Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Resolution No. 080784.
A resolution amending Resolution No. 080001, which provides Rules for the Government of the 10/23/08 - STATED - 2ND READING Council of the City of Philadelphia, by adding procedures for Council's consideration of bills that authorize the City to acquire, convey or lease to a third party any interest in real estate that includes park or recreation land or facilities.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. That concludes our Calendar for on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. Today I rise to talk about an issue that is very, very important to all of us and especially to me, and that is that of homelessness. Just this week -and I mean no disrespect to my colleagues Councilman DiCicco and Councilman Clarke, because it involves their issue, but the Center City District, led by Paul Levy, decided to create a situation to not allow for panhandling. Madam Chair, many of us have been around long enough to know we tried this before. They're coming up with meters again asking people They'll collect a few thousand, if they're lucky, in a year, which will go to great groups, groups like Sister Mary Scullion for Project HOME; Bethesda Project; Ready, Willing and Able; the Mental Health Association; Center City District for training workers; and Self, Inc. So we agree with all those fine organizations who receive them, maybe a matter of a few hundred dollars each, but, Madam Chair, I submit that if we have a recession in most of the world, what do you call it for the homeless community? I submit that we have laws on the books to deal with aggressive panhandling. We've been through this over the years. So there is all that we need to be. I submit that nobody wants homeless people on the street. Nobody wanted them at Rittenhouse Square. Nobody wants people to defecate in the of that. Nobody wants people to have to feed or have to eat on the streets. All of us realize that's not the optimum way to treat homeless people, people in need or people who are just having a hard time. But to submit to this again -- and it's only in the Center City District boundaries -- to advocate, there will be signs on buses, on TV, all of this PR. They'll spend more to -- there will be more money spent to advertise this than there would be any to gain to help anybody. I think it's not the way to go. Back in August we had a press conference and we submitted a four-point plan, with two additional plans, and we asked the Administration to consider those things. If we want people not to be on the streets, then we have to modify how we deal with them and what services we offer them. We have to literally bring them in, offer them services. Those who it, offer them treatment. Have them in during the day, have cafes at night and the other things that we asked for. So I submit, Madam President, that obviously it wasn't and hasn't been submitted in a bill. It has been a Center City District initiative. And, again, I call on this Administration to deal with this issue in a better, more humane way and to help us absolutely treat people, help get them off the streets and do it in a positive way that would be better for everybody in this city, state and this country. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Madam President. First of all, I want to speak on two issues. First I want to congratulate Councilman Greenlee, who has domestic abuse issue, and I'm just proud to have been a co-sponsor of that. So I want to thank you for all your work there and congratulate you on getting this done today. Secondly, I co-introduced today with Councilman O'Neill what I consider to be a best practice that is happening around the country. What we propose is a fiscal impact statement for the legislation that we propose out of this body so that we understand the short-term and long-term impact on the Five-Year Plan of legislation we propose. They currently have impact statements in Los Angeles; San Francisco; Bloomington, Indiana; Charlottesville, Virginia and many other cities. Based on my conversations with the Finance Director, I'm very hopeful that we'll have cooperation from the Administration, and I look forward to considering this measure as it comes before Council.
Thank you. Are there any other speeches on the part of the majority? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, October 30, 2008, 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, October 30th. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Thank you. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m.) 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 on October 23, 2008, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)