adjourned until Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. Thank you all very much. - - - (Stated Meeting adjourned at 12:25 p.m.) - - C E R T I F I C A T I O N I, hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence noted are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me in the foregoing matter, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. ________________________________ TANEHA CARROLL