Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania March 1, 2018 10:50 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB COUNCILMAN DEREK S. GREEN COUNCILMAN WILLIAM K. GREENLEE 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 COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN AL TAUBENBERGER MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting March 1, 2018
Good morning. We're going to get started, if the members have taken their seat. If any guests and visitors please retire behind the rail, we will have our invocation. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes Brother Ernest Miller, Vice President for Mission - La Salle University. He is here today as the guest of Councilman Greenlee. I would ask all guests, visitors, and members to please rise. (Councilmembers, guests, and visitors rise.) BROTHER MILLER: Let us remember that we gather here in God's holy presence. To the most high God, we come today with praise and thanksgiving for the blessings that overflow. Thank you, God, for the life you give, for the community in which we live, for daily Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 bread, and for feasts of joy. Thank you for our public servants, Mayor and Councilpersons, and all those who share responsibility as custodians of the common good. Let our prayer be that the daughters and sons of God in our time imagine and enact new possibilities of working together towards achieving the modest goal of an imperfect, fragile, but attainable and sustainable justice; for eyes of wisdom to discern the work of the spirit; for eyes of strength to recognize a new reality; for eyes of patience to ask difficult questions; for eyes of faith to recognize God's face and the human faces of others; for eyes of knowledge to move beyond our own world; for eyes of understanding to listen with loving hearts; for eyes of justice to resist and repair, to disrupt and to wake up; for eyes of love to see the beloved community. And so we ask, oh God, open our Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 move us forward. And so may the road rise to meet us. May the wind be at our back. May the sunlight of God grace our cheek. And may rain gently fall upon our field. And may God keep us in the hollow of God's hand. And let us all say, amen. (Amen.)
Thank you so much for those inspiring words. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
Thank you very much. The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, February 22nd, 2018, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 22nd, 2018 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, February 22nd, 2018 stand approved. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the Journal is approved. The next order of business is requests for leaves of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the majority, there are no requests of leave of absence today.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the republicans, there are no requests for leave of absence.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. At this time, I would like to dispense with the regular order of business and I would like to welcome and thank everyone who has taken time out of their busy day to come down to witness their government in action. It will be a little something different today, as you all know. So I want to say I appreciate you coming down. We hope your stay here is a knowledgeable one but, more importantly, a pleasurable one, so much so that you come back again. So, again, thank you. The next order of business is communications, and the Chair requests that the Sergeant-of-Arms delivers the Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 to the Chief Clerk. Thank you. Mr. Decker, would you please read those messages.
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. 180003, 180004, 180005, 180008, 180009, 180014, 180075, and 180080. And I am pleased to advise you that on February 28, 2018, I signed the following bill which was passed by Council at its session on February 15, 2018: Bill No. 170793. And I am transmitting for the consideration of your honorable body a resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 Ferry Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 2600 through 2602 Wharton Street; and A resolution reappointing Michael Piper to the position of Chief Assessment Officer of the Office of Property Assessment; and A resolution providing for the approval by the Council of the City of Philadelphia of a Revised Five Year Financial Plan for the City of Philadelphia covering Fiscal Years 2019 through 2023, and incorporating proposed changes with respect to Fiscal Year 2018, which is to be submitted by the Mayor to the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority; and An ordinance amending Subcode "A" (The Philadelphia Administrative Code) of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code (The Building Construction and Occupancy Code), by revising and clarifying certain provisions; and Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code," by adopting the 2015 edition of the "International Residential Code" as published by the International Code Council, with previously adopted amendments thereto as adopted through the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code Act; and An ordinance amending Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code," by adopting the 2018 edition of the "International Codes" as published by the International Code Council, with previously adopted amendments thereto as authorized by the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code Act; and An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to enter into a lease agreement with Roxborough Development Corporation, for use by the Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 a portion of the premises located at 463 through 65 Leverington Avenue; and An ordinance adopting the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2019; and An ordinance to adopt the Fiscal 2019 Capital Budget; and An ordinance to adopt a Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years 2019 through 2024 inclusive; and An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Wage and Net Profits Tax," by revising certain tax rates; and An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Realty Transfer Tax," to increase the rate of realty transfer tax; and An ordinance amending Section 19-1301.1 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Homestead Exclusion," to increase the amount of the homestead Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 exclusion; and An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "School Tax Authorization," to authorize the Board of Education to impose a real estate tax for the School District of Philadelphia, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. Do you have any additional messages?
