Councilwoman 4/18/13 - STATED - 2ND READING Quinones-Sanchez.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional resolutions?
A resolution Calling on the City Council of Philadelphia Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless 4/18/13 - STATED - 2ND READING to Hold Hearings Concerning the City Planning Commission's Project: Philadelphia-2035, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for a motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution congratulating and honoring The Roberts Vaux High School Basketball Team on 4/18/13 - STATED - 2ND READING winning 2012-2013 PIAA Class A State Championship, introduced by Councilman Greenlee for Council President Clarke.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution recognizing ODUNDE Festival's positive cultural impact on Philadelphia and the importance of maintaining its presence as a South Street tradition, introduced by 4/18/13 - STATED - 2ND READING Councilman Johnson.
Is that the resolution where I was the only one that didn't sign? The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution authorizing Council's Committee on Public Safety to investigate and hold public hearings reviewing the Commonwealth of 4/18/13 - STATED - 2ND READING Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and its practices in Philadelphia, including the assignment, workload and experience of its agents, introduced by Councilman O'Brien.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution and would like to be recognized for a few brief remarks.
I would like to express my gratitude to Councilman Curtis Jones, the Chair of the Public Safety Committee, and the entire Public Safety Committee for participating in last week's public hearing to review the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Board of Probation and Parole and its practices in Philadelphia. Last week we learned much about the work of the state's Parole and 4/18/13 - STATED - 2ND READING Probation Board here in the Philadelphia district compared to other districts around the state. We had retired parole agents testify about the stress and challenges of supervising offenders in tough conditions that are created by design for Philadelphia by decision-makers in Harrisburg. They also told us about their vastly different working conditions and assignments outside of the City. Their testimony was absolutely riveting. During that hearing, we also heard about some of the good practices of our local probation officials. I applaud them for their efforts and willingness to adapt in an effort to keep us safe. The most compelling portion of this hearing was our interaction with the Board's Chair. I still don't know what to make of what he said and what he didn't say to us. After last Friday, four things are clear. Philadelphia is treated in an 4/18/13 - STATED - 2ND READING adversely different way by the Board. The Board's numbers simply don't add up. We need more hearings, and I'm focused like a laser on this issue. Police Officer Walker's mother deserves it. The family of Sergeant Pat McDonald deserve it, and all Philadelphians deserve it. As I've said before, I fear the numbers are driving this issue. I fear the quest to keep recidivism numbers low are dictating policy. I fear for the safety of our city. That's why we need to hold additional public hearings to further review the work of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Board of Probation and Parole and its readiness to protect the safety of the citizens of Philadelphia. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. There's a motion. (Duly seconded.)
4/18/13 - STATED - 2ND READING Moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution authorizing Council's Committee of the Whole to hold hearings to investigate the coordination between various City commissions, departments and agencies on outreach efforts regarding the Actual Value Initiative in the City of Philadelphia, particularly as to informing senior citizens, vulnerable populations and other hard-to-reach groups, and to determine and immediately make recommendations to the appropriate City agencies for improved citizen and community outreach, introduced by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown. 4/18/13 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Mr. President. This resolution comes -first, I need to thank again co-sponsors Councilwomen Tasco and Quinones-Sanchez. It comes as a result of having attended a few of the AVI meetings and listening to public testimony this past week and being reminded that it appears there has not been adequate coordination among City agencies. I'm even more pleased by this resolution now that I've learned that both you and Councilwoman Blackwell have introduced bills to extend the deadlines. So the hope and expectation is having heard back from these departments, we can get a do-over with regards to developing recommendations on how we deepen the understanding of the impact of AVI and the awareness of the protections. And so with that said, Mr. President, I move for the adoption. 4/18/13 - STATED - 2ND READING (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution recognizing and honoring the achievements of the LaSalle University men's basketball team for their accomplishments during the 2012-13 season, introduced by Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution on behalf of my colleagues, LaSalle graduates, Councilman Kenney, Squilla, and O'Brien. 4/18/13 - STATED - 2ND READING (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution expressing sympathy and admiration for the citizens and guests of Boston in response to the April 15th tragic and cowardly terrorist attack during the Boston Marathon: bombs, dead, and over 180 injured, introduced by Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. That was co-sponsored by Councilman Johnson and 4/18/13 - STATED - 2ND READING signed by all members of City Council, and I would ask for a motion on the resolution.
