2026-10-22 - City Council

00:10Please clear the floor.

00:20Members, please take your seats.

00:23Visitors, please return to the seats

00:25outside the rails.

00:30Before proceeding, I will ask all those

00:32present to please set your cell phones

00:35to silent and or vibrate.

00:41Please take all sidebar conversations

00:44out of the city council chamber.

00:57I note that the hour has come

01:00and that a quorum of this city council

01:02is present.

01:04The city council is now

01:07come to order.

01:20To give our invocation this morning,

01:26the chair

01:28recognizes

01:29my pastor,

01:31James A. Lovett II,

01:34from the fantastic,

01:37fabulous

01:39Tasker Street Missionary Baptist Church.

01:44He is here today as my guest.

01:55>> May we all pray together.

01:58Our Father, we thank you for the

02:01privilege

02:02of rising this morning and coming to

02:05pray over this council and their

02:08business.

02:09I ask you, our God, to

02:11keep my son in wisdom and allow this

02:15council to

02:17do what it must do that the city is

02:20preserved.

02:21We rejoice, God, that you are alive and

02:24that you're real.

02:25And we thank you for your amazing grace.

02:28In Jesus' name. Amen.

02:32>> The chair thanks the pastor for that

02:34invocation.

02:37Council, now be at ease.

02:40Short and sweet to the point.

04:24>> The next order of business is the

04:26approval

04:28of the journey of the meeting of

04:29Thursday, October 15th, 2026.

04:36The chair recognizes majority leader

04:38Katherine Gilmore Richardson.

04:40>> Thank you, Mr. President. I move that

04:42the journal of the meeting of Thursday,

04:43October 15th, 2026 be approved.

04:48>> It has been moved and properly seconded

04:49and the journal of the meeting of

04:51Thursday, October 15th, 2026

04:54stand approved. All in favor will

04:55indicate by saying I.

04:58Those opposed, the eyes have it and the

05:00journal is approved. The next order of

05:02business is request for leave of absence

05:05and the chair recognizes council member

05:07majority leader Katherine Gilmore

05:08Richardson.

05:09>> Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of

05:10the majority, a leave of absence is

05:12requested for council member Cindy Bass.

05:14>> The chair thanks the majority leader.

05:16Leave will be granted. The chair

05:17recognizes minority leader Kendra

05:19Brooks.

05:20>> Thank you, Council President. On the

05:21behalf of the minority, there are no

05:23requests for leaves of absence today.

05:24>> The chair thanks the minority leader.

05:27The chair now recognizes majority leader

05:29Katherine Gilmore Richardson for a

05:30motion concerning certain legislative

05:32matters that may arise during the course

05:34of today's session of Council and that

05:36were not listed on the calendar

05:37certainly prior to today's Council

05:39session.

05:40>> Thank you, Mr. President. I move that

05:42any of the following matters, if

05:43considered today, may be added to the

05:45agenda for this session council and as

05:48required by law subsequently published

05:50on an amended agenda after the

05:51consideration of those matters.

05:53Resolutions authorizing hearings,

05:56amendments to bills on first reading,

05:57the reconsideration of a bill vetoed by

05:59or recalled from the mayor, amendments

06:01to bills recalled from the mayor,

06:03resolutions taking substantive action to

06:05be voted on in this session, a motion to

06:07withdraw a bill or resolution that is

06:09not on the calendar, and a motion

06:11placing a bill or resolution on,

06:13overturning a bill or resolution from

06:15calendar that was not listed on today's

06:17calendar. The purpose of this motion is

06:19to provide the public with notice

06:21concerning possible actions taken by

06:23council that arose too late to be

06:24included on the calendar that was

06:25published prior to today's session.

06:28>> As the moving property seconded that the

06:30legislative matters stated by council

06:32member majority leader Kathryn Gilmore

06:34Richardson may be added to the agenda

06:36for today should those matters arise

06:38during the course of this session of

06:39council. All in favor indicate by saying

06:41I.

06:43Those opposed, the eyes have it and

06:44motion carries.

06:46The chair will dispense with the regular

06:48order of business to recognize the

06:50guests and visitors joining us in

06:51chambers this morning. On behalf of all

06:54members of city council, I welcome you

06:55to our council session. We appreciate

06:58your taking the time to join us as we

06:59attend the legislative affairs of our

07:02great city. We certainly invite you to

07:04come again.

07:06The chair recognizes council member Jim

07:07Harrity.

07:11>> Thank you, council president.

07:13Uh, like to take a moment to

07:16uh

07:17welcome Todd Egan

07:20to

07:21uh the council chambers today. Todd is a

07:24well-known labor lawyer out of Scranton,

07:28a fellow DNC member with me and Cindy

07:31Bass, and also the father of my

07:34legislative aide, Celia Egan.

07:38Uh, can we all welcome Todd Egan to this

07:42council

07:48>> Welcome to the city council, Todd Eagan.

07:50The chair recognizes councilman Dr.

07:52Anthony Phillips.

07:56>> Um good morning. Give me one.

08:02Hi, I want to welcome uh Angel Reese. Is

08:05that correct?

08:06Angel, come back to me, doc. Come back

08:08to me in 1 minute. All right, thank you.

08:13>> At this time,

08:16the chair recognizes councilman Dr.

08:18Anthony Phillips.

08:19>> I'm ready.

08:20All right, my apologies. I um

08:22I had the last name wrong. I would like

08:24to welcome uh Gabriella McLaughlin and

08:27Dr. Gabriella McLaughlin and her

08:30assistant Angel uh for work for working

08:32with me uh on our school lunch advocacy

08:35program here in the city of

08:37Philadelphia. We we have uh some serious

08:40issues with our school lunches and

08:42school breakfast, and uh we want to

08:43address that, and I just want to uh

08:45acknowledge them. Dr. McLaughlin, are

08:47you here? If you could stand up. Thank

08:49you so much. Give them a round of

08:50applause.

08:54Thanks a lot, Council President.

08:56>> Thank you very much.

08:59At this time, the chair recognizes

09:00Councilman Rulando who present a

09:02resolution

09:03recognizing, congratulating, and

09:05honoring

09:06the Mighty Community Legal Services on

09:09the 60th anniversary. Will Debbie

09:11Freedman and those accompanying her

09:13please join Councilman Isaiah Thomas,

09:16I'm sorry, Councilman Rulando

09:18at the podium.

09:20Joining member Rulando are the following

09:22members: Councilman Kendra Brooks,

09:25Councilman Jim Harrity, Councilman Cindy

09:28Bass, Councilman Dr. Anthony Phillips,

09:31Councilman Mark Squilla,

09:33Councilman Nicholas O'Rourke,

09:35Councilman Katherine Gilmore Richardson,

09:37Councilman Blondell Reynolds,

09:39and Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier.

09:45And Councilwoman Cindy Bass.

09:51Councilman Curtis Jones Jr.

10:05The floor is yours, remember Rue Landau.

10:08>> Thank you. Good morning, everybody.

10:11It's an honor to welcome Community Legal

10:13Services to City Council today to

10:15celebrate their 60th anniversary.

10:24To say the least, CLS is very important

10:27to me, and it makes me so proud to be

10:29able to honor the organization that

10:31contributed to my journey running for

10:34City Council, as well as celebrate the

10:36hardworking CLS staff standing up here

10:39today.

10:40I started my career as a housing

10:42organizer fighting alongside low-income

10:44families and individuals for safe and

10:47affordable housing in our city.

10:49It was there that I met the amazing

10:52lawyers from CLS who worked in the

10:54public interest. People who knew how to

10:57utilize the law to protect people from

10:59eviction, to get the public benefits

11:01they are entitled to, and to seek

11:03justice.

11:05That's why I want to I went to CLS after

11:08law school to work as a public interest

11:09lawyer.

11:10I wanted to join the ranks of CLS folks

11:12serving tenants and those face and

11:15serving those facing eviction, and it's

11:17that background that still drives my

11:19work today.

11:21I spent a decade at CLS

11:23advocating for fair housing in the best

11:25interests of tenants. I'm so honored to

11:28be joined here on the podium by my

11:30friend and mentor Debbie Freedman, and

11:32the many lawyers who do incredible work

11:35every single day here in the city of

11:36Philadelphia.

11:38CLS has had an incredible 60-year legacy

11:41of service here in Philadelphia, and so

11:43much of our work as council members

11:45would simply not be possible without the

11:48team at CLS.

11:51I'm excited for my colleagues to join me

11:53up here to honor CLS, and to let's get

11:56started.

12:00So, now we're reading the resolution.

12:02Recognizing, congratulating, and

12:04honoring Community Legal Services on its

12:0660th anniversary.