Thank you very much. The next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
A privileged resolution Recognizing and Celebrating the 2018 Small Business Week Celebration in the City of Philadelphia.
And that will be today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I introduce one non-privileged resolution signed by everyone.
A privileged resolution Recognizing and Honoring Cheyney University on the 40th anniversary of its 1978 NCAA Division II Basketball Championship. Stated Meeting March 1, 2018
And that will be on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, I offer one resolution.
A non-privileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Fifteenth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
And that will be on next week's Final Passage Calendar. Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I offer 15 bills, two resolutions, three bills co-introduced by Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, seven bills on your behalf, and one resolution on your behalf.
An ordinance to adopt a Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years 2019 through 2024 inclusive; and An ordinance to adopt a Fiscal 2019 Capital Budget; and An ordinance adopting the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2019; and An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "School Tax Authorization," to authorize the Board of Education to Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 impose a real estate tax for the School District of Philadelphia; and An ordinance amending Section 19-1301.1 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Homestead Exclusion," to increase the amount of homestead exclusion; and An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Realty Transfer Tax," to increase the rate of realty transfer tax; and An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Wage and Net Profits Tax," by revising certain tax rates; and An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by revising Chapter 14-700, entitled "Development Standards," by creating regulations for Semi-Detached Structures and making related changes; and An ordinance authorizing the Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 322 by striking from the City Plan and vacating Glenloch Place from Megargee Street to its terminus northeastwardly therefrom, striking from the City Plan and vacating Ditman Street from a point southwest of Tolbut Street to its terminus further southwesterly therefrom; and An ordinance amending Section 9-208 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Sidewalk Cafes," by permitting sidewalk cafes to be maintained on Frankford Avenue, both sides, from Bleigh Avenue to Wellington Street; and Cottman Avenue, both sides, from Frankford Avenue to Leon Street; 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 Oakmont Street, Torresdale Avenue, Pennypack Creek, Rhawn Street, and Rowland Avenue; and Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Sheffield Avenue, Leon Street, Solly Avenue, Frankford Avenue, Stanwood Street, and Erdrick Street; and An ordinance amending Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code," by adopting the 2015 edition of the "International Residential Code" as published by the International Code Council, with previously adopted amendments thereto; and An ordinance amending Subcode "A" (The Philadelphia Administrative Code) of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code (The Building Construction and Occupancy Code), by revising and clarifying certain provisions; making corrections for compliance with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code Act; and An ordinance amending Title 4 Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code," by adopting the 2018 edition of the "International Codes" as published by the International Code Council, with previously adopted amendments thereto, as authorized by the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code Act.
Those 15 bills just read by the Chief Clerk will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a privileged resolution honoring the Saint Hubert High School Cheerleading Teams on a Season of Success Culminating in Junior Varsity Winning the National Championship and Varsity Winning the PIAA State Championship.
That will be on today's Final Passage Calendar. (Applause.) Stated Meeting March 1, 2018
And a non-privileged resolution providing for the approval by the Council of the City of Philadelphia of a Revised Five Year Financial Plan for the City of Philadelphia covering Fiscal Years 2019 through 2023, and incorporating proposed changes with respect to Fiscal Year 2018, which is to be submitted by the Mayor to the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority.
And that will be referred to committee. Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have one bill, one privileged, and two non-privileged resolutions.
With your permission, I'd like to speak on one Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 briefly. We have an agenda.
An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City, to enter into a lease agreement with Roxborough Development Corporation, for use by the Corporation of all or a portion of the premises located at 463 through 65 Leverington Avenue.
That will be on next week's Final Passage Calendar -- sorry, Mr. Decker. That will be referred to committee.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on Finance to hold public hearings concerning an update from the Philadelphia Board of Pensions and Retirement about the City's divestment of holdings in gun and ammunition manufacturers, distributors and retailers Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 since the adoption of the "Sandy Hook Principles."
