Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Via Microsoft Teams Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, February 25, 2021 10:12 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 February 25, 2021
Thank you, and good morning. We're going to get started now. 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, and Legal Intelligencer prior to the meeting, and can also be found on PHLCouncil.com. I now note that the hour has come. The Clerk will please call the roll to take attendance. Members that are in attendance will please indicate they are present, or whatever they may so choose, so their image will be displayed Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Good morning, Mr. President, colleagues, and Philadelphia residents. Good morning.
Good morning, Council President and colleagues and Philadelphians.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. And good morning, Philadelphia.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning, City of Philadelphia.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. I'm present. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Still screaming justice for Darius Winters, a 15-year-old young man murdered in Southwest Philadelphia, part of my district.
Good morning, Mr. President, colleagues, and Philadelphia. I'm present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues.
I'm sorry. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 Councilmember Squilla. Good morning, Council President and colleagues. Present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning to the listening public.
And good morning, everyone. We're going to get started. Today we're going to have an invocation, a much-needed invocation. So to give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes the Bishop James Darrell Robinson of Yesha Ministries. He is here today as the guest of Councilman Johnson. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 members and guests to please bow your heads for an invocation. Bishop, please proceed.
Yes. Greetings to the City Councilpersons and to the public. Let's pray. Eternal Father and God, we thank you for this opportunity to pray. We understand, God, that we're in such difficult times with Corona and with the murder rate in our city. And so, God, we're asking you for wisdom, wisdom as the affairs of this city are handled by City Council and those elected officials, Lord God, that are doing things to make things better. I pray, God, that you might visit us, God, with your love, your joy, your peace. I pray, God, that you would give us an understanding on how to communicate the right ideas and the right solutions to fix problems that so desperately need to be fixed. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 pray, God, that you would help us to walk and to work in peace and harmony, and every bit of confusion would be dispelled. Help us, dear Lord, to lower the degree of racism and prejudice that seems to harness in our city and other cities across the nation. We pray, God, that you might just be there for us, God. You said that we should ask you. You said if we lack wisdom, we should ask you. God, we're not leaning to our own understanding, but in all of our ways, you said we should acknowledge you. God, again, we thank you for this great opportunity to pray, and I pray, God, that all these wonderful things that we're trying to do, that you would help us to do them in the matchless and eternal name of Jesus. We thank you, Lord, and we praise you. Amen.
Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 you so much, Bishop. It's a much-needed invocation. We really appreciate you. Our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, February 18, 2021, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, February 18th be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, February 18, 2021 stand approved. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 (No response.)
The ayes have it, and the Journal is approved. And our next order of business is requests for leaves 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. Our next order of business is communications, and the Chair asks Mr. Decker to please read the messages from the Mayor and any other communications that he may have in his possession.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am submitting herewith for the consideration of your honorable Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 body the following proposed ordinance: An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation and the Commissioner of Procurement, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into a multi-year Concession Agreement with German American Marketing, Incorporated, doing business as CHRISTMAS VILLAGE IN PHILADELPHIA, for the operation and management of a seasonal Christmas Village for the City of Philadelphia at LOVE Park and other potential City owned areas, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Decker. And our next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. And 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 Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 current remote environment, this procedure will provide an appropriate opportunity for public comment. I want to thank you very much for your anticipated cooperation. Mr. Decker, would you please read the titles of the legislation that is being offered today by the members.
Councilwoman Parker offers, on behalf of Council President Clarke, a resolution commemorating the life and legacy of William "Cody" Anderson, a legendary figure in talk radio, a pioneering leader in African-American owned radio and media, and a positive voice in the Black community.
And a resolution launching the establishment and funding of the Philadelphia Anti-Violence Resource Network to provide a one-stop clearinghouse of information and guide Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 Philadelphians directly affected by violence in their communities to available resources within the City of Philadelphia.
Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson offers one bill and one resolution, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' to revise certain provisions of Chapter 14-600, entitled 'Use Regulations,' by amending the Retail Sales Use Category and Use-Specific Standards."