12:10>> And I'd like to take a point of personal

12:11privilege to thank Council member Landau

12:13for honoring Community Legal Services

12:15for all of their work. They have been

12:17wonderful partners in our work around

12:19our wills, deed for prevention, and of

12:22course single titles. Whereas, the

12:24dedicated advocates of Community Legal

12:26Services fight for Philadelphians living

12:29in poverty, including children, seniors,

12:31immigrants, and people with

12:33disabilities, ensuring clients have a

12:35fair chance to be heard in their quest

12:37for justice. And

12:42>> Whereas, for 60 years CLS has opened its

12:47doors to low-income Philadelphians,

12:49helping more than 1 million residents

12:52who would have otherwise faced

12:54devastating consequences of poverty,

12:57such as eviction, foreclosure, and

13:00family separation, and loss of

13:03employment. And

13:07>> Whereas, CLS is recognized as one of the

13:09premier legal services organizations in

13:12the nation, representing more than

13:1414,000 Philadelphians each year,

13:16preventing homelessness, reuniting

13:18families, breaking down barriers to

13:20employment, and keeping our residents

13:22healthy, and our city safe. And whereas,

13:25CLS led advocacy to create and implement

13:28the Philadelphia Eviction Prevention

13:30Program, Right to Cancel, and Eviction

13:33Diversion Program, which are national

13:35models for keeping tenants in their

13:37homes and preventing homelessness and

13:39saving the city's resource and

13:43>> Whereas, CLS conceived and CLS pioneered

13:47Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law, a

13:49first-in-the-nation automated criminal

13:51record sealing program, which has sealed

13:53more than 56 million old records and

13:56given a fresh start to 1.7

13:59million Pennsylvanians, and fought to

14:02create and expand Philadelphia's Fair

14:04Chance Hiring Law, so that hard-working

14:06Philadelphians can access good jobs, and

14:12>> Before I read my passage, I just want to

14:14express how much I love and appreciate

14:16the work of CLS. Um you are one of my

14:19office's most important partners in all

14:21of our policy work and all of our

14:23efforts to serve um and empower

14:26low-income and working-class people in

14:28this city. Thank you so much for what

14:29you do.

14:31Whereas, CLS conceived Philadelphia's

14:34Tiered Assistance Program, another

14:36first-in-the-nation program, which

14:38ensures that low-income families can

14:40afford to pay their water bills each

14:42month and and break free from water

14:44debt, a threat to generational wealth,

14:47and

14:50>> Whereas, CLS has been one of been on the

14:53frontier of protecting black and brown

14:55home homeownership in the city of

14:57Philadelphia, creating the mortgage and

14:59property tax foreclosure diversion

15:01programs, helping more than 10,000

15:04homeowners save their homes, expanding

15:07Philadelphia's property tax relief

15:08programs, creating more than 1,000

15:11wills, and undocking tangled titles in

15:14our city, and

15:18>> Whereas, CLS brings tens of millions of

15:21dollars into the city each year, expands

15:25access to health insurance for the

15:27uninsured, keeps low-income people in

15:30their homes with the utilities turned

15:33on, and prevents improper loss of

15:36critical benefits like Social Security,

15:38SSI, SNAP, and cash assistance. And

15:45>> Whereas CLS has been a vital resource

15:48and a frequent partner to Philadelphia

15:50City Council working to help our city

15:52thrive, ensure that the city is safer,

15:55make Philadelphia a better place to

15:56live, and ensure that every

15:58Philadelphian can access justice now.

16:03>> Before I therefore bid,

16:05I want to make an official apology to

16:08CLS. As a young person, 17, Mr.

16:11President, me and a couple of radicals

16:14took over their building, barricaded

16:16ourselves in with Dr. Palmer, who was

16:19our advisor.

16:21Uh, and we wound up I wound up giving up

16:24the barricade because my father came

16:27with a bullhorn and said, "If I didn't

16:29get myself out of there,

16:31he was going to do what he does."

16:33It was

16:34It was It was about young people.

16:36Um, but

16:37fast forward, these are my partners that

16:40helped produce the mortgage foreclosure

16:43program that went to a national level.

16:45Thank you for your patience with me.

16:47Uh, and therefore bid.

16:52>> Resolved that the Council of the City of

16:54Philadelphia hereby recognizes,

16:56congratulates, and honors the 60 years

16:59of excellent work and dedicated service

17:02Community Legal Services has given to

17:04our city and our community.

17:11>> The chair recognizes

17:13Debbie Freedman for remarks.

17:19>> Good morning, everyone.

17:20>> Good morning.

17:21>> I'm Debbie Freedman. I'm the executive

17:23director of Community Legal Services.

17:25Thank you all so much for that beautiful

17:28resolution. We have been absolutely

17:30thrilled to work with Council for all of

17:32our 60 years.

17:34And I'm going to just speak briefly this

17:36morning about our work, including our

17:38work with City Council. Um CLS's mission

17:42is to fight poverty, challenge systems

17:45that perpetuate injustice, and change

17:48lives through cutting-edge advocacy and

17:51the exceptional legal representation

17:53that our clients deserve. Last year, CLS

17:56represented more than 50,000 more than

17:5915,000 low-income Philadelphians who

18:01came to us in crisis because their

18:04homes, their health, their incomes, and

18:06their families were at risk. And yes,

18:09many of them were referred to us by

18:11people on this dais or people in this

18:13room or this building.

18:15We also helped tens of thousands more

18:17through our high-impact litigation and

18:19advocacy.

18:21Um this past year has been really,

18:23really challenging year for our clients.

18:26There have been devastating cuts to

18:28Medicaid and SNAP, which I can never

18:30speak without mentioning. Um there has

18:33been an increase in wage theft in

18:35Philadelphia.

18:37Rising food and housing costs that lead

18:40to eviction, foreclosure, and utility

18:42shut-offs.

18:43Our clients continue to be wrongly

18:45denied jobs due to old and minor records

18:49and have their families unnecessarily

18:51separated.

18:53As a result of all of this, demand for

18:55our services is at an all-time record

18:58high.

19:00However, CLS will never give up on our

19:02clients. Our staff's passion and our and

19:06persistence, our many partnerships here

19:09in City Hall and in the community

19:11continue to stabilize families, keep

19:14people health healthy, safe, and housed,

19:17and to provide access to employment and

19:19public benefits.

19:21As I look back on the last 60 years

19:25at CLS, three things stand out. First of

19:28all and foremost, the bravery of our

19:31clients as they face injustice head-on.

19:35The dedication and passion of our

19:37incredible staff, many of whom are here

19:39today, and the importance of our

19:42partnerships, including our partnership

19:44with City Council.

19:46You have passed new laws to help

19:48low-income Philadelphians, held clinics

19:50with us in every single neighborhood in

19:53this city, and shared resources to

19:55create opportunity for Philadelphians.

19:58I want to give special thanks to your

20:00support for the Philadelphia Eviction

20:02Prevention Project and our tangled title

20:05and wills work and legislation to ensure

20:08affordable utility service, all of which

20:10have been monumentally effective and

20:13have created a better and stronger city.

20:17I know we do this work jointly together

20:19with Council because we have the shared

20:21goal of helping people who are

20:23struggling to get by.

20:25When your staff hear about problems from

20:27constituents, they know we are a phone

20:30call away. And when our staff identify

20:33systemic issues facing low-income

20:35Philadelphians, we know you will work

20:37with us to find policy solutions to make

20:40our city fairer and more equitable.

20:45Wrapping it up. Over the last 60 years,

20:48our working relationship with Council

20:49has certainly had its like ups and downs

20:51and even its moments of tension, but

20:53we've had many more moments of

20:55celebration and we have worked together

20:58to make a real difference and real

21:00change for our clients.

21:02Um recognition from the people who know

21:04you really well means the most. So

21:07acknowledgement from the people of this

21:09dais and this body means a tremendous

21:12amount to us and we are profoundly

21:15grateful. We are excited to keep working

21:18with you to fight for justice and to

21:19make our city better. So, thank you.

21:25>> Council will be at ease.

23:49>> Chair recognizes Jeffrey J. Young.

23:52>> Thank you, Mr. President.

23:53I just want to also

23:55acknowledge Community Legal Services.

23:58During law school, I was a Community

24:00Legal Aid Network Martin Luther King,

24:01Jr. intern at Community Legal Services

24:04in the Community Economic Development

24:06Unit that was founded by my big sister,

24:09former State Rep. Donna Bullock. I

24:11worked under

24:12housing attorney Rasheeda Phillips while

24:15I was at Community Legal Services. So,

24:16it was a very, very important role

24:19in me becoming the attorney I am today.

24:21So, I just want to recognize CLS for

24:23that as well.

24:26>> Thank you very much.

24:29At this time, the chair recognizes

24:32Councilmember Majority Whip Isaiah

24:34Thomas who will present a resolution

24:37honoring Merrill Reese as the voice of

24:39the Philadelphia Eagles and

24:41congratulating him on his 50th season as

24:45the Eagles radio play-by-play announcer.

24:48Will Mr. Merrill Reese and those

24:50accompanying him please join

24:51Councilmember Isaiah Thomas at the

24:54podium.

24:58Joining

25:04Joining member Thomas

25:06are the following members.

25:08Councilman Rowland, Councilwoman

25:10Kenyatta Johnson, Councilman Jim

25:12Harrity, Councilman Mike Driscoll,

25:14Councilwoman Kendra Brooks, Councilwoman

25:17Kathy Gilmore Richardson, and

25:19Councilwoman

25:20Dr. Anthony Phillips. Go Birds.

25:25The floor is yours, member Thomas.

25:28>> Thank you, Council President. Good

25:29morning, Philadelphia.

25:31Council President, they only respond

25:32when you say good morning. I'm not even

25:34going to try again. All right. Um and

25:36that's probably because no one wants to

25:38hear my voice right now. When you think

25:39about what it means to be the voice of a

25:42city, what it means to be the voice of a

25:44league, um Merrill Reese is someone who

25:47not only should we recognize as a gem um

25:49in the city of Philadelphia as a

25:51graduate of Overbrook High School, uh

25:53but somebody who is You heard that,

25:55Councilman Jones, right? Graduate of

25:57Overbrook High School. Uh Merrill is

25:59actually the longest play-by-play

26:01announcer in NFL history.

26:09So, in in in the spirit of of

26:12recognizing his great voice and his

26:14amazing energy, him and his wife, he

26:16also has no plans on retiring uh anytime

26:19soon. So, don't think that today is a

26:21sing-you-off celebration uh for Merrill.