In the last Administration, Mr. President, we raised the question of what we could do about gun violence. In the last Administration, Mr. President, you boldly with other Councilmembers tried to stop certain types of firearms in the City of Philadelphia, for which you were sued, not just professionally but personally. In this Administration, Mr. President, you, I, and my colleague Councilman Johnson struck upon a sojourn to try to stem the tide of firearms in the City of Philadelphia, going on a holiday to a gun show where we saw we needed a bigger boom, that the flow of guns coming into Philadelphia was Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 immense. So there are two things today that I am proposing. One is for us to look at those principles that we adopted last year to disinvest in companies that do business with firearm manufacturers, because the only way to approach this is through their pocketbooks, one. And then number two is to look at what happened in Florida and make it a cautionary tale, that we should look at temporary restraining orders. I'll put it to you this way: If on Monday we have a conflict in City Hall and on Tuesday the person says I'm going to come back and do something really, really tragic to the people and citizens in City Hall, by Wednesday we should believe them and we should go to their homes and temporarily get those firearms, Mr. Sheriff, get them under control until there is a due process, Mr. District Attorney, to determine whether or not they are competent enough to hold those firearms. Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 It is better to be safe than sorry, and we hope that common sense rules and regulations, common sense regulations both at the City and the State, can protect us from ourselves, protect us sometimes from elements that need help. And if we can do that, then we can take control of a little bit of our own safety. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. I look forward to the debate. That will be on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings examining the development of an extreme risk protection order program within the City of Philadelphia, to allow for the temporary removal of firearms from individuals that pose a high risk of harm to themselves and others. Stated Meeting March 1, 2018
And that will be on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution recognizing and honoring Drexel University senior and Overbrook resident Aimee Turner for being crowned Miss Philadelphia 2018.
And a non-privileged resolution calling on the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to revise their rules on religious head coverings for student athletes.
And that will be on next week's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Council President. I have one privileged resolution and two non-privileged resolutions. Stated Meeting March 1, 2018
A privileged resolution honoring the legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on the 50th anniversary of his death.
And a non-privileged resolution urging the Senate to reject S. 446, entitled "Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017", which requires states to recognize licenses or permits from other states, no matter how permissive their licensing standards.
And a non-privileged resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Grays Ferry Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 2600 through 2602 Wharton Street.
Next week's Calendar. And the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. No bills or resolutions today.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Council President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 you, Mr. President. I offer one privileged resolution.
A privileged resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the release of the Kerner Commission's final report, entitled the Report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders.
And that will be on this week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Domb.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 Councilwoman Gym.
Good morning, Council President. I have one non-privileged resolution today.
A non-privileged resolution affirming the strong support of the City of Philadelphia for public sector workers whose rights and freedoms are threatened as the Supreme Court considers Janus versus AFSCME, and recognizing the important role unions play in raising standards for all workers.
And that will be on next week's Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Taubenberger.
Good morning, Council President. I have one bill on your behalf, which is being co-sponsored by myself and Councilman Brian O'Neill, and I also have one Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 privileged resolution.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Wage and Net Profits Tax," by revising certain tax rates, under certain terms and conditions.
And a privileged resolution declaring March 1st, 2018 as Disability Day of Mourning in the City of Philadelphia, to raise awareness of filicide of disabled children and adults.
And that will be on this week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have no bills or resolutions. Stated Meeting March 1, 2018
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
An ordinance amending Section 9-205 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Sidewalk Sales," by exempting sidewalk sales by owners and tenants of properties on both sides of Twenty-Second Street, between Lehigh Avenue and Allegheny Avenue.
That will be referred to the appropriate committee. Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Council President. I have one bill, two non-privileged resolutions.
An ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in the Resolution approved by City Council proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to the operating budget and providing for a mandatory fifty million dollar minimum annual appropriation to the Housing Trust Fund or any successor financial facility or such successor financial facilities.
And a non-privileged resolution apologizing to Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 China for the damage caused by a visitor to Philadelphia to a World Heritage Artifact loaned by The Shaanxi Heritage Promotion Center to the Franklin Institute.
And a non-privileged resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to the operating budget and providing for a mandatory fifty million dollar minimum annual appropriation to the Housing Trust Fund or any successor financial facility or such successor financial facilities.