And a resolution declaring March 7 through 14, 2021, during Women's History Month, as Women in Construction Week in the City of Philadelphia, and honoring Women in Nontraditional Careers for their commitment to support, increase, and Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 advance the participation of women in construction, manufacturing, and transit careers in the Philadelphia region.
Councilwoman Gym offers one resolution honoring and commending Jennifer R. Clarke for her 15-year tenure as the Executive Director of the Public Interest Law Center and her strategic, pioneering, and transformative work to expand access to justice that has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across Pennsylvania and the nation.
Councilman Johnson offers a resolution recognizing the Philadelphia Obituary Project for its work to provide dignity to homicide victims and solace to their families by remembering and honoring those victims' lives. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021
Councilman Green offers three resolutions, entitled a "Resolution designating Monday, March 1, 2021 as COVID-19 Remembrance Day in the City of Philadelphia"; and A resolution recognizing and congratulating Renee Henderson, on the occasion of her retirement from Community Behavioral Health, after more than two decades of faithful and dedicated service.
Thank you. Those two resolutions will be on next week's Calendar.
And a resolution authorizing the Committees on Finance and on Gun Violence Prevention to hold joint hearings regarding the connection between poverty, gun violence, and systemic racism in Philadelphia.
That will be on this week's Calendar. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021
Councilwoman Brooks offers one resolution calling on the federal government to enact a plan by the end of President Biden's first 100 days in office to cancel all student loan debt and begin the transition to education as a public good.
Councilman Domb offers one resolution congratulating Councilmember Cherelle L. Parker on her historic appointment as Board Chair of the Delaware River Port Authority and honoring her work as a board member and trailblazing leader in Philadelphia.
Councilman Thomas and Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson offer an ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021 from the General Fund, the Council to the General Fund, the Managing Director. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021
Councilman Thomas offers also a resolution honoring and congratulating the After School Activities and Partnerships Chess Club for their bringing together over 150 clubs and 2,500 students across the city and being instrumental in Philadelphia being named Chess City of the Year by US Chess.
Councilwoman Bass offers three resolutions, entitled a "Resolution recognizing February 2021 as American Heart Month, and honoring the American Heart Association of Philadelphia for their work in providing health resources in Philadelphia, emphasizing the importance of heart health, and encouraging a healthy lifestyle."
Next Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 week's Calendar.
And a resolution recognizing and honoring Lynette Medley and her daughter, Nya McGlone, for their menstrual hub, The SPOT Period; and for the work they have done to provide menstrual products and ongoing support for those suffering from period poverty.
And a resolution recognizing the month of February as National African American Read-In Month, and honoring Dr. Ebony Elizabeth Thomas' Humanizing Stories Project for its work to bring together diverse voices from the world of children's media, literature, and culture through digital advocacy, community projects, and classroom resources.
Councilman Oh offers a resolution refuting the article Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 "Contracting for Sex in the Pacific War," which contradicts the historical consensus and evidence of the thousands of women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army before and during World War II, written by J. Mark Ramseyer: Mitsubishi Professor of Japanese Legal Studies at Harvard Law School.
There are no other bills or resolutions being offered by the members, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. That concludes the introduction of bills and resolutions. Is Councilwoman Parker -
Thank you. Thank you, Leader. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 business will be the reports from committee, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a report from the Committee on Appropriations.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the Chair of our Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Appropriations reports out three bills with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Mr. Decker, would you please read that report.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Appropriations, to which was referred Bill No. 210077, entitled "An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021 from the General Fund, the Council to the General Fund, the Department of Planning and Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 Development"; and Bill No. 210120, entitled "An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021 from the General Fund, the Council to the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, and thereby implementing Council's 'New Normal Jobs Initiative'"; and Bill No. 210121, entitled "An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021 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 bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you very much. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Parker. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021
Thank you, Mr. President. Again, on behalf of Councilmember Sanchez, our Chair of the Committee on Appropriations, I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Nos. 210077, 210120, and 210121.
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. 210077, 210120, 210121. All those in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and these bills will be Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a report from the Committee on Law and Government.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Law and Government reports out two bills and one resolution with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read that report.
