Aye. And I would also like to be recognized as aye on all bills and resolutions that I might have missed. Thank you.
Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. I want to take a moment to recognize Councilmember Gilmore- Richardson. You want to be recorded as voting aye on all bills and resolutions when you stepped up for a second?
You're welcome. Will the clerk please read the title of Bill No. 250072?
An ordinance authorizing transfers and appropriations for fiscal year 2025 from the Grants Revenue Fund, certain or all city offices, departments, boards and commissions to the General Fund, certain or all city offices, departments, boards and commissions, and the Transportation Fund, certain or all city offices, departments, boards and commissions.
This bill has been read on two different days. The question now is shall the bill pass finally. Would the chief clerk please call the roll?
Aye. The ayes are 17, the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Will the chief clerk please read the title of Bill No. 250073?
An ordinance to amend Bill No. 240181 approved June 14th, 2024, entitled an ordinance to adopt a fiscal 2025 capital budget by revising various appropriation amounts and totals, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally? Will the chief clerk please call the roll?
Aye. The ayes are 17 and nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Will the chief clerk please read any additional resolutions on today's calendar?
A privileged resolution recognizing March 2024 as colon rectal cancer awareness month and promoting the public awareness of the risk of colon cancer introduced by Councilmember Phillips.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Phillips for a motion on the resolution.
In conjunction with Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, 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. The resolution is adopted. Would the clerk please read the title of the next resolution?
A privileged resolution welcoming, recognizing and commending Morehouse College and the "Get On The Bus" initiative for their dedication to mentorship, leadership and community empowerment in Philadelphia introduced by Councilmember Phillips.
The Chair recognizes the Morehouse man, Councilmember Phillips, for a motion on a 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 of the motion 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?
A privileged resolution honoring the 50th anniversary of ODUNDE the largest African-American street festival in the United States and its impact on African and African-American Heritage culture and community, introduced by Councilmember GilmoreRichardson on behalf of Council President Johnson.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Gilmore-Richardson.
Thank you, Council President. On your behalf I move for the adoption of the resolution.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution will be adopted. All those in favor of the motion 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?
A privileged resolution recognizing March 2nd through the 8th, 2025, during Women's History Month as Women in Construction, WIC week, in the city of Philadelphia introduced by Councilmember Gilmore-Richardson.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Gilmore-Richardson for a motion on a resolution. COUNCILMEMBER GILMORE- RICHARDSON: Thank you, Council President. On behalf of all the Women in Construction, I move for the adoption of the resolution.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor of the motion 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?
A privileged resolution recognizing the Pennsylvania Municipal League, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's oldest municipal association, and one of five of the oldest in the nation as it celebrates its 125th Anniversary introduced by Councilmember Thomas.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Thomas for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Council President. In collaboration with Councilmember Brian O'Neill, we 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 clerk please read the title of the next resolution?
A privileged resolution honoring and recognizing the National Coalition of 100 black Women, Inc., Pennsylvania Chapter NC100 BWPA, on their annual legislative day and for their dedication to advancing gender and racial equity and empower empowering black women during Women's History Month introduced by Councilmember Jones.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jones for a motion on a resolution.
On behalf of all enlightened men, I move for the adoption.
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?
A privileged resolution authorizing the committee on education to investigate Federal DEI program rollbacks and their effects on Philadelphia's tax exempted higher education institutions introduced by Councilmember Jones.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jones for a motion on a resolution.
Thank you, again, Mr. President. I move for the adoption.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution will be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it. And the resolution is adopted.
Would the clerk please read the title of the next resolution?
A privileged resolution honoring and congratulating Coleman Domingo for his second Oscar nomination for the best actor in a leading role award at the 97th Academy Awards for his role as John Divine G. Whitfield in the film Sing Sing introduced by Councilmember Landau.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Landau 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?
A privileged resolution declaring March 2nd through 8th, 2025, as Teen Tech Week, in the city of Philadelphia, and recognizing the importance of digital literacy to empower teens to be informed and responsible digital citizens introduced by Councilmember Landau.
Thank you. I move for the adoption in the resolution.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution will be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it. And resolution is adopted. Will the clerk please read the title of the next resolution?
A privileged resolution to clearing March 2nd through 8th, 2025, as National Consumer Protection Week, in the city of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilmember Landau.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Landau 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? The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the clerk please read the title of the next resolution?