And that will be referred to committee. That concludes the introduction of bills and resolutions, and the next order of business is reports from committee. And the Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee for a report from the Stated Meeting March 1, 2018
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Rules reports nine bills with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read that report.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Rules, to which was referred Bill No. 170995, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Ridge Avenue, Paoli Avenue, Umbria Street, Fountain Street, Manayunk Avenue, Gates Street, Pechin Street, and Fountain Street"; and Bill No. 170996, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 of land located within an area bounded by Henry Avenue, Valley Avenue, Domino Lane, Domino Lane North, Ridge Avenue, Harmon Road, Fowler Street, Domino Lane, Silverwood Street (Extended), Parker Avenue, Pechin Street (Extended), Fountain Street, Pechin Street, and Hermitage Street"; and Bill No. 171002, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Kensington Avenue, Adams Avenue, Leiper Street (extended), Frankford Creek, Castor Avenue, Wyoming Avenue, G Street, and Erie Avenue"; and Bill No. 171003, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Allegheny Avenue, 2nd Street, Lehigh Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 Avenue, and 6th Street"; and Bill No. 171128, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Moore Street, Sixth Street, McClellan Street, and Seventh Street"; and Bill No. 171129, entitled "An ordinance adopting an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the South Street Headhouse District of Philadelphia to extend the term of that Authority"; and Bill No. 171130, entitled "An ordinance approving the plan, estimated costs and proposed method of assessment and charges of the South Street Headhouse District of Philadelphia for and concerning business improvements and administrative services to the eastern South Street and Headhouse areas of the City of Philadelphia"; and Bill No. 180005, entitled "An Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Euclid Street, 53rd Street, Morse Street, and Georges Lane"; and Bill No. 180075, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Ashton Road, Old Ashton Road, Welsh Road, Axe Factory Road, Winchester Avenue, Holme Avenue, and Holme Circle," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 day of the nine bills that were just read into the record. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. 170995, 170996, 171002, 171003, 171128, 171129, 171130, 180005, and 180075. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. These bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez for a report from the Committee of Appropriations.
Thank Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 you, Mr. President. The Committee on Appropriations reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.
The Committee on Appropriations, to which was referred Bill No. 180006, entitled "An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018 from the Grants Revenue Fund, the Director of Finance Provision for Other Grants to the General Fund, the Managing Director," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 suspended as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 180006. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 180006. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Greenlee for a report from the Committee of Law and Government.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Law Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 bill and one resolution with a favorable recommendation.
The Committee on Law and Government, to which was referred Bill No. 180098, entitled "An ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to the Educational Supplement to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, relating to the eligibility, selection and removal of the Members of the Board of Education, relating to the Board of Education's responsibility for the administration of the School District, creating a Parent and Community Advisory Council, as approved by Resolution of the City Council"; and Resolution No. 180112, entitled a "Resolution proposing an amendment to Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to the eligibility, selection and removal of the Members of the Board of Education, relating to the Board of Education's responsibility for the administration of the School District, creating a Parent and Community Advisory Council, and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bill and resolution to Council with a favorable recommendation.
The Chair again recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 180098. (Duly seconded.)
Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 180098. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and this bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. Resolution No. 180112 will be placed on our Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. That concludes our committee reports, and the next order of business is consideration of the Calendar. I note that bills just reported from committee with suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. These bills will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 2ND READING Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. There are no additional bills today on the First Reading Calendar, so the Chair recognizes Councilman Henon for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on our Final Passage Calendar today.
Thank you, Mr. President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up for Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today: Bill Nos. 171145, 180143, 180144, 180145, 180149, 180151, 180153, 180154, 180155, 171109, 170962, 171118, 171119, 171220, 171121, 171122, 171123, 171124. All other resolutions and bills are being held.
Thank you. We will now move to our public comment session. Our public comment session will go as follows: If you are interested in Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 testifying on a bill or resolution on the Final Passage Calendar today, if you have not already done so, I would ask that you sign up at the table to my left. When your name is called, you will go to the middle of the Council Chamber where there's a podium. On that podium there's a device. When the light turns green on that device, it will be your time to speak. When the light turns yellow, you will have 30 seconds to conclude your remarks. When the light turns red, we'd ask that you please adhere to our guidelines and conclude your remarks. We thank you for your anticipated cooperation. You will have three minutes to speak. Mr. Decker, please call the first name on the list.
Joe Danihel, commenting on 180154, 180153, 180145, 180149, 180155, and 171145. (Witness approached podium.)