The Committee on Law and Government, to which was referred Bill No. 210073, entitled "An ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter providing for expansion of the Board of License and Inspection Review"; and Bill No. 210080, entitled "An Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 20-610 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Statement of Financial Interests,' by revising the required conditions and information for filing"; and Resolution No. 210085, entitled a "Resolution proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter providing for expansion of the Board of License and Inspection Review; and providing for the submission of the proposed amendment to the electors of Philadelphia," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills and resolution to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 210073 and 210080. (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. 210073 and 210080. All those in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and these bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. Resolution No. 210085 will be placed on our Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Bass for a report from the Committee on Public Health and Human Services. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 (No response.)
Good morning. I do apologize. I just got dropped from the call, so I'm just getting reconnected here. One moment.
One of those mornings. Hold on one second. Mr. President, I'm sorry. Did you recognize me for --
Yeah. I just recognized you, Councilwoman, for a report from the committee.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Public Health and Human Services reports Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 a favorable recommendation.
The Committee on Public Health and Human Services, to which was referred Bill No. 210082, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 17 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Contracts and Procurement,' by amending Chapter 17-1400, entitled 'Non-Competitively Bid Contracts; Financial Assistance,' to provide procedures applicable to the awarding of contracts to non-City providers of vaccine doses for COVID-19 and related variants," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 210082. (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. 210082. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and this bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 2ND READING That concludes our reports from committee, and our next order of business is consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bills just reported from committee with a suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. These bills will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. As there are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for the purpose of calling up resolutions and bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Mr. President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. They are Nos. 210140, 210141, 210142, 210144, 210145, 210146, 210147, 210149, 210150, 210151, 210153, and 200617. All other resolutions and Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 bills are being held, Mr. President.
Thank you so much, Councilwoman. Before we proceed with the consideration of the Calendar, we will move forward with our public comment. We're going to take a brief five- to ten-minute recess to give our technology professionals some time to connect the speakers that we have for today's meeting. (Brief recess.)
We're going to get started. Now that everyone is connected to the meeting and before considering the resolutions and bills we have before us today, we will consider public comment. It will go as follows: The public comment must concern matters of the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars for possible action at a session of Council. A speaker on any of those matters must sign up in order to Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 testify. You must call 215-686-3406 by 3:00 p.m. the day before the session to sign up for public comment. When you call, we will take your name, your 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 telephone each person on the list during the Council session and invite them to our remote meeting. Depending on the circumstances, we will designate a time. Today you will have two minutes, so we ask you to please, if you need to, adjust your testimony to reflect a two-minute limit. In order to be fair to all those wishing to speak, I intend to hold faithfully to the established time limit. So 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, and when Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 there are 30 seconds remaining to your time, you will be reminded of this. Once your allotted time has passed, you will be asked to conclude your remarks. Shortly thereafter you will be muted and disconnected from the remote meeting. I also reserve the right under the provisions of the public comment to limit the number of speakers where repetitious comments are being made on the same matter and to limit the scope of testimony to only certain items on the agenda during the emergency, which could affect callbacks for public comment at the meeting. And also please be aware that the public meeting is being recorded, and 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 Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 speaker.
Tiffany Green, commenting on 210142. COUNCIL SUPPORT: She is not on the line.
Good morning. Just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Council President and Council, we at Point Breeze community is requesting your help to put on hold Bill 210142 and stop the sale of 20 City-owned properties listed to sell to a developer, Point Breeze Cross Street. There was no public meeting for this resolution bill that was fast-tracked and introduced on February 18th and now is up for final passage. This process will Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 have a negative impact. Council President, you have been promoting neighborhood preservation initiatives, and we're saying that we would like to have an opportunity to have low-wage homeownership, which has not been done in our community for people who make under $15 an hour. These are essential workers, and we work at Shop Rite and Ross and everything, and these young ladies, single mothers with children, has stated they would like to have an opportunity for low homeownership. We have taken surveys in our community, and they have stated that workforce housing is not affordable. They don't even feel $150,000 is affordable. We should be able to have 30 AMI homeownership below that, and we as a community will accept a committee and oversee these 20 properties. You are selling to a developer who just received 19 properties last year Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 for Grays Ferry and sold them from 185,000 to $230,000. That is not affordable for low-wage working families. We want equal treatment. New residents are notified in advance of City-owned properties, and they are told they have an opportunity to have meetings and they're able to dictate. The City just gave or approved six to ten properties for a doggie park, but yet you will not allow the Point Breeze community to have opportunities. Councilman Johnson promised 50 properties for homeownership on this particular block. We are asking Councilman Johnson to uphold his promise from 2012-2013 and do not sell these properties for workforce and market-rate housing. It is not fair to ask me to stand with you in your common need and yet you don't have the same respect for us to have an opinion in our community development process. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 Okay? We ask that City Council put a hold on this bill and please give us a chance. I'm asking you to really give us a chance during COVID-19.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Thank you for your testimony.