26:24Today is honoring his first 50 years and

26:28looking at how many more years we'll

26:31have recognizing him as the voice of our

26:34team. Uh with that being said, uh

26:37Merrill is uh one of our biggest

26:39treasures as a Philly citizen. Like I

26:41said, he was born and raised in the city

26:42of Philadelphia. And before I get into

26:44the resolution, one interesting thing

26:46that we both have in common is we both

26:48really love basketball, and we We tried

26:50out for our high school basketball team.

26:52The only difference is he was playing at

26:54a time in the era where they had people

26:56like, I don't know, a guy named Wilt

26:58Chamberlain or something like that. So,

27:00clearly it was a lot more difficult for

27:01him. But, we love Merrill. We love the

27:03sports fan that he is. And behind every

27:06great man, like our council president

27:07says, is a great woman. So, will can we

27:09give Merrill, as well as his wife, a

27:11round of applause and thank them for

27:14being here.

27:16And of course, Mrs. Reese, thank you for

27:18lending your husband. I would say to the

27:20city of Philadelphia, but this is the

27:22Eagles, so it's more like the entire

27:23tri-state area. Uh so, thank you so

27:25much. With that being said, uh we are

27:28here today honoring Merrill Reese as the

27:29voice of the Philadelphia Eagles and

27:31congratulating him on his 50th season as

27:34the Eagles radio play-by-play announcer.

27:41>> Whereas, Merrill Reese was born in

27:44Philadelphia in 1942 and grew up in

27:47Overbrook Park. He is a lifelong

27:50Philadelphian, a proud graduate of

27:53Overbrook High School. Before his career

27:56in broadcasting, he was a child actor

27:59and performer and

28:03>> And before I begin, I must say it was so

28:05wonderful to share the same bus with you

28:08for the Eagles parade in 2025.

28:12But, whereas, Reese received his

28:13bachelor's in communications and

28:15broadcasting from Temple University's

28:17Klein College of Media and

28:19Communication, where he did play-by-play

28:22at Temple's WRTI-FM

28:25student radio station. After college, he

28:28served his country through the United

28:30States Navy, earning the title of

28:32lieutenant, having served at the

28:34Pentagon, Naval Academy, and in Norfolk,

28:37Virginia. And

28:42>> Whereas, his passion for the game is as

28:45strong as when he first started voicing

28:48for the Eagles in 1977.

28:51Reese is the longest-serving current

28:53play-by-play announcer in the NFL. He

28:56was inducted into the Philadelphia

28:57Eagles Hall of Fame in 2016.

29:00In 2024, he was inducted to the Pro

29:03Football Hall of Fame after receiving

29:05the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award

29:08for the same year and

29:15>> One of the only announcers you when

29:17you're there, you you feel like you're

29:18at the game.

29:20Miracle on the Meadowlands. Thank you so

29:22much.

29:24Whereas, alongside his work for the

29:26Philadelphia Eagles, Reese has also

29:29voiced play-by-play commentary for

29:31ESPN's award-winning series NFL Dream

29:35Season, Madison Square Garden

29:38Television, and the Philadelphia Big 5.

29:41He has been named Pennsylvania

29:43Sportscaster of the Year by the National

29:45Association of Sportscasters and Sports

29:48Writers.

29:49And was

29:51inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports

29:53Hall of Fame and

29:57>> Whereas, outside of his professional

29:59accomplishments, Reese is a loving

30:02husband to his wife Cindy and father to

30:05two children. Each night before a game,

30:08Cindy quizzes him on the opposing team,

30:11their players, and their jersey numbers

30:13to help him prepare.

30:15And now, therefore be it

30:20>> Resolved,

30:22that the City Council of Philadelphia

30:23does hereby honor Merrill Reese as the

30:26voice of the Philadelphia Eagles and

30:28congratulating him him on his 50th

30:31season as the Eagles play-by-play

30:34announcer.

30:39>> Further resolved, that an engrossed copy

30:41of this resolution will be presented to

30:43Merrill Reese and his family as a

30:44sincere expression of the City Council

30:47of Philadelphia's gratitude and

30:49admiration.

30:56>> The chair recognizes Merrill Reese.

30:59Congratulations.

31:01>> Wow.

31:02Good morning. It is great to be with you

31:05this morning.

31:10You know, I think about this honor, and

31:13it is an honor, but the real honor, the

31:16real honor is being able to broadcast to

31:20the most passionate fans in the NFL, and

31:23that is all of you. So, I appreciate

31:25that. You get behind that microphone and

31:28you your veins tingle, you you get the

31:30excitement every single week. It's

31:32great. You know, I I think about the

31:34career and all of the great games I've

31:36done, and people say, "What are your

31:38favorite games?" And I can go back to

31:39the two miracles of the Meadowlands and

31:42the great moments that I've had, but

31:45before Super Bowl uh 52, when the Eagles

31:49played the Patriots,

31:50people asked me, "If the Eagles win the

31:54Super Bowl, will you have something

31:56written? Will you have something

31:58prepared to say at that moment because

32:00your words are going to last forever?"

32:03And I said to myself, "No." And I said

32:06to them, "No. If that ever happens, I'm

32:09going to speak from my heart. I'm going

32:11to let my emotions just run the way they

32:14felt." And sure enough, I have to tell

32:18you that in years before that, people

32:22would say to me,

32:23"If the Eagles win, I hope they win for

32:26you because you've done so many great

32:29games, and you've been through so much,

32:31and you've been through losing times,

32:33and you've done games in all kinds of

32:35weather. I want them to win a Super Bowl

32:38for you. And I said, "No, it's not about

32:41me. The Philadelphia fans have been so

32:43great. You go out there whether they're

32:46all in sand, you go out there whether

32:48the rain or the sleet is falling. You

32:50let yourself go and you you rock that

32:53stadium with tremendous enthusiasm,

32:56tremendous tremendous passion. That's

32:59the biggest thing. Your passion is so

33:02great. So, of course, the last second of

33:05the Super Bowl, the last seconds, you

33:07can still remember game being played in

33:10Minnesota against the Patriots. But, Tom

33:13Brady is standing there and he's got one

33:16more shot. Eagles up by eight points.

33:19And what am I thinking? I'm thinking,

33:22I'm scared to death.

33:24>> Me, too.

33:24>> Now, but you're scared for a different

33:26reason. I was sitting in the corner of

33:29the end zone.

33:31A hundred and ten yards away from where

33:34that pass was going to land. And I'm

33:36thinking, I just don't want to be known

33:39as the broadcaster who

33:41who made the mistake that ended the

33:43football game. I didn't want to just

33:44fail at that point because I was so far

33:47from where it was going to be. I just

33:49hoped I would get it right. So, then

33:51Brady goes back and he stumbles forward

33:55and he lets it go and suddenly, I don't

33:57know if it were divine intervention or

33:59what, everything slowed down. It was

34:02like one of those NFL films. And I could

34:05see the ball go through the air and head

34:08towards the end zone. And I remember

34:11Rodney McBay Rodney jumped up and Rodney

34:14touched the ball and down it went. And

34:17as the ball hit the ground, I said,

34:20"It's incomplete.

34:22The game is over.

34:23The Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl

34:26champions."

34:28And then,

34:30the next thing that came into my mind

34:33was Eagles fans everywhere.

34:37This is for you.

34:39Let the CELEBRATION BEGIN.

34:45SO AGAIN, I appreciate the honor. I hope

34:49to do it for a long time to come. I love

34:51every single moment of it. This season

34:54isn't over. I know it's tough. It's

34:57tough, but if you look at the NFC East,

35:00there are a lot of opportunities ahead.

35:02So let's hope this week they bounce back

35:06on Monday night and beat the Dallas

35:08Cowboys.

35:13And again, I thank you. I am grateful

35:17and I leave you with two words. I hope

35:19you will join me. 1 2 3, GO BIRDS.

35:24THANK YOU.

35:27>> COUNCIL WILL BE ADJOURNED.

39:09>> THE next order of business is

39:11communications. The chair requests that

39:13the sergeant at arms deliver the

39:14messages from the mayor to the chief

39:17clerk.

39:18Will the chief clerk please read the

39:19messages from the mayor and any other

39:21communications in her possession?

39:24>> To the president and members of the

39:25council of the city of Philadelphia, I'm

39:27submitting herewith for the

39:28consideration of your honorable body an

39:30ordinance authorizing the commissioner

39:32of public property on behalf of the city

39:35to acquire fee simple title or a lesser

39:37interest in real estate by purchase,

39:39dedication, donation, condemnation,

39:42agreement in lieu of condemnation, or

39:44otherwise in certain parcels of land

39:46along the Schuylkill and the Wissahickon

39:48Creek, Schuylkill River, and Wissahickon

39:49Creek together with all improvements

39:51thereon and all associated easements and

39:54appurtenances for public recreational

39:56purposes all under certain terms and

39:57conditions.

39:59An ordinance authorizing the

40:00commissioner of public property on

40:02behalf of the city of Philadelphia to

40:04enter into an amendment to a sublease

40:06agreement with the Philadelphia

40:07Municipal Authority for use by a city of

40:10a portion of the premises located at

40:121600 through 26 John F. Kennedy

40:14Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

40:16under certain terms and conditions.

40:19An ordinance authorizing the

40:20Commissioner of Public Property on

40:22behalf of the City of Philadelphia to

40:24enter into a lease agreement for use by

40:26the city of all or a portion of the

40:27premises located at 9300 Ashton Road

40:30under certain terms and conditions.