This is an Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 official decree of the people in writ of mandamus quo warranto and, as such, requires immediate action and remedy. The recent shootings and my stolen home are the result of oath-violating officials allowing and enabling law violators to go unprosecuted. You were hired to maintain the rule of law, investigate law violations, and demand Attorney General investigate and prosecute missing and misused hundreds of millions of mostly federal taxpayer Housing and Urban Development money given to resolve Logan as indicated by the Obama Administration. I again quote Dr. King: "He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who perpetrates it." Unenforced laws are causing chaos. Laws are like Bibles. Unless they are followed, nothing changes. As public servants, you cannot violate oath, Constitution, and laws without penalty. How can officials deny Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 and defy inalienable, inviolable God-given rights? How can agents and agencies steal my home without compensation, due process, Seventh Amendment trial by jury? How can government pay a contractor upwards of 100 million, mostly federal taxpayer money, to build a mall on my stolen home? Ben Franklin was quoted, "You have a republic if you can keep it." Clearly prosecution is required immediately of all involved to preserve the rule of law. The constitutions require immediate remedy of this breach of law, breach of close, breach of fiduciary duty. Your oath of office requires you to act or face prison. 42 USC 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 18 USC 241, 242, 2381, 2384, PA Constitution, Article I, Sections 1 through 11, 26 PA CSA 703, 705, 706, 709, 712, 713, 716, and other laws listed in SCOTUS 15-8965, 14-1330, 14-4056 appear violated. Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 I call for the federal and Commonwealth governments to perform their constitutional obligations to investigate and prosecute all involved in the theft and illegal deed transfer of my home, 1038 West Wyoming Avenue. The denial of God-given 42 USC 1982 property rights for 24 years is egregious, extraordinary, oath-violating, and requires immediate remedy. A just government must obey the rule of law. This color of law government must have its Charter to govern revoked until a constitutionally compliant government is installed. Public servants cannot refuse their sworn duty to act any more than a fireman can refuse to fire a fire. The sovereign people require oath, Constitution, and laws be enforced. Jail is required for all who violate oath, Constitution or law. I remind Council, it takes a lot of cooperation to create and allow Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 monumental corruption.
Emmanuel Bussie, commenting on 180155. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, everyone. So all of you should have received an interim report card for City Council. In 2015, we had a Black Political Summit.
You put down you want to talk about vacant property in the Eighth District. Can you at least give the impression that you're going to talk about that and start out by talking about that?
I normally would, Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 but I ain't in the mood to -
I know. I normally would, but I ain't in the mood to play games, right?
Well, we're not playing games here today. We just ask you to abide by the rules. If you can just talk about -- start off talking about Eighth District and segue into what you want to segue.
So you want me to introduce the bill first or say the bill first? How you want me to proceed? I'm going to get into -- you don't know what I'm going to talk about because I just started. So how you want me to proceed?
I mean, the rules are that you're supposed Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 to be talking about what you indicated on the list.
How do you know I'm not going to do that? Because the way I introduced myself or introduced the topic? How do you know I'm not going to talk about that? That level of arrogance, right? My time can't be running out because he told me to stop.
Public comment is for the purpose of talking about something on the Calendar.
How do you know I was not going to talk about something on the Calendar?
Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 Well, can you please talk about that and then we can proceed.
Again, back in 2015, the Black Political Summit had a conference with 31 recommendations that almost every Councilperson signed off on, except three or four.
The Eighth District property. The Councilperson for that district signed off on it as well. Now, if you're going to interrupt me, do I get more time?
Well, Mr. Bussie, you're not going to come in and dictate the terms of the process.
I'm not dictating the terms. I'm talking about that bill. Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 I'm talking about that piece of legislation. I'm going to get to that. That piece of legislation -- you can't dictate to me how I talk about my topic. So, see, this is what it is, right? You really don't care about that, because what you do care about is trying to control people. Because you sit up there as President of City Council, you want to dictate to us how we discuss a topic. This is all about your pride and your ego. This isn't about this topic. (Microphone turned off.)
You want to talk about the Eighth District property disposition, you can do that.
Do the Eighth District have a Councilperson? AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yes.
All right, then. So you can't tell me how to talk about the Eighth District property when I'm talking about the Eighth District Councilperson. That property is in a Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 district that has a Councilperson, which I'm talking about. So you want me to talk about it in a certain way? How do you want me to proceed here? Disrespecting the President?