The next speaker is Rashaun R. Williams, commenting on 210144.
Peace and love and good morning, everybody. My name is Reshaun Williams. I'm commenting on Resolution No. 210144. I want to start off by saying that if there is a level of apathy toward supporting this bill, then that means that there is a strong level of apathy to all of the consequences of not paying attention to the repair of a people that we have experienced in Philadelphia. We've already been quite aware, made well aware, of the amount of murders that have taken place, the education Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 violence that takes place. Gentrification is a completely separate conversation. However, it's a part of the same discussion. There are a series of things that plague specifically the black community in Philadelphia and in the nation, but since I'm speaking directly to Philadelphians, the thing that I want to prioritize is the apathy. And so, like I said, if there is a level of apathy towards a study for reparations, then that means that we have no interest in solving the issues that plague our community directly here in the City of Philadelphia. I don't just urge us to consider this reparations resolution for us to study how proposals can be given across the nation. I urge us to do so because we have an education crisis, we have a health crisis, we have a violence crisis, we have a neurological cerebral development process in our people's Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 ability to cognitively function, and we haven't addressed any of those things. So I'm excited to hear that everyone is (inaudible) and how they will share their opinions so that we can amass a collective consciousness for us to consider this reparations resolution. And I would ask us to remember that we are, and if we haven't and if we are not, we were once, the members of the community that need your advocacy. So please do not forget that you are a member of the community that needed this advocacy so this work can be done on behalf of our people, because you are those people too. Thank you so much.
Good morning. I'm testifying today on behalf of N'COBRA, Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America. We are in full support of this -
Ms. Moore, just state your name for the record, please.
Yes. I'm testifying today on behalf of N'COBRA, the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America, and we're in full support for Resolution 210144 calling on Congress to pass H.R. 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans. Philadelphia is the poorest big city in America, and we are a majority black and brown city. We will benefit the most from the passing of H.R. 40. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 Black people live every day with the afterlife of slavery. We experience few life chances, limited access to health and education, premature death, incarceration, and poverty. Enslaved Africans, our ancestors and their descendants, have suffered crimes against humanity. We have suffered murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, forcible transfer, imprisonment, torture, sexual violence, persecution, sterilization. All over the nation, academic, medical, and religious institutions, city councils, and state legislatures are exploring their historical connections with slavery and making efforts to address its history. It's time for the national government to do the same thing through the H.R. 40 bill. N'COBRA defines reparations as a process of repairing, healing, and restoring a people injured because of their group identity and the violation of Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 their fundamental human rights by government, corporations, institutions, and families. Those groups that have been injured have the right to obtain from the government, corporation, institution or family responsible for the injuries which is needed to repair and heal themselves. In addition to being a demand for justice, it is a principal international human rights law. We are asking for atonement for our black Holocaust, which has never been atoned for. The passage of this bill is a step toward making an atonement to our ancestors. We owe it to them and their descendants. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 morning. COUNCIL SUPPORT: She is not on the line.
