It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the Chief Clerk please read the title of the next resolution? THE
A privileged resolution recognizing and honoring the Philadelphia Children's Alliance and the Philadelphia Department of Human Services for their collaborative efforts in providing healing and justice to child abuse victims during child abuse prevention month in Philadelphia, introduced by Councilmember Lozada.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Quetcy Lozada for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution to be adopted. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the Clerk please read the title of the next resolution? THE
A privileged resolution honoring and congratulating principals from the 7th Councilmanic District for their excellence in leadership as recipients of the 2025 Lindback award for distinguished principals, introduced by Councilmember Lozada.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Lozada for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? Ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the Clerk please read the title of the next resolution? THE
A privileged resolution authorizing the Council Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings to investigate rail operators' responsibilities for cleanup, maintenance, and beautification of transit entry points into Philadelphia, introduced by Councilmember Young.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Young for a motion on the resolution.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the Clerk please read the title of the next resolution? THE
A privileged resolution honoring and expressing gratitude to Philly Black Pride for its ongoing work to center and support underserved black and brown --
The Council will be at ease for a second. (Council at ease.)
A privileged resolution honoring and expressing gratitude to Philly Black Pride for its ongoing work to center and support underserved black and brown folks in the LGBTQ+ community, and recognizing Thursday, April 24th through Sunday, April 27th, as Philly brought Black Pride Weekend in the city of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilmember Brooks.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Brooks for a motion on the resolution.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the Chief Clerk please read the title of the next resolution? THE
A resolution authorizing the Committee on Labor and Civil Service and the Committee on Parks and Recreation to hold joint hearings investigating the city's enforcement of the healthy outdoor public spaces law and the risks that exposure to synthetic pesticides posed to the public and city employees, introduced by Councilmember Harrity.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Harrity for a motion on the resolution.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution is adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the Clerk please read the title of the next resolution? THE
A privileged resolution honoring SEPTA transit workers, the unsung heroes of Philadelphia, for their essential daily work to transport Philadelphians throughout the city no matter the conditions, introduced by Councilmember O'Rourke.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember O'Rourke for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for adoption of the resolution.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the Chief Clerk please read the title of the next resolution? THE
A privileged resolution honoring the life and legacy of His Holiness Pope Francis, the 266th supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, known for his commitment to peace, social justice, and humility on the occasion of his passing on April 21st, 2025, introduced by Councilmember Driscoll on behalf of Council President Johnson.
Councilmember Driscoll, I may acknowledge you for a motion and we'll take a silent vote.
Will the Chief Clerk please read the title of the next resolution? THE
A privileged resolution recognizing Monique Moore Pryor's vision, leadership, and unwavering dedication to the Free Library Foundation of Philadelphia and ensuring that the Free Library of Philadelphia remains a beacon of hope, education, and opportunity for all Philadelphians, introduced by Councilmember Bass.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Bass for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the Chief Clerk please read the title of the next resolution? THE
Council President, there are no further resolutions in my possession.
Thank you. That completes our calendar for today. Before we give speeches on behalf of the minority and the -and the majority, just a small matter of personal privilege to acknowledge the new hiree for the Office of Veteran Affairs, I want to welcome to our team new director of office of Veteran Affairs, Mr. Gregory Wright. Can you please stand, sir? Born and raised in North Philly. Currently living in Fox Chase. Proud graduate of Girard College. Graduated from -- with a degree from Pierce College in Criminal Justice. Later earned his MBA from Eastern University. Also, a former Philadelphia police officer. Served 14 years with the Pennsylvania National Guard as a sergeant, E6. His service included a deployment to the Middle East during the COVID-19 pandemic where he earned the following honors: Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. Being a son of a veteran, I appreciate his hard work and his dedication to a cause that should definitely be supported. And so we thank you for joining. I call us Team Johnson and the Office of Veterans Affairs. Give the brother a round of applause and make sure you get a chance for your staff to meet him. Thank you. I'm going to ask also for brief speeches, if you all would allow it today, just based upon our schedule and we all have other things to do and we know things were kind of rearranged in terms of how we started today. So I'm just asking that level of consideration. So if there are any speeches on behalf of the Minority? The Chair recognizes Councilmember Kendra Brooks.