40:33An ordinance authorizing the

40:34Commissioner of Public Property on

40:35behalf of the city to acquire fee simple

40:37title or a lesser interest by purchase,

40:39dedication, donation, condemnation,

40:41agreement in agreement in lieu of

40:43condemnation or otherwise in certain

40:45parcels of land along the Delaware River

40:47in the Tacony-Holmesburg area together

40:49with all improvements thereon and all

40:51associated easements and appurtenances

40:53for public recreational purposes all

40:55under certain terms and conditions.

40:57And a resolution authorizing the

40:58Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of

41:001306 South 28th Street located in the

41:02second Councilmatic District in

41:04accordance with the terms of Chapter

41:0516-700 of the Philadelphia Code. And a

41:09resolution authorizing the Philadelphia

41:10Land Bank to dispose of 5228 5230

41:13Chester Avenue located in the third

41:15Councilmatic District in accordance with

41:17the terms of Chapter 16-700 of the

41:19Philadelphia Code. And a resolution

41:21authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank

41:23to dispose of 54

41:2515 Florence Avenue located in the third

41:28Councilmatic District in accordance with

41:29the terms of Chapter 16-700 of the

41:32Philadelphia Code.

41:33And a resolution authorizing the

41:35Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 322

41:37North 41st Street located in the third

41:39Councilmatic District in accordance with

41:41the terms of Chapter 16-700

41:44of the Philadelphia Code.

41:46And a resolution authorizing the

41:47Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of

41:492715 North Dover Street, 2716, 2718,

41:542729,

41:5527 2817 and 2820 North Newkirk Street,

42:002710, 2720, 2722, 2738, 2758 North 28th

42:07Street.

42:092719, 2731 North 29th Street, 2649,

42:132651, 2655, 2700, 2730, 2738, 2746 West

42:21Silver Street, 2632, 2645, 2646, 2654,

42:262700, 2703, 2705, 2706, 2719, 2710,

42:322711, 2714, 2715, 2716, 2717, 2719, 2723

42:402726, 2727, 2729, 2731

42:462733, 2747, 2749 West Sterner Street,

42:512520, 2532, 2621, 2627, 2635, 2639,

42:582640, 2651, 2654, 2655 West Seltzer

43:03Street 2547, 2621, 2623, 2624, 2626 2628

43:10West Silver Street, 2539, 2602, 2608

43:14West Sterner Street, located in the

43:16fourth Councilmatic District in

43:17accordance with the terms of Chapter

43:1816-700 of the Philadelphia Code.

43:21And a resolution authorizing the

43:23Commission of Public Property to execute

43:24deliver to the Philadelphia

43:25Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying

43:27fee simple title to 903 Rising Sun

43:30Avenue in the fifth Councilmatic

43:31District of the City of Philadelphia and

43:33further authorizing the Philadelphia

43:34Redevelopment Authority to transfer to

43:36the Philadelphia Land Bank fee simple

43:38title to such properties pursuant to

43:40Section 16-405 of the Philadelphia Code.

43:44And a resolution authorizing the

43:45Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of

43:471936, 1940, North 19th Street,

43:531913, 1943, 1945, 1947, 1949 North 20th

43:58Street, 1907, 1919 West Birch Street,

44:011901, 1915, 1919, 1937 West Norris

44:05Street, 1912, 1914, 1918, 1946, 1948,

44:101950, and 1952 North Uber Street located

44:14in the fifth Councilmatic District in

44:15accordance with the terms of chapter

44:1616-700 of the Philadelphia Code.

44:19And a resolution authorizing the

44:21Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of

44:231715, 1717, 1745, 1747, 1759 1749

44:28Belfield Avenue, 4546, 4548, 4560 North

44:33Bouvier Street, 1820, 1822 West Rockland

44:37Street, 1604, 1606, 1608 West Mentor

44:41Street, 1732, 1734, and 1736 West

44:45Courtland Street located in the eighth

44:47Councilmatic District in accordance with

44:48the terms of chapter 16-700 of the

44:50Philadelphia Code.

44:52And to the President and members of the

44:53Council of the City of Philadelphia, my

44:55administration intends to submit a

44:56contract proposal to the Fraternal Order

44:58of Police Lodge 5, which will start the

45:00collective bargaining process under Act

45:02111. I hereby request pursuant to

45:04chapter 17-2300

45:06of the Philadelphia Code, that Council

45:08probably schedule a public hearing

45:09concerning the city's contract proposal

45:12in order to permit the city to begin the

45:13bargaining process.

45:16If unable to schedule such hearing in

45:17the next 30 days, I request that Council

45:19President certify to the office of labor

45:21that Council is unavailable to do so,

45:23which will satisfy the requirements of

45:24chapter 17-2300 of the code and allow

45:27the city to move forward with its

45:29proposal and contract negotiations.

45:32And to the President and members of the

45:33Council of the City of Philadelphia

45:34pursuant to section 4-604 and 2-307 of

45:38the Home Rule Charter, I'm today

45:39transmitting to the Council the

45:41recommendation of the City Planning

45:42Commission on the following bills.

45:45Bill number 260686,

45:47approved. 260687,

45:50approved. 260688,

45:52approved. 260690, approved. 260692,

45:57approved. 260693, approved. 260694,

46:00approved. 260695,

46:02approved. 260700, not for approval,

46:05260703

46:07approved, 260704 approved, 260706

46:11approved, 260707 approved, 260709

46:14approved, and 260711 approved. While the

46:17Commission voted to extend its review 45

46:19additional days on bill number 260689,

46:22we recognize we are transmitting this

46:24action letter more than 30 days past its

46:26introduction.

46:27And to the President and members of the

46:29Council of the City of Philadelphia, I'm

46:31pleased to advise you that on October

46:3219th, 2026, I signed the following bill,

46:34which was passed by Council at its

46:35session September 17th, 2026, bill

46:38number 260691.

46:40And that I am pleased to advise you that

46:42on October 19th, 2026, I signed the

46:44following bill, which was passed by

46:45Council at its session on October 8th,

46:472026, bill number 260429. There are no

46:50more communications in my possession,

46:52Council President.

46:57>> Thank you. The messages from

46:59the mayor will be printed in the

47:01journal.

47:04The next order of business is

47:06introduction of bills and resolutions.

47:08The chair recognizes Councilmember Dr.

47:10Anthony Phillips.

47:12>> Thank you so much, Council President. I

47:14have no bills or resolutions for today.

47:17>> Thank you, sir. Chair recognizes

47:18Councilmember Majority Whip Captain

47:20Gilmore Richardson.

47:21>> Thank you, Mr. President. There are no

47:23bills or resolutions for introduction

47:25today. Thank you.

47:26>> Thank you. Chair recognizes

47:27Councilmember Jamie Gauthier.

47:30>> Thank you, Council President. Today I

47:31have three non-privileged resolutions

47:33and one bill.

47:35>> Thank you very much. Chief Clerk, please

47:36read the title of the bill and

47:37resolutions.

47:44>> An ordinance authorizing the

47:46Commissioner of Public Property on

47:48behalf of the city to acquire fee simple

47:50title or a lesser real estate interest

47:52by purchase, dedication, donation,

47:54condemnation, agreement in lieu of

47:56condemnation, or otherwise in and to all

47:59or portions of certain parcels of land

48:01located along the west bank of the

48:02Schuylkill River in and around an area

48:04generally bounded by South 58th Street

48:07as extended to the bulkhead line of the

48:09west bank of the Schuylkill River, South

48:1161st Street, and West Passyunk Avenue

48:13for public park, recreation, and

48:15transportation purposes under certain

48:17terms and conditions.

48:18>> This bill will be referred to the

48:20appropriate committee.

48:21>> And a non-privileged resolution

48:24authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank

48:25to dispose of 5415 Florence Avenue

48:28located in the third Councilmatic

48:30District in accordance with the terms of

48:31chapter 16-700 of the Philadelphia Code.

48:35>> This resolution will be placed on the

48:37final passage calendar for consideration

48:39at the next session of Council.

48:41>> And a non-privileged resolution

48:42authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank

48:44to dispose of 322 North 41st Street

48:47located in the third Councilmatic

48:48District in accordance with the terms of

48:50chapter 16-700 of the Philadelphia Code.

48:53>> This resolution will be placed on the

48:55final passage calendar for consideration

48:58at the next session of Council.

49:00>> And a non-privileged resolution

49:01authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank

49:03to dispose of 5228 and 5230 Chester

49:06Avenue located in the third Councilmatic

49:08District in accordance with the terms of

49:10chapter 16-700 of the Philadelphia Code.

49:13>> This resolution will be placed on the

49:15final passage calendar for consideration

49:17at the next session of Council. Chair

49:20recognizes Councilmember Jones.

49:22>> Thank you, Mr. President. Today I'll

49:24offer one bill, one privileged, and one

49:26non-privileged resolution today.

49:29>> Thank you very much. Chief Clerk, please

49:31read the title of the bill and

49:32resolutions.

49:33>> An ordinance authorizing the

49:34Commissioner of Public Property on

49:36behalf of the city to acquire fee simple

49:38title or a less lesser interest in real

49:40estate by purchase, dedication,

49:42donation, condemnation, agreement in

49:44lieu of condemnation, or otherwise in

49:46certain parcels of land along the

49:48Schuylkill River and the Wissahickon

49:49Creek together with all improvements

49:51thereon and all associated easements and

49:53appurtenances for public recreational

49:56purposes all under certain terms and

49:57conditions.

49:58>> This bill will be referred to the

49:59appropriate committee.