I didn't get a chance to speak. He told me not to speak. I didn't get a chance to speak. I got 30 seconds into my speech and he going to tell me I can't speak? Why not, Darrell? Why not? Why not? This is the problem. It's the level of disrespect and disregarding and arrogance by this body by that leadership. It's a problem. We got great Councilpeople, but they laying on somebody that's arrogant, that's an egotist. This is the problem. Stated Meeting March 1, 2018
Pamela Williams. Pamela Williams. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. Good morning to everyone. I am totally and unequivocally appalled at the process, Mr. President. I think that -and I know I'm supposed to speak on the bill -
Just start it out. I know how it works. If you just start and say, I'm talking about Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 property in the Eighth District, and then you can just -- I'm just asking you to -
I'm talking about a project in the Eighth District, but just like the rules are suspended for the Councilpeople who I pay to represent me, I ask that the rules be suspended so I can make the comment that is necessary, because I am a citizen in the City of Philadelphia and I pay taxes. What has happened today to the public and the citizens in this Chamber is utterly and unnecessarily disrespectful. We were told that we could not sit in this Chamber, of which we pay for and which these persons represent us, and we were sent upstairs. I was told that someone would come upstairs to get me. When it was my time to speak, no one ever came. The sound system up there is not working. We could not hear the bills that you read. (Applause.)
If I ask the Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 City Councilpersons who are sitting on the floor what the third bill was read, I believe that they can't even tell us, because the monitoring system is so horrible in here. We are at a crossroads in Philadelphia, and something must change. It must change, because the people are being disrespected. The people in black and brown communities in this city are being disenfranchised. And everybody in this body has been elected to represent us and to cause us to be able to have power to rise up and to have a great life in this great city. Justification is at a high rate in this city. Nowhere in this city should a developer be able to come in and redesign a home and the home costs $217,000 for sale. And I live in a house that's worth $56,000 and I can't even afford to pay the taxes. I'm here today to serve notice. I've come out of my cocoon, and I'm here Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 to fight like hell that something change in this city, because it is not right, Mr. President. Councilpersons, it's not right. Because these people are being disenfranchised and we're being disenfranchised by the political system that exists and was elected by the people. If you going stand up for the people, be for the people. Rise up for the people and make sure the people are being counted and taken care of, and that's what the City of Philadelphia should be and that's what we should stand for, a city of brotherly love and sisterly affection. (Applause.)
Marie Patterson, commenting on 180155. (Witness approached podium.)
180155. My name is Marie Patterson and I represent the Fifth Councilmanic District. I've lived in North Philly all my life. 18055 [sic] is no different than any other bill that is on this table. The Councilpeople in this city are not doing what they're supposed to do. I see a lot of people sitting around hugging. Our children are being destroyed. Philadelphia is being destroyed, and it's because we don't have good leadership. That's all I have to say. It's not going to take me three minutes.
It's not going to take me three minutes to tell you Councilpeople what you should be doing. You get an F on the housing. In my part Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 of town, housing for black people, it's been gentrified. I don't see housing for black people, affordable, that came from Darrell Clarke that's the head of the Fifth Councilmanic District. I have violence prevention. I see violence every day. There are plenty of plans out there that could talk about violence prevention, but I don't see it in my Council. And I see you all sitting here making rules, but they are not for the African Americans and the people who -- the constituents who you're supposed to be working for. Temple, union, the EOP project, the campaign finance, and the Black Political Summit, these are all things that we say that Council have an F for, F because you didn't make an effort, F because you're not representing the people. And this right here is a dog and pony show that me as a business of Philadelphia will no longer be a part of the dog and pony show. Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 We're here, Different Kind of Democrat, Professionals for Progress, to change the narrative of how Philadelphia should be living. We should not be second-class citizens.
Thank you for your testimony, ma'am. (Applause.)
That's not how it works, man. Come on. That's not how it works. (Witness approached podium.)
Hold on a second. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Cindy Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of information. Stated Meeting March 1, 2018 180155 is a lot transfer, a vacant lot transfer that, as we all know, the City of Philadelphia has a very difficult time with vacant lots. And so we do encourage property owners to take responsibility for those side lots next to them, and that's what the transfer of 180155 is.