Thank you, Council President. I just want to take a moment to thank my colleague, Councilmember Rue Landau, for joining me again for officially recognizing this weekend as Philly Black Pride Weekend in Philadelphia. We started this in 2022 when I lost a dear friend, Michael Henson, and I introduced a resolution in his honor. And since then I continue to see the impact of his leadership in so many corners of our city. Michael was one of the co-founders of Philadelphia Black Pride. And last night, Councilmember Landau and I hosted a reward ceremony to honor dozens of people who have followed in his footsteps, carrying on to work in Philadelphia Black Pride, as well as multiple organizations that serve and advocate for black queer Philadelphians. I'm so happy and proud to see Michael's legacy is alive and well, and to kick off this weekend to celebrate 26 years of Philly Black Pride. Thank you.
Thank you, Minority Leader Brooks. The Chair recognizes deputy whip of the minority party, Councilmember Nicolas O'Rourke.
Thank you, Mr. President. After a long and taxing holy week for any minister, certainly pastors, on Monday, I woke up to the news -devastating news that Pope Francis had transitioned. As you pointed out, Papa Francisco was a steadfast advocate for the poor and the marginalized, emphasizing the church's role in addressing not just social justice, but economic inequality. And not just fighting poverty, but actually recognizing the need to fight wealth. Particularly for me, he was an inspiration. Many ministers keep the tradition of bearing a pectoral cross worn over the heart to remind you of what your cause is, and he wore one that inspired me to copy his and I wear it today in his honor. His teachings on charity and material provision serve as a moral compass, especially in times when government policies undermine the basic needs of our most vulnerable neighbors. That message feels particularly urgent in light of recent federal actions under the Trump administration. Programs that directly supported marginalized communities have been gutted and defunded. Just last week, one such consequence became clear. Federal cuts have jeopardized the future of the Share Food Program, a critical source of nourishment for hundreds of thousands across our region. Francis taught us that justice for the poor requires more than good intentions. It requires material action. As we honor his legacy today, we must also step up to defend the systems that make dignity possible for all. And I say we because the moral lessons that are intended are for more than just pious individuals, they're for nations, they're for communities, they're for cities. One of the ways that we do that right here in Philadelphia is by fighting for equitable access to the essentials, whether that's food or whether that's transportation, which is why today's legislation on transit access and our recognition of SEPTA workers is so deeply aligned with that moral vision. Transit is about more than getting from point A to point B. It's about connecting people to jobs, education, healthcare, and community. Today's legislation to establish the Philadelphia Transit Access Fund is a step toward transit justice, ensuring Philadelphians aren't left behind because they can't afford a fair. At the same time, we're honoring the SEPTA workers who power this city, individuals who show up every day to make sure our families can move safely and reliably, transporting -- supporting transit means, supporting the people who rely on it and the people who make it possible. And we were thankful again to be joined by Anthony Clark, who is a train operator here in our city. Finally, I just wanted to give a little plug for an event my team is hosting this Friday, a community event in Love Park centered around the People's Budget Office installation. This event will include a constituent service table and information on city services. There will be music, there will be food, and opportunities for the public to engage with the budget process. If you're around, come say hi and join us then. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. Any speeches on behalf of the majority? The Chair recognizes Dr. Nina Ahmad. Councilmember.