A privileged resolution recognizing March as Women's History Month, in the city of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilmember Lozada.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember 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 be adopted. All those in favor the motion will signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it and resolution is adopted. Would the clerk please read the title of the next resolution?
A privileged resolution recognizing, celebrating and expressing gratitude to Charlene Samuels for her leadership and unwavering dedication to improving the lives of her neighbors in Logan and her years of tireless and selfless service to the city of Philadelphia and its constituents on the occasion of Women's History Month, 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. Would the clerk please read the title of the next resolution?
A privileged resolution honoring and commending Sonia Garrett for her constant service to her community and her tireless devotion to improving the lives of her neighbors in Logan, North Philadelphia, on the occasion of Women's History Month, 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 of the motion will signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the clerk please read the title -- y'all can clap. Go ahead. Y'all want to give a round of applause? Congratulations. Will the clerk please read the title of the next resolution?
A privileged resolution proclaiming the month of March 2025 as Irish Heritage Month, in the city of Philadelphia and honoring the St Patrick's Day Observance Association of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilmember Driscoll.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Driscoll for a motion on a resolution.
On behalf of Councilman Brian O'Neill and myself, we 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 clerk please read a title of the next resolution?
A privileged resolution honoring and congratulating the Neumann Goretti Girls basketball team on winning the Philadelphia Catholic League Championship, introduced by Councilmember Squilla.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Squilla for a motion on a 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 of the motion 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?
A privileged resolution thanking A. Bruce Crawley, founder of Millennium 3 Management, the African-American Chamber of Commerce and a founding member of Visit Philadelphia for his decades of leadership and invaluable contributions to the business, hospitality and political communities in Philadelphia, introduced by Councilmember Ahmad on behalf of Council President Johnson.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution on your behalf.
It has been moved and properly second that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor the motion will signify by saying. Aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Will the clerk please read the title of the next resolution?
Council President, there are no further resolutions in my possession.
That completes our calendar for today. Okay. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? The chair recognizes minority leader Councilmember Kendra Brooks.
Thank you so much, Councilmember -- I mean, Council President. Two weeks ago I introduced a resolution condemning DOGE and Elon Musk, mass firing of public servants and cuts of services to work -- that the working families depend on. In my resolution we directly condemn the way he was taking millions per day in tax dollars for his business interest while the average welfare recipient has to survive off a couple hundred dollars a month. This is what oligarchy looks like and when billionaires corrupt the legislative process. Since my introduction Musk attacks have escalated on the Department of Education, the Department of Labor and every other entity that limits his power or protects working people against corporate greed. The Trump Administration plans to cut food stamps, school lunches, housing programs at a time when working families are already struggling. And they're doing it so they can fund tax breaks for the wealthy. With these attacks from the federal level, it's up to us to fight back on the local level on the behalf of the people of Philadelphia. We do that with legislation like the Power Act which protects workers and strengthens our Department of Labor, co-sponsored by 13 of my colleagues. We do that by not limiting our policy options to tax breaks for corporations in the city with a poverty rate of over 20%. We do that by standing with our immigrant and working class neighborhoods. Philadelphia we protect our own. Also, we do that by honoring the work public servants -- public -- I'm sorry, honoring the work public servants do in government everyday, which brings me to my resolutions today. As we begin Women's History Month this week, I wanted to recognize two of my sheros. Once again, North Philadelphia, LoganNicetown area Ms. Sonia Garrett and Ms. Charlene Samuels. Both of these women have devoted countless hours, over several decades to protecting and improving their community in Logan. I'm going to start with Ms. Sonia Garrett is a parent, a foster parent, a block captain, a poll worker and a leader of multiple community organizations, including the Logan Civic Association and the Nicetown CDC. In other words, she is constantly giving back to her community in so many ways and almost every way possible. And next I have to highlight Ms. Charlene Samuels, who is the president of the Logan Civic association and a fierce advocate for her community. She's also the constituent services representative in my office and way before that she was my constituent services rep. My go-to person, no matter where she was, what whatever role she served in helping me navigate hard times in my life. So I was honored to bring her on as part of my team and I'm even more honored to recognize her right now in this moment. What I can say about Charlene, she has helped hundreds, I'm saying probably more than that, Philadelphians, find housing. She resolved conflicts and access city services. And when it comes to serving constituents, she accepts nothing less than excellence for herself and for her fellow public servants. Both in her neighborhood and here in City Hall, she has raised the bar for what Philadelphians expect and deserve. And for me, she is a constant reminder of what I am here to do which is serve our people. So I want to honor both of these women and just say thank you. Thank you for your commitment to our community. Thank you for your commitment to our government. And thank you for your commitment to the city. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you, Council President. Elder Edward Fields, pastor of the Ambassador Seat of Love Church at the invitation of Member Young, I believe thoroughly fulfilled the request to provide invocation for our proceedings this morning. I said invocation. That is to invoke, to invoke, to invoke the aid of providence and aid in the sacred -- of the sacred, I should say, into the business and the dealings of the secular. World because as Carl Bart said, we can't do it ourselves. So I want to thank Pastor Buster, as he is affectionately called, for being authentically led of the spirit this morning. Spirit of the living god and invoking that aid, that providence and that Spirit from the Lord's house into this, the people's house, and doing so through song as folks noticed. Member Gauthier in just turned around and said, IDK, looks like you might have some competition. I laugh, it's funny. She says it in just, but it is funny because it really ain't no competition. For folks that don't know, he was in a competition already I think it was back in 2020 that brother made it, I think to the finals, top 10, in a little competition called Sunday's Best. So if you looking for folks who can sang and raise the praise Pastor Buster is one of the best at it. Also, no competition because any of us at best are, but willing vessels used of the same spirit. We are one in the spirit as some might say. Same spirit that leads Pastor Buster is the same spirit that leads me is the same spirit that I believe led Member Jones last week in his remarks at the start of the holy month of Ramadan is the same spirit that led Member Landau and Member Jones to stand with me when we called for the release of one van after counsel is the same spirit that moves any of us to sing to speak, to write, to legislate, to organize, to do those things that are right and are just. Same Spirit. We are one in that spirit. Flowing from that thought with a nod to the Prophet Mohammed peace be upon him, I want to offer up the words of the Prophet Isaiah as an anchoring thought For the Lent season. Our Muslim siblings got started last week, now is the Christian's turn to step into this season of focus and fasting he says and I quote: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and to break every yoke. Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter, when you see the naked to clothe them and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood. Then your light will break forth like the Dawn and your healing will quickly appear. Then your righteousness will go before you and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call and the Lord will answer and you will cry for help and he will say here am I. "If you do away with the Yoke of oppression with the pointing finger with malicious talk and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noon day. " This is a holy month of Ramadan for our Muslims, a holy 40 days of fasting and focus for the Christians. Our Jewish siblings will be joining us not too, too long from now as well in their own holy days. And I just want to make sure that we raise this up and be mindful of the values and that spirit that drives us to do any good thing. I also want to mention and thank Member Jones, Chairman Jones again for cheering and hearing and standing with, as I said Vietlead and hontos last week, as well as Member Landau. So much going on that I think speaks to what it means to do work for and on behalf of the people.
Some of the issues that were raised in that hearing that we had earlier this week are of importance to so many of you here in this chamber, so many of my colleagues. I'm thinking about the forensic intensive recovery piece that I think would be of interest to the Kensington Caucus. Technical violations of post-release supervision that, I believe is of interest to Councilman Thomas as well as you Council President. First Judicial District procedures around bail hearings, I think many folks are concerned about that. I want to thank everyone who came out to share their thoughts, their concerns and their experiences. We have to figure out how to at least get our jails up to the Constitutional standards which is not a high bar. So I look forward to building on this effort in the months and years to come. Not only that, we continue to work on efforts that I believe are kind of a through line and important lifeline for all Philadelphians across the city, SEPTA. We hear about that from Mr Blatstein every single week, however annoyed you may be by his reminding of us, I do believe it is important. I agree with him on that front. We did have a hearing yesterday and many folks felt that that was good. I want to thank Member Driscoll, Chairman Driscoll of the Transportation Committee, Member Gauthier, Member Landau, Council President and others that came. There were some state reps and senators there and I believe that we had a good one. I said in yesterday's hearing and I'll say it again City Council's remit on this issue boils down to local funding which we boosted last year. I'm excited to see what more we can do to help SEPTA and I don't see why any elected official in Southeastern Pennsylvania would disagree with that. And I hope that we can all keep that energy from City Hall to Harrisburg. I could speak to a number of other things that are going on in the world, but I think so much of that has been said. That having been said, Council President, I thank you for your leadership in this chamber and allowing a young preacher to get up there and inspire me today through his song and letting it rise. I believe this benefits all of us. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you very much. Are there any speeches on behalf of the majority? The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Northwest Philadelphia, Councilmember Anthony Phillips.