50:00>> And a non-privileged resolution

50:02authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank

50:04to dispose of 2715 North Dover Street,

50:072716, 2718, 2729, 2817,

50:122820 North Newkirk Street, 2710, 2720,

50:162722, 2738, 2758 North 28th Street,

50:212719, 2731 North 29th Street, 2649,

50:252651, 2655, 2700, 2730, 2738, 2746 West

50:32Silver Street, 2632, 2645, 2646, 2654,

50:372700, 2703, 2705, 2706, 2710, 2711,

50:432714, 2715, 2716, 2717, 2719, 2723,

50:502726,

50:512727, 2729, 2731,

50:552733, 2747, and 2749 West Turner Street,

51:002520, 2532, 2621, 2627, 2620, 35,

51:062639, 2640, 2651, 2654, 2655 West

51:11Seltzer Street, 2547, 2621, 2623, 2624,

51:162626, and 2628 West Silver Street, 2539,

51:202602, 2608 West Turner Street located in

51:23the Fourth Councilmanic District in

51:25accordance with the terms of Chapter

51:2616-700 of the Philadelphia Code.

51:32>> This resolution will be placed on the

51:33final passage calendar for consideration

51:35at the next session of Council.

51:37>> And a privileged resolution authorizing

51:39the Committee on Transportation and

51:41Public Utilities to hold hearings

51:42examining Philadelphia Gas Works

51:45residential shut-offs for non-payment

51:47and measures to prevent households from

51:48losing essential utility service.

51:51>> This resolution will be placed on

51:52today's final passage calendar.

51:55Chair recognizes Councilman Rulando.

51:57>> Good morning, Council President,

51:59colleagues. Today I have one

52:00non-privileged resolution on your

52:02behalf.

52:03>> Thank you very much. Chief Clerk, please

52:04read the title of the non-privileged

52:06resolution.

52:06>> A non-privileged resolution supporting

52:08the workers of Unite Here Local 274 and

52:12calling on the management of the Hilton

52:13Garden Inn to reach a deal as the only

52:16unionized hotel in Center City without a

52:18new contract.

52:19>> This resolution will be placed on the

52:21final passage calendar for consideration

52:23in the next session of Council. Chair

52:24recognizes Councilwoman

52:25Quiñones-Sánchez.

52:27>> Thank you, Council President. Today I

52:29have one privileged resolution on my

52:31behalf and a privileged resolution

52:34co-introduced with Councilwoman Gilmore

52:37Richardson on your behalf.

52:39>> Thank you very much. Chief Clerk, please

52:40read the title of the resolutions.

52:44>> A privileged resolution honoring and

52:46congratulating Wayne Miller on his more

52:48than five decades of service to

52:50Sprinkler Fitters Local Union 692 and

52:53the Philadelphia Building Trades.

52:56>> This resolution will be placed on

52:58today's final passage calendar.

52:59>> And a privileged resolution authorizing

53:01the Special Committee on Kensington to

53:03hold a hearing to evaluate the progress

53:05of last year, the current state of

53:07affairs, as well as future barriers and

53:09goals.

53:11>> This resolution will be placed on

53:12today's final passage calendar. That's

53:14it. Go.

53:16Chair recognizes Councilman Jeffrey J.

53:18Young.

53:19>> Thank you, Mr. President. Today I offer

53:20one uh non-privileged resolution.

53:24>> Thank you very much. Chief Clerk, please

53:26read the title of the resolution.

53:28>> A non-privileged resolution authorizing

53:30the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of

53:321936, 1940, 1944, 1952 through 54 North

53:3819th Street, 1913, 1943, 1953, 1947,

53:441951, 1949 North 20th Street, 1907, 1919

53:48West Burke Street, 1901, 1915, 1919,

53:521937 West Norris Street, 1912, 1914,

53:561918, 1946, 1948, 1950, and 1952 North

54:01Uber Street, located in the fifth

54:03Councilmatic District in accordance with

54:05the terms of Chapter 16-700 of the

54:07Philadelphia Code.

54:11>> Chair recognizes Councilmember Young.

54:14>> Thank you, Mr. President. I would like

54:15to um submit an additional privilege

54:18resolution that was circulated after the

54:2012:00 noon deadline on Wednesday,

54:21October 21, 2026.

54:23>> Will the Chief Clerk please read the

54:25title of the resolution?

54:28>> A resolution authorizing the Committee

54:30on Streets and Services and Housing and

54:32Neighborhood Development and the

54:33Homeless to hold joint hearings to

54:34investigate the prevalence of

54:36unsheltered homeless homelessness in

54:38public rights-of-way and examine in the

54:40city's coordination and utilization of

54:42resources to connect individuals

54:44experiencing homelessness with

54:46appropriate housing, shelter, and

54:47supportive services.

54:54>> Chair recognizes Member Young for a

54:56motion.

54:56>> Thank you, Mr. President. I move that

54:58the rules of Council be suspended to

54:59permit the consideration of this

55:01privilege resolution that was just read

55:02into the record by the Chief Clerk at

55:04today's session of Council.

55:06>> As the motion properly seconded, are all

55:08those in favor of the motion will

55:09signify by saying aye.

55:10>> Aye.

55:11>> Those opposed, the ayes have it. The

55:13motion carries. The resolution will be

55:14placed on the day's final passage

55:17calendar.

55:19Council be at ease.

55:49>> Chair recognizes Council member Kendra

55:51Brooks.

55:52>> Thank you, Council President. I have

55:54nothing to introduce today.

55:55>> Thank you. Chair recognizes Council

55:56member Jim Harrity.

55:58>> Thank you, Council President. No bills

56:00or resolutions today.

56:01>> Chair recognizes Council member Nicholas

56:03O'Rourke.

56:04>> Thank you, Mr. President, and good

56:05morning, Philadelphians. I have one bill

56:06and one privilege resolution to

56:08introduce today.

56:09>> Thank you very much. Chief Clerk, please

56:11read the title of the bill and

56:12resolution.

56:13>> An ordinance amending Title 21 of the

56:15Philadelphia Code entitled Miscellaneous

56:17to add a new chapter creating the

56:19Philadelphia Transit Access Fund to

56:21establish the purposes for which

56:22appropriations to the Transit Access

56:25Fund may be used and to establish public

56:27reporting requirements related to the

56:29fund.

56:30>> This bill will be referred to

56:31appropriate committee.

56:33>> And a privileged resolution celebrating

56:36the national model zero fare program and

56:38recognizing the initial findings of the

56:40Georgetown University Better Government

56:42Lab report on the program's success.

56:47>> This resolution will be placed on the

56:49day's final passage calendar. Good job,

56:51member O'Rourke. Chair recognizes

56:52Council member Mike Driscoll.

56:54>> Good morning, Mr. President. I have two

56:55bills and one privilege resolution for

56:57today.

56:58>> Thank you very much. Chief Clerk, please

57:00read the title of the bills and the

57:01resolutions, please.

57:03>> An ordinance authorizing the

57:04Commissioner of Public Property on

57:05behalf to acquire fee simple title or a

57:08less lesser interest by purchase,

57:10dedication, donation, condemnation,

57:13agreement in lieu of condemnation, or

57:14otherwise in certain parcels of land

57:16along the Delaware River in the

57:18Tacony-Holmesburg area together with all

57:20improvements thereon and all associated

57:22easements and appurtenances for public

57:24recreational purposes all under certain

57:26terms and conditions.

57:27>> This bill will be referred to

57:28appropriate committee.

57:30>> And an ordinance authorizing the

57:31Commissioner of Public Property on

57:32behalf of the city to enter into a lease

57:34agreement for use by the city of all or

57:36a portion of the premises located at

57:389300 Ashton Road under certain terms and

57:41conditions.

57:42>> This bill be referred to the appropriate

57:43committee.

57:44>> And a privileged resolution honoring and

57:46recognizing Dr. Bernice Saddler for her

57:49landmark 44-year tenure of leadership,

57:51desegregation trailblazing, and

57:53community stewardship at Hamilton

57:55Distance School.

58:00>> This resolution be placed on today's

58:02final passage calendar.

58:04Chair recognizes Councilman Brian

58:06O'Neill.

58:08>> Thank you, Mr. President. I have no

58:09bills or resolutions.

58:10>> Chair recognizes Councilman Mark

58:12Squilla.

58:14>> Thank you, Mr. President. I offer two

58:15bills.

58:17>> Thank you very much. Chief Clerk, please

58:18read the title of the bills.

58:28>> An ordinance approving a new plan,

58:30estimated cost, and proposed method of

58:32assessment of the Old City Special

58:34Services District of Philadelphia for

58:36and concerning business improvements and

58:38administrative services to the Old City

58:40area of the City of Philadelphia, all

58:43under certain terms and conditions.

58:44>> This bill be referred to the appropriate

58:46committee.

58:47>> An ordinance amending section 14-502 of

58:50the Philadelphia code entitled Center

58:52City Overlay District by allowing

58:54certain uses in Old City residential

58:56area core under certain terms and

58:59conditions.

58:59>> This bill be referred to the appropriate

59:01committee. Chair recognizes Councilwoman

59:02Blondell Reynolds.

59:04>> Thank you, Council President. I have no

59:06bills or resolutions today.

59:08>> The next order of business is reports

59:10from committee. The chair recognizes

59:12Councilwoman Cindy Bassford for a report

59:14from the Committee on Public Property

59:16and Public Works.

59:18>> Thank you, Council President. The

59:20Committee on Public Property and Public

59:22Works reports out five bills with a

59:24favorable recommendation.

59:27>> Thank you very much.

59:29Will the chief clerk please read the

59:31report?

59:33>> The Committee on Public Property and

59:34Public Works to which was referred the

59:36following bills. Bill number 260567,

59:39an ordinance renaming and designating

59:41Girard Fountain Park located on the 300

59:43block of Arch Street as Janet Coulter

59:45Park.