Thank you, Council President. I will be brief. I rise today to recognize and celebrate two exceptional interns from my office who are wrapping up their service with us, Nusat Tadjreen and Amaya Madarang, while they're not here now because they're in class, I just wanted to make sure my thanks are reflected in the public record. Nusat is graduating this May from Temple University with a degree in public health. And Amaya is graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in political science and government. Both are now in the job market and any workplace -- any workplace would be lucky to have them. Their impact has been lasting. They have drafted resolutions including the -- Nusat having drafted the International Mother Language Day and Amaya doing a resolution to recognize Dr. Arlene Bennett, the first Black woman to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. These contributions speak to their thoughtfulness, talent and commitment to public service. Interns like Nusat and Amaya play a critical role in our work. They bring new energy, sharp insight, and a deep desire to make a difference. Please join me in thanking them for their outstanding service and wishing them all the best in the bright paths ahead. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Deputy Whip, Councilmember Cindy Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I wanted to speak today in strong support of the resolution that I introduced earlier regarding having our city pension funds, make sure that they uphold the values of transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. Recent developments in El Salvador, most notably the refusal of its President to comply with a unanimous ruling by the United States Supreme Court signals a serious disregard for the rule of law. When a foreign government openly defies our higher court, it causes not only diplomatic concerns, but also tangible financial risk to our pension investments. We cannot, in good conscience, invest the retirement security of our public employees in environments where legal norms are ignored and transparency is lacking. Philadelphia is the birthplace of the constitution and justice and the rule of law are not just ideals here, and they should be our foundation. This resolution directs our pension board to review and where appropriate divest from investments in El Salvador. It's not just the right thing to do, it's the fiscally responsible thing to do. And I also wanted to point out that Governor Pritzker, I just read today from the State of Illinois, also called for the investment -- the divestment of pension funds from the entire state of Illinois to do the same thing, to basically divest from El Salvador. So we will be looking to our partners in the Commonwealth legislative bodies. And also, I remember we did this many, many moons ago with South Africa when we called to divest from South Africa because of apartheid and it worked. It made a difference. And so for those who say it doesn't make a difference, I beg to differ. I also wanted to very briefly recognize and celebrate the remarkable vision, leadership, and unwavering dedication of Monique Moore Pryor, Esquire, a proud Philadelphian and the first Executive Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation. Since stepping into this historic role in August of 2023. Monique has led with heart, purpose, and an unbelievable unshakeable belief in the power of libraries to transform lives. And we wish her well and offer congratulations and more to come in the future on that, I'm sure. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Member Bass. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jeffrey J. Young.
Thank you, Mr. President. Briefly, I just want to thank my colleagues for passing a resolution today to authorize hearings to discuss our rails and cleaning of our rails. As I drive through my district, we have a number of tracks where there's a lot of short dumping and our streets department, and our sanitation department cannot go on those rails to clean it up. And it provides a -- it is a hazard to our community. So I look forward to having that discussion to figure out how we can continue to make our city the safest, cleanest, greenest city in America. I also want to give my condolences to the family of Jibril Abdul Jalil, a.k.a. Butch, formerly known as James Chiles. He is one of the original Cecil B. Moore Freedom Fighters who marched around Girard College for months on end to allow myself and Greg the opportunity to get the great education that we did. So I want to give my condolences to his family as well.
Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Councilman Quetcy Lozada.
Thank you, Council President. I would like to thank my colleagues for joining me today in welcoming and celebrating the principles in our community as well as the Executive Director and the Associate Director of the Children's Alliance. Their work is truly inspirational, and the work that they do is extremely important in our community. So thank you for joining me in welcoming them. I also introduced an amendment to my bill pertaining to mobile service providers in Kensington, Bill No. 240665. The bill was introduced in the fall and passed Council's license and inspection committee with a favorable recommendation. However, I made a decision to hold the bill for seven months. For seven months, we held the bill because we understood that there were voices in the Kensington community and the public health community that had more to say. I hosted multiple meetings with mobile service providers. Every single provider that did services or that provided services in the Kensington community was invited to the table, every single one of them. Whether we agreed with them or not, they were invited to participate in community meetings. We held community meetings with all stakeholders, with students, with businesses, with families, with faith-based individuals. Every single person in the Kensington community that had anything to do with mobile service providers work was invited to come and share their opinions and their expertise with us. During the meetings, my team and I listened to the subject matter experts. We worked with them to narrow on -- to narrow down and narrow in on details that needed to be changed and expanded our vision to include the ideas that were not in our original purview. I'm proud to say that this bill represents thoughtful, informed, and community centered input. It reflects the voices of residents, it reflects the voices of residents. It prioritizes residents, business owners, children, police, and the experts in our public health areas. This was a collaborative effort from all fronts which I'm proud of. I would like to say thank you to every person who attended those meetings, corresponded with my office and took part in the process. I'd also like to thank the administration who also was very supportive, offered support in those amendments. I believe that the bill's not perfect. I don't think any piece of legislation is ever going to be perfect. I don't think that everyone is going to ever come in agreement -- in full agreement. But I think that having held the bill and having held these meetings was a learning process for myself and for my team. We've also engaged and have had conversations with many of the offices on this legislative body. You know, I want to thank my legislative staff who is a young staff and who doesn't always get it right, but is always extremely respectful to everyone in this legislative body and to your staff. It's unfortunate that some people can't reciprocate that. But we work hard to make sure that we listen and that we hear the opinions of everyone. The Kensington community has suffered for a really long time. And I believe that all of the work that we're doing, including legislation like this one will only continue to allow us to reimagine a Kensington that is a healthy community, a community that should be a part of the economic growth that so many of us continue to talk about. And they don't deserve to continue to live in a neighborhood that is occupied oftentimes right on their front steps. And so this bill helps to coordinate those services. Someone mentioned in public testimony that medical providers were only going to be able to receive 45 minutes or be in an area for 45 minutes. That is incorrect information.