Thank you, Council President. I just simply wanted to say a couple words about Sonia Garrett and Charlene Samuels. My first public service as a councilmember in Logan began with Charlene Samuels and Sonia Garrett. It was a cleanup around the Logan triangle area. And everything that was said about those two individuals today is true. They are absolutely the definition of what you call individuals that are reluctant leaders. They don't desire the spotlight, but when called to serve, they lead. And so I just want to thank Councilwoman Kendra Brooks for honoring them today and for all the work that they're doing in Logan community. Thank you all so much. And I also want to thank everyone for coming to the legal dumping hearing. I received some wonderful insight on how the city of Philadelphia is doing a great job with cleaning the city when it comes to illegal dumping. So Carlton Williams and Commissioner Jacobs are doing some great work there. However, we're making some more progress around enforcement and prevention and so that's going to have to happen, and that insight came from a lot of advocates and residents. I want to thank them for coming, and one of them included Jim Harrity. And a couple other people mentioning that we need to begin to shame the individuals who are doing illegal dumpling publicly, put them on TV on social media, put their faces and at some point they can't do business in the city of Philadelphia. So I'm really looking forward to this morning what that looks like in the coming months. And lastly, I just want to thank the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. They've been doing a good job with us, you know, working with all of us to shame this administration for all the cuts that they're doing at the federal government level around our education. And I was happy to join several of our members at -- where was I? At Prince Hall the other day, and then I didn't get make it to the Widener, but Prince Hall we did some lit drops around this issue and also some protesting. And honestly, you know, we as Democrats just have to do a better job with uniting against Donald Trump. You know, today I just learned that our Democratic federal government, Congressional people, ten members of the democratic party voted to side with Republicans to censor Representative Al Green. And to me that's just inexcusable. The Republican Party would have never did that to one of their members even if they thought that that was a wrong thing to do. And honestly it wasn't a wrong thing to do. It may not have been the right time, but the right time for us is for us to unite. So I'm very disappointed in those 10 members and we got to find a way to unite better against Donald Trump. Thank you.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier.
Thank you, Council President. Last year with the support of this body, I was able to create a new properly tax relief program called the low income properly tax freeze. This is a program that provides relief for low-income homeowners in freezing their properly taxes at prior year levels. I thought that it was important to do this because I knew that an increase in assessments was coming and that would hit communities like mine especially hard. The low income properly tax freeze is a vehicle to protect, you know, some of the most vulnerable homeowners in the city who are overwhelmingly black and brown. The original deadline for the application for the program was, I believe January 31st. By that time we had seen just under 1,700 uh homeowners apply for the program or receive acceptance into the program, but we believe that 62,000 homeowners in our city are eligible for the program. So here I want to take some time to credit Councilmember Landau who is my vice chair on the Housing Committee. She has been tenacious in tracking how many people are being accepted into this program and pushing for extensions so that we can get more people in, so that they could see this relief. Her first push around this extended the deadline to February the 28th and today we co-introduced a bill that would extend the deadline even further to September 30th, to put it in line with the application deadline for some of the city's other tax relief programs. Additionally, our bill as proposed would allow for retroactive qualification for future applicants and move us towards the ultimate ideal of automatic enrollment for homeowners who are qualified so that people aren't leaving money on the table. We instituted this program so that we could stop displacement as it relates to increases in properly taxes among the most vulnerable homeowners in the city and we want to make sure that everyone is taking advantage of it. One thing that is really special about Philadelphia is that we have always had been a city of homeownership and that has been rang through up and down the socioeconomic spectrum. So we even have you know a significant amount of homeowners who are low income and working class and we need to protect that and make sure that the those folks are not displaced from their neighborhoods, particularly by city properly taxes. And so I feel proud of the work that we have done. Thank you to this body. Thank you to Councilmember Landau for pushing for even more time and opportunity for people to enroll in this vital program. And I hope that these this bill makes it across the finish line. So thank you so much.
You're welcome. Thank you. Good job. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr.
Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you for those dates. Around 6:01 p.m., I'm going to enjoy them while I break fast and I want to thank Member O'Rourke for his insightful commentary today and recognizing all of the religions during this month, whether it's Lent or Ramadan and soon with the Jewish faith. Many of us had to suffer through the president's address. A lot of us boycotted watching it not to give him any extra ratings on the subject matter. But as Member Brooks talked about the many things that he began to bully Americans about, to intimidate countries about, snatching, land grabbing and bullying the world. I want to focus on just one aspect of that bullying which is DEI, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. And more importantly, some of the reactions private corporations have had to that and educational institutions have had to that. A lot of people hide behind -- well, you know, the devil made me do it. But some of us believe that if you did it, you wanted to do it anyway. I'd like to focus on the fact that this week I had the opportunity to go up to St Joe's University where a Member Morgan Cephas of the house was able to negotiate a community benefits agreement that incorporated businesses, community organizations, schools. They adopted Gompers in a way that is going to be a replica of what is happening in Jamie Gauthier's district with the University of Penn. I want you to know that whether it's the boycott of Target for the month of Lent we have power. That brown people have the purchasing power of Canada. If you include black and brown and women, that exceeds many nations throughout around the world. So we can choose to fight back in that regard. Lord knows I hate a bully. Lord knows out of all -- I fought bullies when I wouldn't fight for myself about stuff because they were bullying others. We have to choose to stand up. When it comes to education institutions and they say, well, he made me do it, I can't. What do I do? I may lose money. I'm going to say to you life is hard, but we can choose to look at pilots to determine whether or not you're paying your fair share, whether or not you are contributing to the communities that you shadow. Choose your heart. You can either stand up to them or you going to have to face us, but we will not sit by and be bullied by anyone. There's too many people depending on what we do to defend them in this time. So we've introduced a resolution that looks at education institutions and I'm going to applaud Member Gauthier for what she's doing to work it out with Penn. I get it. I'm thankful for what St Joe's does, but we're going to look at each of those institutions to determine if you back up for this because you think you're getting bullied, then we need to evaluate what you do for the communities in which you reside. To the people who are listening, we ain't scared. You can't -- you might think if you ignore a bully, if you lower your gaze to a bully or if you whine to a bully, that's like the rationale of a rabbit, whining to a wolf. It's only going to attract them. Stand up, hold your head up, fight back. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Mr Jones. Very well said. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad.
Thank you, Council President. And I thank my colleague Curtis Jones for his remarks to really talk about standing up when it's important. And I also want to thank all my colleagues today for voting for the adoption of the resolution 250171. Philadelphia must stand for justice and due process. Every person regardless of immigration status deserves access to fair legal representation. Legal support is not just a privilege, it is a fundamental issue of justice and due process. We cannot let a 34 times convicted felon make division amongst us and make us despair for our humanity. We will not do that here in Philadelphia. Immigrants have always been a corner stone of America's history, economy and culture. We cannot ignore the fact that our country was built by immigrants, some who were brought here against their will and even our founding fathers were by definition immigrants themselves arriving without permission of the indigenous people who were already here. Demonizing immigrants is both hypocritical and counterproductive. Instead we should recognize their contributions and ensure they have legal protections that they deserve. Many immigrants face complicated legal proceedings that can determine their ability to stay in the country, yet they often lack proper legal support. Studies show that detained immigrants with legal representations are 11 times more likely to seek relief and twice as likely to obtain relief than those without counsel. Ensuring legal aid for immigrants is not just the right thing to do, it also strengthens our communities by preventing unjust detentions and deportations. You know, this ICE enforcement creates fear and instability that continues to make our communities afraid. Many immigrants are unaware of their legal rights when confronted by ICE and may unknowingly wave protections available to them. This resolution ensures that immigrant communities know their rights and have access to trusted legal resources when needed. We must expand partnerships with non-profit organizations, such as the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Philadelphia Legal Assistance, the ACLU, and others that were mentioned in testimony today about this resolution. Philadelphia's Public Defenders are taking a crucial step by forming an Immigration Defense Unit, which will provide essential legal support to immigrants and those entangled in the justice system. Increasing awareness of legal hotlines pro bono legal services and the community training will help our residents navigate immigration enforcement challenges. As I said, Philadelphia has been since the time of abolition and before a sanctuary city. It has given sanctuary to those who have needed it. And so we have a culture and a tradition in this city and we need to continue that. And we cannot allow divisive voices to move us on this issue and division amongst us when the humanity of us need to rise to the top. I thank you, Council President, for actually being -- for your cultural competency which all of us must exercise. My colleague Curtis Jones already thanked you for these dates that people use to break their fast. These gestures tell us that we are a, you know, a multiethnic space here. And you doing that signals to all of us that the leadership recognizes that. And that's why I stand with all of you to say we must fight injustice where we see it and we must give people due process. So I thank you very much.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Jeffrey J. Young, Jr.
Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank my colleagues today for passing a package of legislation pertaining to transportation safety in the 5th Council District. Since taking office as chair of the Streets and Services Committee and vice chair Transportation and Public Utilities, transportation safety has always been a priority. So after community engagement review of traffic studies provided by the Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems, these locations were identified as areas where bicycle lanes could improve connectivity and public safety with minimal effect on the quality of life. So I understand how controversial some of the proposals could be, but we want to make sure that safety and quality of life are always at the forefront of what we do here in the 5th Council District. I look forward to continuing to enhance public saftey for all public safety measures for all in our city. And, again, we're looking to see where We can have the most minimal effects on the quality of life for neighbors. And there's a lot of, you know, Donald Trump and Trump Administration bashing today so I'm going to keep up with that same spirit, something I typically don't do. But as lawyers, we're held to the highest legal, ethical and moral standards. So I want to applaud the Philadelphia Bar Association for issuing a statement condemning recent attacks. S. Marshals have worn federal judges of unusually high threats as Elon Musk and other Trump Administration allies continually discredit judges calling them corrupt. These attacks threaten judicial independence and we cannot allow these attacks on the integrity of judges just because they don't rule in your favor. I'm going to read the statement of the Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Katayun Jaffari because I couldn't have said it even better. You know, "We are deeply concerned at the unprecedented escalation of attacks against the federal judiciary by the current administration and just last week you know the attacks by the president himself against a private law firm that was retained by a former special counsel. These attacks have included calls for the impeachment of Judges who have stayed the enforcement of executive orders by the President and actions by the President's Administration and called by the President and some members of Congress to restrict judicial review in these cases. "These actions of the Trump Administration are directly in conflict with the mission of our association and the values of our profession, which include respect for the rule of law, the importance of judicial independence and the need to advance fair and equal administration of justice. "As judges and attorneys we commit to supporting and defending the Constitution. No judge or attorney should fear personal or professional retribution for the rulings they make or the clients whom they represent. These attacks are also dangerous in that they erode a public trust in the justice system which is essential to the ability to function effectively and to our society as a whole. Our republic was founded upon a system of checks and balances to ensure that no single branch of government could exercise unfettered power. " I really think that we have to, you know, take into consideration that the judiciary is our last stance against fascism of Donald Trump. Right, this is our last stance. And if they continue to try to erode our justice system, it's just to ensure that their policies, their unconstitutional policies can then be deemed to be constitutional. When Donald Trump ran, he ran for office to literally change the face of this country.
They want to make sure that things that we deem to be sacred to our republic are no longer sacred, so then they can become this dictatorship that he wants to create here in America. So we have to keep standing up, we have to keep fighting back and we have to unite as a country, not just as Democrats, as a country to stand up to this tyranny that Donald Trump is trying to reign over our nation. So thank you, Mr. President, for allowing me that time.
Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Councilman Quetcy Lozada.
Thank you, Council President. First, I want to thank Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad for her resolution today regarding the importance of legal representation. (Latin speaking message to the community.)