59:46Bill number 260638

59:48as amended, an ordinance renaming and

59:50designating the building located on the

59:52property of the Dorothy Emanuel

59:54Recreation Center, commonly referred to

59:56as the Dorothy Emanuel Playground

59:57building, located at 8501 Pickering

1:00:00Avenue as the Marlene Street

1:00:01Neighborhood Center in the City of

1:00:03Philadelphia. Bill number 260763,

1:00:06an ordinance authorizing the

1:00:07Commissioner of Public Property on

1:00:08behalf of the City of Philadelphia to

1:00:10enter into a lease or sub-lease

1:00:11agreements with the Philadelphia

1:00:12Authority for Industrial Development for

1:00:14all of or a portion of the premises that

1:00:17includes certain parcels of land

1:00:18generally referred to as Victory Gardens

1:00:20and Emerson Landfill for an

1:00:22environmental remediation of the land,

1:00:24development of a facility at said

1:00:25premises, and use as a training facility

1:00:27all under certain terms and conditions.

1:00:30Bill number 260798 as amended, an

1:00:32ordinance renaming the Penrose

1:00:33Recreation Center to the Shirley M.

1:00:36Kitchen Recreation Center.

1:00:38To honor the life

1:00:39To honor the life and legacy of Shirley

1:00:41Kitchen, a pioneering public servant and

1:00:44civic leader with an immeasurable impact

1:00:46on the greater North Philadelphia

1:00:47community.

1:00:48Bill number 260799 as amended, an

1:00:51ordinance authorizing the Commissioner

1:00:52of Parks and Recreation on behalf of the

1:00:54City of Philadelphia to enter into a

1:00:55multi-year agreement with the Broad

1:00:56Street Love Park LLC for the design,

1:00:59construction, management, and operation

1:01:01of a food and beverage concession at the

1:01:03Welcome Center building in Love Park all

1:01:06under certain terms and conditions.

1:01:07Respectfully reports that it has

1:01:09considered the same and returns the

1:01:10attached bills to Council with a

1:01:11favorable recommendation. There are no

1:01:13further bills to report out from the

1:01:14Committee on Public Property and Public

1:01:16Works, Council President.

1:01:18>> Thank you very much. Chair recognizes

1:01:21Councilwoman Kenyatta Lozada for motion.

1:01:23>> Thank you, Council President. I move

1:01:25that the rules of Council be suspended

1:01:26to permit first reading of on this day

1:01:29of the bills just read into the record

1:01:30by the Chief Clerk.

1:01:32>> It has been moved and properly seconded

1:01:34that the rules of Council be suspended

1:01:36so as to permit the consideration of the

1:01:38bills just read by the Chief Clerk at

1:01:40today's session of Council. All those in

1:01:43favor of the motion will signify by

1:01:44saying I.

1:01:46Those opposed? The eyes have it. The

1:01:48motion carries.

1:01:50These bills will be placed on our first

1:01:52reading calendar for today.

1:01:54The next order of business is the

1:01:56consideration of the calendar. I note

1:01:58that the bills just reported from

1:02:00committees with suspension of the rules

1:02:02have been deemed to have had a first

1:02:03reading.

1:02:05These bills will be placed on the second

1:02:07reading and final passage calendar for

1:02:09the next session of Council. The Chair

1:02:12recognizes Majority Leader Katherine

1:02:14Gilmore Richardson for a motion

1:02:15concerning resolutions on the final

1:02:18passage calendar and bills on the second

1:02:21reading and final passage calendar.

1:02:24>> Thank you, Mr. President. The following

1:02:25resolutions are being called up from the

1:02:27final passage calendar and the following

1:02:29bills are being called up from the

1:02:31second reading and final passage

1:02:32calendar today. Resolution numbers

1:02:35260847,

1:02:36260873,

1:02:38bill numbers 260692,

1:02:41260693,

1:02:43260706,

1:02:45and 260707.

1:02:47The following resolutions and bills on

1:02:49the calendar are being held. 260872,

1:02:52250768,

1:02:54250807,

1:02:56260076,

1:02:58and 260462.

1:03:02>> Before considering these resolutions and

1:03:05bills, we consider public comments as

1:03:06follows. Your public comment must

1:03:09concern matters on the second reading

1:03:11and final passage calendars for possible

1:03:13action at today's Council session. All

1:03:16speakers must sign up in order to

1:03:18testify. If you have not already signed

1:03:21up for today's council session, please

1:03:23do so now by giving your name to Ms.

1:03:25Hash at the table outside the rails to

1:03:28my left.

1:03:30Once you have signed up, you will be

1:03:31called in the order in which your name

1:03:33appears on the sign-up sheet. Under

1:03:35ideal circumstances, public commenters

1:03:38each will have 3 minutes to speak.

1:03:40However, this time limit may vary from

1:03:42council session to council session.

1:03:44Today, due to the repetitious comments

1:03:47on the same subject matters, the time

1:03:49limit will be 1 minute.

1:03:52In order to be fair to all those wishing

1:03:54to speak, I intend to hold faithfully to

1:03:56the 1-minute limit. When you begin

1:03:59speaking, you will see a green light on

1:04:00the podium. When there are 30 seconds

1:04:03remaining to your time, the light will

1:04:04turn yellow, which is your reminder to

1:04:06please conclude your remarks.

1:04:09Once 1 minute have passed, the light

1:04:11will turn red and the sergeant-at-arms

1:04:14will disconnect the microphone. Please

1:04:16do not give the sergeant-at-arms a hard

1:04:17time. He's only doing his job. At that

1:04:21point, please yield the podium to the

1:04:22next speaker if you have not done so

1:04:24already.

1:04:26I also reserve the right pursuant to our

1:04:28rules of city council to limit

1:04:29repetitious comments on the very same

1:04:32subject matter. The right to comment

1:04:35does not mean the right to disrupt

1:04:36proceedings. I ask that all those

1:04:38commenters refrain from using profanity

1:04:41that disrupts the meeting so we can

1:04:43maintain order in the form of respectful

1:04:46discourse.

1:04:47I will ask the chief clerk to please

1:04:49read the names of our first speakers for

1:04:52public comment today.

1:04:55>> Will Gabriella McLaughlin,

1:04:58Jeremy Blackstein,

1:05:00John McCauley, William Small, David

1:05:04Jenkins, Nicole Merring,

1:05:07Tanya Hendricks, Stephen Bronskill, and

1:05:12Jared Johnson, please make your way to

1:05:15the podium.

1:05:27>> And also

1:05:28>> And also Julio Julio

1:05:31Rodriguez

1:05:33to the podium.

1:06:13>> Council, be at ease for a second.

1:06:15Just for the record, chair recognizes

1:06:17Councilman Isaiah Thomas. Do you have

1:06:18any bills or resolutions you would like

1:06:20to introduce, sir?

1:06:22>> Sorry, Council President. No bills or

1:06:24resolutions to introduce today. Thank

1:06:26you, sir.

1:06:26>> Well, thank you very much. Please

1:06:28proceed.

1:06:37Please proceed.

1:06:38>> Okay. Good morning. My name is Gabriella

1:06:40McLaughlin and I'm an associate

1:06:41professor at Temple University where I

1:06:43direct the RISE lab which seeks to

1:06:44address inequities in health through

1:06:46pragmatic community-engaged research.

1:06:49The breakfast and lunch provided at no

1:06:50cost to students every day have been

1:06:52demonstrated to improve dietary quality,

1:06:54food insecurity, and improve attendance

1:06:57and academic achievement. They also

1:06:59reduce administrative burden for schools

1:07:01and districts so they can focus on what

1:07:02really matters to feed children.

1:07:04I've worked alongside the school

1:07:05district since 2021 and have seen the

1:07:07struggles that the office of food

1:07:08services faces daily to deliver

1:07:10high-quality meals to students around

1:07:12the city. Our lab is currently

1:07:14partnering with the district and several

1:07:16schools to co-create and test ways to

1:07:18improve perceptions of school meals,

1:07:20meal participation, and capacity within

1:07:22school systems to better implement this

1:07:24program.

1:07:25I'm excited about this resolution and

1:07:27I'm support from the city council and

1:07:29Councilman Phillips to

1:07:31collaborate with the school district.

1:07:33So, we're excited to partner with the

1:07:35evaluation and provide advocacy for this

1:07:37resolution.

1:07:39Thank you.

1:07:46>> Thanks.

1:07:48>> Hello. Jeremy Blutstein.

1:07:51Thank you for that resolution for the

1:07:53Kensington hearing on businesses, right?

1:07:55But,

1:07:56we need more housing. You heard the from

1:08:00Councilman Jones and Councilman Young

1:08:01with the attorney the

1:08:02>> how you doing today? Are we speaking on

1:08:04260076,

1:08:06which is the amendment to the home rule

1:08:07charter related creation of

1:08:09>> Um, yes, sir.

1:08:10I also was going to talk about the

1:08:12resolution that got brought up today,

1:08:14right? That was put on the calendar. Is

1:08:15that allowed?

1:08:16Is that germane to the topic?

1:08:18>> Just was double-checking. Looking

1:08:19>> Okay, yeah, yeah, oh, for the for that

1:08:20one. Oh, yeah, for that one for home

1:08:21rule charter, sir.

1:08:23Um, home home rule charter, right? Put

1:08:25it on the ballot, right? Disband the

1:08:28Philadelphia Sheriff's Office, right?

1:08:30The home rule charter can get changed by

1:08:32putting the resolution by this body and

1:08:35on the ballot and voting on it, right?

1:08:38The Philadelphia Sheriff's Office found

1:08:39$20 million

1:08:40and this body has done nothing

1:08:43nothing to hold them accountable.