I encourage people to read, read, read the bill. All experts, all individuals, all providers who are going to be providing services that are medical certified providers, there is no timeframe for you to be on that street. My community deserves some relief. We've tried to be as compassionate as possible. We are going to continue to push. As a government, we can't continue to allow people to live on our sidewalks. There has been a lot of emphasis on a certain kind of work in a certain way that has shown us that has not worked. We're doing things differently. If folks want to sign up to take some of these individuals home with them, I have signup sheets. Create a space amongst your family, amongst your neighborhood, in your neighborhood that will allow for these people to be cared of in the way that you believe we need to be caring for them for. But they can't. They can no longer live on the streets of the 7th Council District. They can't. it's not healthy for our -- for our families. It's not healthy for our businesses. It's not healthy for our -- it's not healthy for anybody. And so I have some signup sheets if folks want to take them home. Please open your doors. Let me know. But we're going to continue to push forward and make sure that Kensington becomes the healthy community that it should be, and that folks continue to receive the services that they need in a coordinated fashion, in a coordinated space. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilmember, Dr. Anthony Phillips.
Thank you so much, Council President. And thank you so much, Councilmember Lozada. I just want to say really quickly, next Thursday, your budget town hall with Council President Johnson and Members of Philadelphia City Council is going to be in the East Oak Lane section of the 9th District. I'm looking forward to seeing everybody there. It's going to be at our budget town hall, Oak Lane, Presbyterian Church, 6637 North 11th Street, 6637 North 11th Street, Oak Lane, Presbyterian Church, Thursday, May 1st, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. District Budget Town Hall in the 9th District. All right. See you all there. That's it.
That's it. Thank you, Dr. Phillips. The best part of you getting coordinated with your doctoral degree is what Member O'Rourke said, that you did the work without AI because a lot of people use AI these days for their dissertation. But thank you young man. There are no more speeches. Thank everybody for their hard work. For the record, we did pass 12 official bills today. So thank you for your hard work. And with that being said, the Chair recognizes Majority Leader Councilmember Katherine GilmoreRichardson for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Mr. President. As a reminder, we still have the Committee on Public Property hearing immediately following the stated meeting of City Council. Also, welcome to our new director, Greg Wright, for Veterans Affairs. But we also want to thank Wanda Pate-Dennis for always holding it down. To that point, I move that council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 1st, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
It has been moved and properly seconded by Member Harrity that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 1st, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. COUNCILMEMBERS: Aye.
Those opposed? The ayes have it and the motion carries. Thank you all very much. ) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the notes taken by me of the above case, and this copy is a correct transcript of the same. _______________ Samanda J. 5 30:5 23 1610 13th 19th 101:24 27:11 64:17 15 184:19 43:4 184:17 29:16 16th 40:15 54:16 1st 14 85:7 77:20 26:12, 178:9 37:1 121:20 17th 79:12 24 64:24 174:17 28:6 85:7 11th 57:3,22 65:11 177:22 44:24 148:4, 56:12 251:8 81:20 181:7 180560 66:15 252:19 230:2 184:7 32:7 209:18 251:5,6 187:11 14,000 1855 2 10-point 190:21 17:12 100:10 35:1 112:20 193:21 2 77:20 14-533 197:3 18th 32:6 117:7 37:11 200:12 184:19 26:8 79:8 188:8 14-544 203:12 188:1 57:19 171:3 191:5 37:3 206:11 19-1301. a. m.