I always find it interesting that people feel comfortable coming into public spaces and spewing hate. I find it -- I find it surprising that they can spew hate and then walk out before it's addressed. It's starting to frustrate me. And if you know that when I get frustrated sometimes I can't control my passion. And so, you know, with all due respect, Council President, when it happens again expect for me to respond to it. Because if we don't put an end to hate in spaces like this, people are going to continue to feel emboldened and think that it is acceptable. Yes, this is a space where everyone should be able to speak freely about how they feel, but it needs to be done respectfully. Immigrants contribute a lot to this city, to the Commonwealth and to the nation. And it doesn't matter how they got here, it doesn't matter what the situation is. If they're -- if they're responsible contributing citizens to our nation then they should be allowed to be amongst us and figure out how they correct or become legal. Not everyone has the luxuries of being able to pay the thousands of dollars that it costs in a process that is difficult to understand. And so I offer my office -- I said it in Spanish, I'm happy to say it in English. My office is available to all of those families who are living in our city regardless of whether you live in the 7th Council District or not please visit us. We will connect you to those organizations who provide legal services or resources so that you continue to thrive in our city, so that you know what your rights are. But you cannot stop sending your children to school, you cannot stop visiting our businesses, you cannot stop working, you cannot stop going to places where you find food to put on your table. We are here to help. My office is here to help. We're in 484 in City Hall and we are at 4821 Frankford Avenue for those families who find themselves confused or frustrated or afraid of the legal process. I also want to share with you that I had the opportunity to visit Wellness Court yesterday and I invite all of my colleagues to visit Wellness Court on Wednesdays at 3901 Whitaker Avenue. I had an opportunity to sit back and watch the process. I watched real compassion and empathy towards those who are actively living in addiction. I watched the amount of resources that they were able to be connected to and I and I was able to hear success stories in that courtroom. I never had the opportunity to meet Judge Lewandowski, but I have to say that I have deep respect for him because he's able to connect with individuals who are struggling in a way that I've never seen a Judge be able to connect with. And there were people of all races in that courtroom from all walks of life, most not originally from here. And so that only confirms to me that while many don't agree, the work that we're continuing to do in my neighborhood is how we have to do it. I participated in a lot of meetings this week that also further confirmed that individuals don't want people like me to do the work that I'm doing in the Kensington community because they don't want it to move into their community. I ask you, what are you doing to protect your community? What are you doing to respond to the need in your community? Are you talking to your residents and where is your compassion and empathy for those who are struggling? Happy to continue the conversation and to continue to work to represent the residents of the 7th Council District because they also deserve quality of life. Thank you.
Thank you. Very well said. Councilmember Isaiah Thomas.
Good afternoon, Council President. I want to first thank my colleague Councilmember Brooks for the people that she recognized today. I don't even know if you know this, Councilmember Brooks, but Charlene Samuels and I used to work together. We were colleagues in another lifetime and I've watched the amazing work that she's done, both working for city government and the non-profit sector. And she's a pillar in the Logan community, Logan-Olney section of the city of Philadelphia. So I just wanted to commend her on that. Today we passed a resolution around the Pennsylvania Municipal League, 125 years of celebration. I want to thank Councilmember Brian O'Neill, as well as former Councilmember Derek Green. And for those of you who don't know Councilmember Brian O'Neill is a legend in the space of National League of Cities. He's a former president, he's a board member, and he's somebody who elected officials all across the country look to for advice, wisdom and things of that capacity. And every time I go to the National Convention this past year it was in Tampa Bay, Brian's praises are sung and he's always representing Philadelphia in a great way. So thank you colleague, we appreciate you. Two other things. So I also want to say thank you to Councilmember Majority Leader Gilmore-Richardson, Minority Leader Kendra Brooks, Councilmember Rue Landau, our state partners and everybody who stood together concerning issues related to funding for public education. Similar to most people still listening right now, Councilmember Lozada, your remarks and other members remarks, Councilmember Ahmad, Councilmember Gauthier, Councilmember O'Rourke, you guys are on point today. And if I could just add an attachment to the comments that we've heard public education is on the list of things to be chopped. When we look at the threat that the recent conversation could consist of if actualized for children in the city of Philadelphia, this could be more detrimental than the Corbett Administration. And anybody know about the cuts during a Corbett Admininistration know that as of yesterday we're still trying to recover from those detrimental decisions. So I pray, I hope and I stand united with my colleagues in City Council that will continue to fight for every child in the city of Philadelphia and across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to assure as Councilmember GilmoreRichardson would say, no matter what zip code you live in, you have access to a quality education. Last, but not least, Council President, today we voted to approve the mid year transfer. And I want to say thank you to all members of the Appropriation Committee, but especially our chairman Councilmember Mark Squilla. In that mid year appropriation we had a lot of different things that we voted on, but one of the things that I just want to keep pushing is that we voted to invest in 2026. And I know it was some tough negotiations as it relates to putting dollars and cents into 2026, but here we are. While I am proud of some of the things that we are spending money on, I do have concerns about other things that we're spending money on and I'm hoping that as we transition into budget negotiations listening to the Mayor's budget next week, we could begin to see 2026 be more of a priority to the administration, as well as to our state partners and federal partners. Because 50 years from now when folks get ready for our uh two was that would that be 2076, they're going to look back at 2026. They're not going to ask about what happened during COVID, they're not going to ask about votes that we've taken on different issues that have a huge impact on the city of Philadelphia.