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution recognizing and celebrating the First Annual Mexican Week Philadelphia 2013, introduced by Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Mr. President. That resolution was 4/18/13 - STATED - 2ND READING co-sponsored by Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez and I would ask for a motion on the resolution.
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution recognizing and honoring the life and accomplishments of Dr. Ethel D. Allen, introduced by Councilman Oh.
I move for the 4/18/13 - STATED - 2ND READING adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution recognizing April 30th as Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag Day as a symbol of the contributions of the Vietnamese-American community in the City of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. 4/18/13 - STATED - 2ND READING (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution declaring May 2013 to be Hepatitis B Awareness Month in Philadelphia to recognize and support the "Hep B United Philadelphia" Campaign aimed at raising the profile of Hepatitis B and liver cancer as an urgent health priority, introduced by Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to remind my colleagues that Councilwoman Blackwell a joint hearing on education, and as part of that preparation, I had the opportunity to go to the Swiss Embassy last night and met with some of the vocational educators who are involved in vocational education in Switzerland. It was very impressive. Swiss companies have 430,000 employees in the U.S., and the average salary of the vocational employees, $95,000 a year. So they have a different track there. Seventy percent don't go to college, but they do make high wages, making quality goods, and I think it is so important that we really recognize that opportunities in vocational careers is one that we should encourage, right job, right opportunities for people all throughout our city. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
Thank you, Mr. President. You have been a huge leader on this issue and Councilmembers Jones and Kenyatta Johnson have had unwavering voices around this issue. Yesterday was a shameful day. Forty-six United States Senators blocked the will of 90 percent of the American people. As many of us on our Facebook and Twitter pages echoed, common sense is no longer common. The failure to take action disrespected the wishes of 90 percent of Americans, 80 percent of them republicans, disrespected families of victims in Connecticut, Colorado, and cities across the United States, and more closely at home, disrespected the family of the Overbrook High School sophomore, Bernard Scott, wherein our Majority Leader has been actively involved with that tragedy. There were surely Senators to vote yes, but they ultimately, as we well know, it appears, yielded to the political pressure and threats of the NRA. I'm asking that we now seize the moment and flip the script on those who intimidate elected officials and those who are afraid to vote their conscience for fear of losing an election of the NRA. Ninety percent of Americans actually support gun safety, not gun control. If those of us who seek commonsense gun safety banded together and committed to vote, we would have a clean sweep. In closing, to echo the words of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and I quote, "It is clear to me that if members of the United States Senate refuse to change the laws to reduce gun violence, then we need to change the members of the United States Senate," end quote, Mr. President.
you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. To echo my colleague's remarks about a young man who lost his life, Mr. Bernard Scott, Saturday Councilwoman Blackwell and I will be attending his funeral. So the 50,000 foot view of Washington or the 50,000 foot turn a blind eye to the problems in Philadelphia we have to deal with. I want to point out that what happened on the recreation center at Tuscan was an act, but the response to that has been equally notable, that right away a good samaritan named Antoine Gardner saw what happened, intervened, put his self in danger to rush that young man in the back of his own personal vehicle to a hospital nearby. He failed, but he didn't fail. He didn't fail because he didn't leave that child alone. He did not die alone, and he knew in his cared whether he lived or died. That is important. The response went on further that over 250 people with a twilight vigil went into that same ground where he lost his life to save this violence in our city that all of us in our respective districts face every day. Enough is enough, and they showed that they care about what's going on in their community. The further response goes further. Commissioner Slawson kicked into action based on the cry of Councilwoman Bass to add cameras to recreation centers. We're going to get a dozen new cameras in that recreation center. And it's too late for young Mr. Scott, but it may prevent future deaths in that way. The response went on further. Twenty or so stakeholders met at Overbrook High School first thing in the morning to talk about how to create safe corridors within passageways because of different warring neighborhoods. So the response, the boy didn't die in vain. That Beeber, Dimner Beeber Junior High School, is now being spared the chopping block of merger and a new renaissance -- well, not renaissance, but a new school and teaching concept will come out of it. The young man's death is not in vain. Overbrook will also be rebranded with an emphasis toward safety and career technology and the like. So the young man's life didn't die in vain. Further, the young man that annually comes and sits with me, who is my neighbor, Devon Burkhart, which was on the second page of the Daily News, found his voice. He's a big, strapping young man, but he is rather shy. He found his voice on the steps of Overbrook High School to say to his peers more than anything that he wasn't putting up with it anymore and that peer pressure was now the reverse for bad actors to perform better, to do better, because those young people deserve better. So Bernard Scott died, but it wasn't in vain and what we do as a response is what matters. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Council President. You have officially been added to the resolution this morning, the ODUNDE Festival in the great land of South Philadelphia a/k/a South Street, sir.