1:08:46Hold the hearing on the Philadelphia

1:08:47Sheriff's Office and put it on the

1:08:50ballot. And the last thing I'll say,

1:08:52right, is hearings. You want to talk

1:08:54about the Kensington hearing, sir?

1:08:56Put a resolution up for the hearing on

1:08:59the Sheriff's Office. And the last thing

1:09:00we're talking about is sup

1:09:03the

1:09:04support

1:09:06the zero fare. It's a good program. Ride

1:09:08the ride. Grow Philly to two milli.

1:09:10Thank you.

1:09:21>> Please proceed.

1:09:22>> John Alante McCauley. In regard to

1:09:25resolution 260872,

1:09:27calling on the school district of

1:09:29Philadelphia to reexamine its policies

1:09:31and practices concerning the provision

1:09:33of healthy, nutritious, and high-quality

1:09:35meals to Philadelphia public school

1:09:38students. At what point do parents say I

1:09:40want to be responsible for feeding my

1:09:42own children? If you want your children

1:09:44to eat better at school, then it's

1:09:46simply not up to the district. They pick

1:09:48vendors based on reimbursement rates and

1:09:50nutrition standards set by USDA. USDA

1:09:54would need Congress to change the law,

1:09:56raise your taxes to change the

1:09:58reimbursement rates so they can pay the

1:10:00vendors to make better the better

1:10:01quality food. That's why any politician

1:10:04that's not talking about putting more

1:10:06money in your pocket so you can feed

1:10:08your own children is full of crap. I'd

1:10:10rather discuss why do we allow activist

1:10:13teachers to teach children to hate

1:10:15President Trump, but not Barack Obama

1:10:17when he said every young male needs a

1:10:19gay role model. Tell them tell them

1:10:21messages that they really need to hear.

1:10:24Like they never been a slave. They never

1:10:26been through segregation. They never

1:10:28seen Jim Crow. No one has ever tried to

1:10:30hang them from a tree. There is no white

1:10:32oppressor. Never adopt the victim's

1:10:35mentality. You live in the greatest

1:10:37country in the world. And if you keep

1:10:38Jesus first

1:10:39>> Thank you, John. That's your time, sir.

1:10:42Thank you, sir. That's just the time.

1:10:45I just said thank you, sir. That's your

1:10:47time.

1:10:48Thank you. We love it.

1:10:49Please call the next speaker, please.

1:10:54Thank you, sir.

1:10:57Thank you, sir.

1:10:59Thank you, sir.

1:11:05Please call the next speaker, please.

1:11:07Mr. William Small, please begin, sir.

1:11:10>> David Jenkins, Nico Myrie,

1:11:14Julio Ibeagwe, Tanya Hendricks, Stephen

1:11:18Bronskill, Jared Johnson, and Jake Lane.

1:11:23Please make your way to the podium.

1:11:25>> Please proceed.

1:11:28>> Good morning, everybody. My name is

1:11:29William Small. I'm from an organization

1:11:31called Flip Philly Red, and today

1:11:35I am with the resolution 260872.

1:11:39My children are educated in the

1:11:40Philadelphia School District.

1:11:43But if we really care about children,

1:11:45when the gambling machines swept through

1:11:46the every store in Philadelphia, you

1:11:48guys tiptoed over the issue with

1:11:50legislation that enabled them to keep

1:11:52four five machines, effectively turning

1:11:55these stores into gambling hubs for

1:11:57anyone to play, including elementary

1:11:59school-aged children. It took the

1:12:01Supreme Court and a Republican AG, Dave

1:12:04Sunday, to step in and put an end to

1:12:06this madness, while some council members

1:12:09in this chamber tried to legalize them,

1:12:11ignoring the addiction that they plagued

1:12:13on their own people. Now, when it comes

1:12:15to these smoke shops, I'm seeing the

1:12:17same exact energy. We don't need

1:12:19legislation that keeps them a certain

1:12:20distance away. That's not the problem,

1:12:23because these smoke shops in the city

1:12:24are not legal businesses. These places

1:12:27are trap HOUSES THAT DON'T JUST sell

1:12:29drugs, they sell them to our children.

1:12:31With the overwhelming amount of people

1:12:34in there that are migrants who are out

1:12:36from the city of Philadelphia and are

1:12:38operated by illegal immigrants. WHERE

1:12:40ARE THE SEARCH WARRANTS? WHERE are the

1:12:43regos? Where is the political pressure

1:12:46FOR THESE SMOKE SHOPS IN OUR CITY?

1:12:48>> That's your time, Mr. Small, but thank

1:12:49you very much for your commentary today,

1:12:51sir.

1:12:53Please call on the next person, please.

1:13:01Please proceed, sir.

1:13:03>> Thank you. Good morning, council

1:13:04members. My name is Nico Meyering. I

1:13:06strongly support Councilmember

1:13:07O'Rourke's resolution on zero fare. I'm

1:13:09a disabled SEPTA rider from District 1

1:13:11and a member of the Transit Forward

1:13:13Philadelphia Steering Committee. I don't

1:13:15drive, so the 47, the 21, and the 42 are

1:13:18my only rides. In fact, for the

1:13:20thousands of disabled on fixed incomes,

1:13:23SEPTA is how we reach work, the

1:13:24pharmacy, and each other.

1:13:26When fares rose 21.5% last year,

1:13:29something had to give. For me, it was

1:13:31food. I went down to one or two meals a

1:13:32day so my disabled wife could also eat.

1:13:35For others, it's prescription or staying

1:13:37home. Isolation is its own disability

1:13:39tax. The Transit Access Fund is the ramp

1:13:42to permanent zero fare. Half of 1% of

1:13:45the general fund written in the charter

1:13:46and decided by voters. My ask today is

1:13:49everybody supports a Transit Access

1:13:51Fund. 250 years after this city declared

1:13:53independence, give us transit and give

1:13:55us freedom. THANK YOU.

1:14:03>> GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS,

1:14:04AND GUESTS. DAVID ALEXANDER JENKINS, and

1:14:06I rise for member O'Rourke's

1:14:07reintroduction of the Affordable Philly

1:14:08Now plan Transit Access Fund. A program

1:14:12set to help more of our neighbors access

1:14:13life in this greatest of cities that we

1:14:15call home. I do not need to tell you in

1:14:17Philadelphia here who are burdened with

1:14:19the realities of the hiking cost that

1:14:21are presented to a people already

1:14:22strapped for cash. Alas, many of you in

1:14:25this very room and those listening to

1:14:26the sound of my voice from beyond the

1:14:27rail have received your paychecks today

1:14:29and know the truth of a day late and a

1:14:31dollar short when it comes to financial

1:14:32security. The decision between rent or

1:14:34groceries is a real one, and the money

1:14:37you spent to get here, to school, to

1:14:38church, yes, even here this morning was

1:14:40a burden worthy of pause. But, I want to

1:14:42tell you that I sat with a 23 between

1:14:4410th and Diamond Street at 12th and

1:14:46Market last week I had the opportunity

1:14:47to meet Tajanae, a a 27-year-old young

1:14:50lady who on her way downtown told me

1:14:52where I asked where she was going that

1:14:53she was headed to a shelter before it

1:14:55closed for the night. And having lost

1:14:57her apartment at the beginning of the

1:14:58week and after being fired from a work

1:15:00of lost months due to lateness, she was

1:15:02late because she could not get to work

1:15:04because she did not have the $2.50

1:15:07that was required to get there. This is

1:15:09real and so I ask you to pass number of

1:15:11work's bill.

1:15:22>> Good morning. My name is Julio Rodriguez

1:15:24and I'm here to speak about

1:15:25Councilmember O'Rourke's privilege

1:15:26resolution on the zero fare program. I

1:15:29want to start off by thanking Council

1:15:31President, Majority Leader, and Minority

1:15:32Leaders for their support on public

1:15:34transit. I'll be reading brief remarks

1:15:36from one of our members, Helena Galant.

1:15:38I'm a proud resident of Northeast Philly

1:15:40in the Torresdale neighborhood and I'm

1:15:41speaking as a member of the 215 People's

1:15:43Alliance, a coalition member of Transit

1:15:45Forward Philly. I'm here to speak

1:15:47favorably on the Councilmember's

1:15:49resolution and on the transit access

1:15:51fund. I've been a transit rider ever

1:15:53since I was a student at Temple

1:15:54University and transit is my my

1:15:56preferred method of getting around.

1:15:58Taking transit, especially regional

1:16:00rail, can be very costly. So anything

1:16:02that can be done to support transit is

1:16:04super important. All this to say that

1:16:06transit should be a right not a

1:16:08privilege and that transit access fund

1:16:09is a necessary step to make that

1:16:12statement a reality. Thank you.

1:16:24>> Good morning. My name is Tanya Hendricks

1:16:26and I'm here to support the zero

1:16:30fare act and I'm also here to speak

1:16:34about the We Make Philly agenda.

1:16:38I've been a member of power and a faith

1:16:39for over a year. I'm a lifelong

1:16:42Philadelphian and I live I've lived in

1:16:44my home for 28 years. I love our city

1:16:47and couldn't imagine living anywhere

1:16:49else. My reality is I live off of $1,100

1:16:52a month. After I pay my bills, I'm lucky

1:16:55to have $100 left. I've signed up for

1:16:57every assistance program I could find.