Just like we're looking back on 1976 and 1876, they're going to look back on 2026 and see if we got it right. And I'd be damned if I'm sitting in City Council and we get it wrong. So I appreciate all of my colleagues and the great work that folks have done to advocate for what we know will be a historic year and I look forward to the work to continue over the next couple months as we indulge in budget negotiations. Thank you, Council President. And a special shout out to you, Council President, because we are about to start budget season and I know that there have been a lot of organizations talking about transparency in the budget process and I don't know what's more transparent than coming into your neighborhood and listening to you tell us what you want us to spend money on, as well as what you don't. So I'm looking forward to not just our in-council chambers budget negotiations, but also listening to the constituents across the city of Philadelphia tell us what their priorities are. Thank you, Council President. Thank you, colleagues.
Thank you, Council President. Thank you, colleagues. Today I introduced a resolution declaring March 2nd to 8th as National Consumer Protection Week, in the city of Philadelphia. The recent dismantling by the Trump Administration of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has ceased all monitoring, ended lawsuits and cut staff making consumers even more susceptible to scams and unscrupulous practices. The good news is that last year City Council adopted the consumer protection -- the city's Consumer Protection ordinance, which I introduced with the Parker Administration and it empowers the city to legally protect consumers throughout Philadelphia. As the federal onslaught continues we must protect ourselves at the local and state level. gov or a financial counselor or a legal service provider if they believe that they've been affected. Another resolution I introduced this week is for Teen Tech Week, in the city of Philadelphia. It's recognizing the crucial role of digital literacy in today's world. As technology continues to evolve and as we continue to fight for what my dream is making Philadelphia the most teen friendly city in America, our teens must have the tools they need to navigate the digital landscape safely, responsibly and effectively. Teen Tech Week underscores our commitment to closing the digital divide and fostering environment where all young Philadelphians can thrive in the digital age. I'd also like to recognize and congratulate Philadelphia's own Coleman Domingo on his second Oscar nomination for the film Sing Sing. Coleman couldn't be here today, he is going to come soon and I will tell you all when he can be here, but he's amazingly honored for this recognition today in Council. His portrayal of the wrongfully convicted Divine G. who spent more than 25 years behind bars is especially timely as Councilmember O'Rourke hearing this week examined how we can reduce the Philadelphia prison population, provide resources for those who were incarcerated and ultimately close the Detention Center. Born and raised in Philadelphia in the 4th Councilmanic District so Councilman Jones was very happy to be a prime co-sponsor, Coleman Domingo has continuously made our city proud through his artistry and dedication and the powerful stories he brings to life on screen. His leading actor nomination not only highlights his immense talent, but also serves as a reminder to everyone on this Council that our incarcerated individuals are people with humanity and dignity. I watched Sing sing last night and I cannot tell you the connection that I felt between the actors and those who were portraying folks behind bars and the real life folks behind bars. And the stories we heard this week in Councilman O'Rourke's hearings really underscores that their life does not end behind the walls. We have a responsibility to serve them as much as any other resident, if not more, since they need to be equipped with resources when they come home. Thank you to Coleman for bringing this story to life, for making Philly proud and congratulations. And finally, I'd like to thank Councilmember Gauthier, chair of the Housing Committee for her leadership with partnering with me to introduce the proposed extension to the low-income real estate tax freeze and the Revenue Department for their openness to extend the deadline so that more households can sign up. Philadelphians are leaving money on the table by letting this freeze pass them by. We must reach them. For those who may be eligible, but who have not yet signed up, there's now even more time. The goal is to get the deadline to September 30th. If you meet the income requirements, you're eligible for reduction to your real estate taxes and a freeze so they won't go up over time.
gov to apply for this essential tax relief. Thank you very much, Council President.
Thank you. Good work. Any other speeches from members of the majority? Hearing none, the Chair recognizes Councilmember Thomas for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Council President. I move that council stands adjourned until next Thursday March 13th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Seconded. m. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it. 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. m.
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