That's the power of the position. I just want to make two quick announcements. Tomorrow at Myers Center, I will be hosting a senior expo starting at 10 o'clock at Myers Rec Center located at 58th and Kingsessing, an opportunity for seniors to come out. Lunch will be served, information on health, fitness, nutrition, and there will be more than 30 agencies that pretty much just service our seniors in the twilight of their lives. And so we want to always make sure that we give them their judge due. I'm inviting everyone who is interested to come out, as well as those who can hear within my voice. Next Friday, on April the 26th, I will be having my annual spring Job Fair. It's going to be at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. , and we will have more than 50 employers who will be coming out. We will also have workshops regarding resume writing, workshops regarding how you interview so you can actually land a job. And so I just want to make sure that to let their constituents know as well if they're interested in finding employment, we will be having our annual Job Fair. Mr. President and members of Council, on March 26th during the Office of Property Assessment testimony before Council, I asked the Office of Property Assessment to share the formula or methodology it used to arrive at the new property assessments. Just this week the Crosstown Coalition of Taxpayers, a coalition of civic groups from across Philadelphia, have requested the same information so that it can -- so its experts can evaluate the accuracy of the new assessments. To date, not I, nor the Crosstown Coalition or members of Council have received such information. I understand that the factors and calculations involved are complicated and may to some seem confusing, but the Office of Property Assessment needs to tell Council and the public how it Otherwise, we will have no idea how accurate these assessments are. For instance, just this week, we received information in the 2nd Councilmanic District, Graduate Hospital area, we found evidence that new assessments are grossly inaccurate. million less than they sold for within the last few years. million in 2012, but OPA assessed it at 700,000. million, but OPA assessed it at 800,000, almost 1 million less than the sale price. We are seeing apparent inconsistencies like this throughout the City. Without a detailed explanation regarding how the assessments were calculated, the public will not have any confidence in this process. Council has conducted an effects of AVI, moving to AVI based upon the new assessments. We know how the proposed relief measures will affect the residents, but we don't have the same information regarding the accuracy of the assessments citywide. The Administration and OPA needs to convince the public and Council that the assessments are fundamentally accurate and that it can correct inaccuracies before residents get their new tax bills. And why this is so important, in order for us to continue to gain our public's trust, it's important that they have a clear understanding on how OPA arrived to these numbers. I have met countless individuals who I mentioned time and time again, they do not have a problem paying their fair share. They just want a detailed explanation on how you got to these numbers before they actually pay their tax bills. believe that we're moving from one flawed system to another system that could also be flawed, and if the Administration cannot prove the assessments are accurate, then we shouldn't move forward in this process until public and, most importantly, Council has a detailed explanation on how they arrived at these numbers. Thank you very much, Council President and members of Council.
Thank you, sir. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just very quickly. I just want to remind the members of the Rules Committee that as soon as Council is over and they set up the room, we are going to commence with the Committee hearing, because we also have a hearing after that. So we have to get started as quickly as possible. So I will ask the right after our Council meeting is over. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd just like to invite my colleagues and those who are listening from the 9th Councilmanic District to please join us tomorrow morning at 10:30 at the Sturgis Recreation Center, where we will be breaking ground.
It's at 65th and Second Street, across from the old Cardinal Dougherty School, which is now Aspira.
Congratulations on that one, Councilwoman. Hard fought.
Thank you, Mr. President. For clarity of the legislative record, I feel compelled to say that I did in fact sign the ODUNDE resolution.
Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Councilman Johnson.
I'm glad everyone supported the ODUNDE resolution, and I know we all are politicians. When I go down to read my resolution, I don't know how many of us have degrees in terms of being doctors in terms of how you sign your names. That will more help me kind of recognize who is actually signing the resolutions. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to speak today, after I heard Councilman Johnson's speech of the majority, to say that I completely agree with everything he said and that there is something we can do about it, and, Mr. President, I would like to ask you, or if Councilman Johnson wants to propose it, to subpoena the information from the Department of Revenue, from OPA, whoever has it, with respect to the algorithms and the analysis that is done. That is within our investigatory powers, and I think this body ought to subpoena those records if we don't have them by next Thursday. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. We had promised the individuals at last night's meeting that we were currently in a process to ensure that we get the appropriate answers for this particular measure, amongst others. I don't want to to, but trust me, I concur, and we're going to get the information. Thank you. Thank you both. There being no other speeches at this time, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Mr. President. Councilman Greenlee has spoken to the Rules hearing. I'd like to also note this housekeeping matter wherein Big Brothers and Big Sisters will be joining us next door featuring W. Wilson Goode, Sr. and the new very, very dynamic, extraordinary leader of -- the new leader of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Marcus Allen. So you're invited please also to honor the duty of the Rules Committee and then step over to meet the new leader of Big Brothers/Big Sisters. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, April 25th, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. m. Thank you all very much. ) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. ) A activate 24:11 127:13 128:12 54:5 30:22 33:7 abbreviating actively 17:4 129:12 airports 38:18 announcements 11:20 131:23 adoption 94:9 algorithms 136:25 abilities 17:23 activism 10:4 95:12 96:13 144:13 annual 73:24 ability 42:22 activist 9:4 97:14 98:19 alike 15:22 18:19 125:20 137:17 53:15 activists 8:11,24 99:22 100:25 Allen 74:8 89:21 138:5 able 52:13 53:4 activist's 11:23 107:17 111:15 126:19 145:19 annually 135:17 absence 5:12,17 activities 18:2 115:11 116:8 allied 21:6,17,20 answers 144:24 6:2 53:15 117:9 118:10 26:3 27:4 anticipate 53:14 absolutely 119:13 activity 53:7,7 122:25 123:22 allow 26:7 68:20 Antoine 133:18 academic 17:22 actors 136:2 127:2,24 128:24 allowed 19:4 anybody 42:15 academies 21:19 Actual 69:13 advance 22:23 alma 16:19 anymore 48:18 academy 17:18,20 121:16 advantage 32:5 Amateur 32:19 135:25 21:18,20 22:6,6 Adams 10:16 adversely 120:2 amazing 34:24 apologize 42:10 22:15 27:8 57:22 62:16 advise 57:10 51:6,7 54:5,12 apparent 139:18 38:20 adapt 119:18 affect 140:5 54:14 appeal 72:5,6,7 accept 41:8 add 120:3 134:15 affection 3:20 Ambrose 40:17 appears 122:11 accepted 42:23 added 136:16 affirmative 104:4 Amen 4:5,6 132:4 access 25:8 82:7 adding 79:22 106:20 110:22 amend 93:23 applaud 53:21 accessible 45:12 additional 86:3 114:18 104:9 106:25 119:16 accommodations 114:21 120:15 afraid 132:9 amended 71:6 applauding 15:18 82:8 additions 72:2,3 African 9:16 82:20 84:16 18:16 accompanying address 3:9 92:13 after-school 86:18 87:22 Applause 8:15 6:20 14:12 29:7 96:8 98:11 24:14 108:4 112:2 12:23 13:14,18 35:19 adequate 122:12 age 32:3 amending 59:14 18:21 19:16 accomplish 54:25 adhering 87:14 agencies 69:12,19 59:16 64:14 28:3,20 33:19 accomplishments adjourn 145:9 121:15,23 70:12,21 71:24 35:8 39:5,13 72:24 74:7 adjourned 145:24 122:13 137:9 79:20 81:18 46:9 51:2 55:12 123:16 126:19 146:5,12,16 agents 67:7 118:5 84:12 101:16 89:19 91:2 accuracy 138:17 ADJOURNME...