Thank you. I'm Ari Merretazon of the Invisible Church of our Enslaved Ancestors and the Northeast Representative of N'COBRA, which is the acronym for the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America. I am a member of N'COBRA Philadelphia. I requested an invitation to revise and extend my remarks because of restrictions on time. Thanks, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, for the invitation to support your resolution calling on Congress to pass H.R. 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act. The H.R. 40 Commission would target full repair in the context of our people from 1619 to present day as supported by the voluminous millions and Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 millions of written documents and now databases. H.R. 40 stands in the center of the political crossroads representing reparations for our wealth gap, for our health gap, our political prisoners, and our right of return and, yes, a check as an element of the solution. Currently there are 173 co-sponsors of H.R. 40. Locally the congressional sponsors in the Delaware Valley are Representative Brendan Boyle, Second District; Representative Dwight Evans, Third District; Representative Madeleine Dean, Fourth District; Representative Mary Gay Scanlon, Fifth District; Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware at-large; Representative Donald Norcross, First District, Camden County, New Jersey. Please join them with the passage of this resolution, our mother's mother's mother and our father's father's father. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 Thank you. This resolution remembers them and values them and gives new light to them through us, their new centers. As I close, today is an auspicious day. We invite you and every member of the Philadelphia City Council to register for our Reparations Awareness Day event at www.ncobraphl.org to better understand the facts and circumstances of what happened to our ancestors and the generational injuries to us, their descendants. Again, the website is www.ncobraphl.org for Reparations Awareness Day event. Again, I thank Councilman Johnson and the Philadelphia City Councilmembers for this resolution expressing your support for Congress to pass H.R. 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act. And, remember, and never forget, reparation is the crossroad Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 solutions to our human capital infrastructure in the context of a reparations accord for the centers of Africans enslaved in the United States as a matter of public policy, and I thank you for the short time.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good morning. This is Nabeelah Bey speaking on 210144. I call on the spirit of our great Queen Mother Moore who presented a petition to the United Nations in 1957 and in 1959 for self-determination against genocide and for land and reparations. I noticed that your bill asks for compensation and atonement, and compensation, of course, could never be repaid for the free labor and the torture of our ancestors. However, here are some examples of repair, such as returning Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 lands that were stolen from people of African descent; granting land mass for people of African descent who choose to live among each other, although not being totally separated from the United States but still interacting with the United States, but we need some place where we can be among our own; free education through the doctorate level and loan forgiveness for all college and after high school training programs; free name changes, free legal name changes so that we can return to our own and practice self-determination; targeted physical and mental health treatment for the healing of our people. And what is our people? One of the major tenets of N'COBRA is to honor the subject called peoplehood. You know, all people, all human beings have the right to determine their own peoplehood and to -- so I'm just asking that -- and I'm grateful for the resolution, and I'm asking that you give full support for Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 H.R. 40 and for all reparations bills. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your testimony. Appreciate it.
Yes, we can. Just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Maria Ortiz. I'm opposing Bill 210142. I do not want to sell -- these properties to be sold to a high-end developer. We want low-wage homes for people earning $7.50 to $15 a place and low wage, not high end. We give a sense of homeownership and wealth where they can appreciate the value of a home in Philadelphia, besides working here too. We have over 5,000 homeless people in Philadelphia, not because they are not Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 working. It's because of the rents are so high and the wages are $7.50 to $15. Family torn apart where the system has failed to help each other, where family cannot get help and support. Did you know we only have 700 beds in Philadelphia? If you have to be in line by a certain time and if you working, you do not have a place to sleep. This is where it gets tricky. No place. You sleeping on steps, alley, park, maybe in a car if you have a family, and bridges. There are true people who want homes, and families do too. Landlords filing false claims, renter license not up to date, and finally eviction. I am a homeowner that lives here and been affected, so have many others, in a two-story row home. These new homes towers over our home, causing damage. I know. Where is the help for us? Developers destroying people's homes. Why is the City ready to throw long-term Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 residents away, those that choose to stay here? (Inaudible) causing debt problem. What happens? We are good enough to vote, but not enough for a place to live, jobs, and supermarket. If the new -- if a new person comes to buy a home, they should be paying their fair share of taxes. You said the City needs money. Why are we priced out, longtime residents? Why are we getting less and the continuing abatement gets more? All I have seen is taxes hit the most high, with utilities and other entities. We, the longtime residents, deserve better, not priced out with taxes and water. Did you know water went up $60 more? We pay water bills on top of that. We voted for 17 Councilpeople and a Mayor. Only three Councilperson care about longtime residents. Did you know a senior has four years -- Stated Meeting February 25, 2021
-- to some of our (inaudible). The land can be better served for senior housing, low-wage home for people --
Thank you for listening to the problems and concerns of the people of Philadelphia.
Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Point Breeze is requesting 20 City-owned properties. We need our community to have --
All right. I'm sorry. Point Breeze is requesting 20 City-owned properties. We need our community to have low-income housing ownership. We want to be involved in making decisions being allotted to these developers. We have long-term ownership in neighborhoods and feel our voices are not being heard. Again, I oppose Bill 210142. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Yes. I'm here. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 My name is Vivian Burbage and I am commenting on Bill 210142. As a longtime and long-term homeowner in the area of South Philadelphia, I am under the constituency of Kenyatta Johnson, and I vehemently oppose the building of these 20 properties or given over to developers. It will be a terrible impact on the citizenry of South Philadelphia. Plus I strongly oppose because we were given no say-so in whether or not this bill is passed or not. While I hope it's put on hold or at least stopped, because this bill should be placed in the hands of the citizenry of South Philadelphia, primarily because we need peers of our own kind down here, and it should be reserved for low-wage to low-income homeownership. We have many people in this area who are trying to buy a home, but if it's stated and slated for the property Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 for millionaires or people in that income bracket, it will serve no purpose for us down here. While there are many reasons why I oppose it, that is my strongest one and that is what I feel so very passionately about. Please -(Background noise.)
That's all right. I just want to say that I did really oppose the building of these homes given over to developers. We need an equal share. We need our equal say-so in the building of these homes. Thank you. I relinquish the rest of my time.
Thank you very much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 Mr. President, just a point of personal privilege. I'm going to ask everybody who is on the line, because I don't know if it's coming out on your end, Mr. President, but someone needs to mute their mic if they are not speaking. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. It did come through on mine, yes. I heard it. Mr. Decker, go ahead.
Good morning. My name is Anette Randolph. Hello. My name is Anette Randolph and my husband, Dennis, has retired from the Army. We reside here at 2012 Ellsworth Street, where I am the co-block captain. I have been at our permanent address for 61 years and have seen this neighborhood Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 do a dramatic change. I am opposing this Bill 210142. I am requesting, pleading for low-wage homeownership for low-wage working families, like my daughter and son, who works very hard and have children who would love to have their own homes, bedrooms, backyard, basements, and a home that they can look to say they own a home from hard work. Please stop looking straight without realizing we have another generation that is here and is still coming, and they look to us as well as voting. I thank you, and that's all I have to say.
Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is Moses Cotton, commenting on 210142. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 COUNCIL SUPPORT: He is not on the line.
Good morning. My name is Jacob Zychick and I am the Community Advocacy Director with the American Heart Association, and I am speaking in support of the resolution recognizing February 2021 as Heart Month and the continued work the American Heart Association has done to promote a healthy lifestyle, improve health outcomes in Philadelphia. First, I would like to thank Public Health Committee Chair Councilmember Cindy Bass and City Council for the introduction of this resolution. Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in Philadelphia. While depending on the zip code you reside in, there's a 20-year life expectancy difference. The American Heart Association is committed to Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 addressing health inequities. That is why by 2024 we have committed to raise and invest more than 230 million specifically to address the barriers to achieving equitable health for all. Locally, we recently announced the Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund, which is an $840,000 investment in local organizations addressing the social influencers of health in North Philadelphia. The American Heart Association is proud of our continued partnership and collaboration with City Council, the Department of Public Health, the School District of Philadelphia, and the City of Philadelphia. Together, we have implemented innovative approaches to improve health equity, including removing sugary drinks from children's meals, adding additional restrictions to the back of retail licenses, making it more difficult for youth to become addicted to nicotine products, CPR trainings to help Stated Meeting February 25, 2021 create generation of potential lifesavers, and programs that improve access to healthier foods. We all know that there continues to be work needed to be done, and we are committed to working together to achieve equitable health for all in Philadelphia. Once again, I would like to thank Councilwoman Bass for the introduction of this resolution, and we look forward to the continued partnership and collaboration with the City Council. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good morning. State your name for the record. COUNCIL SUPPORT: She's coming. Just a second. She's on. Stated Meeting February 25, 2021
Good morning. Just state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.