1:17:00Even with that, my daughter still helps

1:17:02me with my utilities. I go to food

1:17:04pantries

1:17:05so that we are able to eat. And in the

1:17:08last year, my property taxes and PGW

1:17:11bill have doubled. I'm worried about my

1:17:13future and being able to keep my house

1:17:18and maintain my life. I've worked my

1:17:20whole life, and now I'm tired. You know,

1:17:23I'm I'm disabled. I'm tired of robbing

1:17:26Peter to pay Paul to figure out which

1:17:28bill I'm going to pay each month. So,

1:17:31I'm here to ask City Council

1:17:33to

1:17:35support and pass the We Make Philly

1:17:37agenda and make our city stronger and

1:17:39more effect affordable. Thank you.

1:17:47>> Thank you.

1:17:49>> Good morning. Uh my name is Steven

1:17:50Bronskill. I'm also here commenting on

1:17:52the zero fare program resolution. Um a

1:17:55couple weeks ago, the Better Government

1:17:57Report came out studying the zero fare

1:17:59program. They said, "Did this work?" And

1:18:01they found two things. They said first,

1:18:03if you give people transit, they use it.

1:18:04They take it to work, school, and

1:18:06medical care. The second thing, and most

1:18:08shocking,

1:18:09they trust their government more by

1:18:11double-digit margins.

1:18:14Our friends here from Power Interfaith

1:18:17are here. Transit riders are here. They

1:18:18are campaigning for a more affordable

1:18:20city. This is something we can do right

1:18:22now by passing this bill, by later

1:18:24funding the Transit Access Fund to help

1:18:27low-income Philadelphian students,

1:18:29workers, and tenants get where they need

1:18:31to go. I want to thank Council President

1:18:33Johnson, Majority Leader Gilmore

1:18:34Richardson, Minority Leader Brooks, and

1:18:37transportation utilities chair Driscoll,

1:18:39and all of the co-sponsors on this

1:18:41legislation. A transit access fund is

1:18:43brotherly love, it's sisterly affection.

1:18:46It says, "I may not look like you, I may

1:18:48not travel like you, I may not live like

1:18:49you, but we all have somewhere to go.

1:18:52Thank you for making Philly affordable

1:18:54and the safe, reliable transit we

1:18:55deserve." Thank you.

1:19:02>> All right.

1:19:03Will Jacob S. Harris,

1:19:07Sharon Weinman, Khaleeb Scott Joseph,

1:19:11David Gonzalez, Leon China, Santiago

1:19:16Melendez, Julia Rhea, please make your

1:19:20way to the podium.

1:19:27>> Please proceed, sir.

1:19:29>> Good morning. My name is Jerry Johnson.

1:19:30I live in District 4 and I take the 33,

1:19:32165, and the L lines every day. I'm here

1:19:34to support the zero access fund program.

1:19:36An affordable Philadelphia means every

1:19:38Philadelphian like myself who's at or

1:19:39below the poverty level in the working

1:19:41class that rely on SEPTA will go

1:19:43wherever they want and have a sense of

1:19:45freedom. It's not just those who are

1:19:46working full-time, it's not just

1:19:48families or single parents with kids,

1:19:50it's those who are working full-time,

1:19:51working two or three jobs, singles,

1:19:52newlyweds, senior citizens that are also

1:19:55in poverty. As a bus rider myself, I

1:19:56make less than over $16,000 a year.

1:20:00And this would help me because it would

1:20:01help continue

1:20:04my success as a representing Transit

1:20:06Forward Philadelphia.

1:20:08Let me give one example of how it's

1:20:09working. Increased use amongst recipient

1:20:11recipients, especially those who ride

1:20:13the least have been riding the most ever

1:20:15since the program existed. So, let's get

1:20:17this done and finish and let's cross the

1:20:20finish line and get this

1:20:22bill support and let's get it across the

1:20:23finish line and make this happen. Thank

1:20:25you.

1:20:27>> Thank you, sir.

1:20:42>> Please proceed, sir.

1:20:46>> Yes, ma'am. How y'all doing?

1:20:49I have a question for the room.

1:20:51Is education a human right?

1:20:54Is education a human right?

1:20:57Is health care?

1:20:59Is housing?

1:21:01How will we fund this city?

1:21:03I I came here to support the We Make

1:21:05Philly campaign and Nicolas O'Rourke's

1:21:07bill.

1:21:08And what I'd like to say

1:21:11is when I think about my life,

1:21:13I think about my mom,

1:21:14I think about my dad,

1:21:16I think about my sister.

1:21:18Rent is too high. My sister can hardly

1:21:21find a spot to rent, let alone own.

1:21:24My dad has heart problems. How can a

1:21:26city with no money support people that

1:21:29are sick?

1:21:30My mother, she's a teacher. When does

1:21:32she get to retire in a city that does

1:21:33that she cannot afford?

1:21:36And I work I I work.

1:21:39There is no job protection. That's why I

1:21:41support the We Make Philly campaign and

1:21:43Nicolas O'Rourke's

1:21:45bill

1:21:46because these are the things that make

1:21:47this city affordable for people like us

1:21:50and the people that make this city.

1:21:51Thank you.

1:22:00>> Good morning. My name is Sharon Wieman

1:22:03and I'm a member of POWER Interfaith as

1:22:06well and I live in District 8. I'm here

1:22:09in support of Council Member O'Rourke's

1:22:12Transit Access Fund and SEPTA's Zero

1:22:15Fare Program.

1:22:17These programs will ensure that there is

1:22:19public transportation

1:22:22for young people and all of us to get to

1:22:24school, jobs, and all the places we have

1:22:27to go. I'm here to urge council to

1:22:30address the city's affordability crisis

1:22:34by supporting power interface we make

1:22:36Philly agenda to pass a fair wealth tax,

1:22:40lower property taxes, and freeze gas.

1:22:44I have the financial resources to pay

1:22:47more in city taxes.

1:22:49If a wealth tax is passed, I will pay

1:22:52more, but it will not impact the way I

1:22:55live.

1:22:57Ironically, it's wealthy people like me

1:22:59who get big tax breaks.

1:23:02That's money that should be going to our

1:23:04communities.

1:23:06THANK YOU.

1:23:18>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME

1:23:20IS CALEB Scott Joseph, and I am speaking

1:23:22on behalf of UAW local 5124 in support

1:23:25of the zero fare resolution. Our union

1:23:28represents over 3,000 graduate workers

1:23:30at the University of Pennsylvania.

1:23:32Our members live in all corners of the

1:23:33city and provide teaching services

1:23:36essential to the university's

1:23:37educational mission, as well as perform

1:23:39groundbreaking research in fields across

1:23:40medicine, science, and the humanities.

1:23:43We would like to start by thanking

1:23:44Council member O'Rourke for his work

1:23:45advocating for an affordable transit

1:23:47system for all Philadelphians. As

1:23:48graduate workers, the majority of us do

1:23:50not own cars. We rely on SEPTA, we rely

1:23:53on alternative means of transportation

1:23:55like SEPTA to commute to work. SEPTA, in

1:23:57addition to enabling us to commute to

1:23:58our workplaces, is our lifeline to the

1:24:00city and our surrounding communities. It

1:24:02enables us to get groceries, see our

1:24:04friends and families, and engage with

1:24:06our neighbors. Protecting SEPTA's future

1:24:08is of critical importance to our members

1:24:09and all Philadelphians. That is why the

1:24:12transit access fund is so critical.

1:24:14Hundreds of thousands of Philadelphians

1:24:16rely on SEPTA in much the same way as

1:24:18our members do. Every Philadelphian

1:24:20should have the right to go where they

1:24:22need without having the economic

1:24:23barriers.

1:24:30>> Good evening council members. My name is

1:24:32David Gonzalez. I'm also here on behalf

1:24:34of our union UEW Local 5124 representing

1:24:37the the graduate workers of the

1:24:39University of Pennsylvania. I'm here

1:24:41with my colleague Caleb Scott Joseph to

1:24:42finish off what we were saying.

1:24:44Um

1:24:46Look, um the zero-fare program makes

1:24:49great strides towards achieving the

1:24:51reality of a Philadelphia without

1:24:52economic barriers for all

1:24:54Philadelphians. In addition to this,

1:24:56supporting the continuation of the Key

1:24:57Advantage program uh for city employees,

1:25:00as well as expanding it to other

1:25:01Philadelphia employers, housing

1:25:03providers, and educational institutions

1:25:06unlocks a new way for thousands more

1:25:08Philadelphians to engage with our city.

1:25:10Expanding these programs will lead to

1:25:12increased ridership and economic

1:25:13activity, thus benefiting all

1:25:15Philadelphians. We, on behalf of all of

1:25:193,000 members that we represent, urge

1:25:21the city council to adopt and pass this

1:25:23resolution. We additionally call on city

1:25:25council to take direct action toward

1:25:27building a more equitable and accessible

1:25:29Philadelphia starting with transit.

1:25:34>> Will Katie Will Katie Ashby, Aaron

1:25:39Young, Janice Tasto, Allegra Dingle, Joy

1:25:45Ann Joanne Douglas, Lena Bond, and

1:25:49Jacqueline Green please make your way to

1:25:52the podium.

1:26:19>> Please proceed.

1:26:21>> Good morning. My name is Santiago

1:26:23Melendez and I'm privileged to be in

1:26:26this room to speak in support of Council

1:26:28Member O'Rourke's zero fare resolution.

1:26:31The evidence presented is strong for the

1:26:35for the program, even though the program

1:26:37is still young. Philadelphia has built a

1:26:40best-in-class reduced fare program that

1:26:43is reaching a greater percentage of

1:26:45eligible residents than any other

1:26:48similar initiative in the nation. It is

1:26:50giving everyone, regardless of age,

1:26:53race, or employment history, the key to

1:26:56the city and ensuring that they can

1:26:58travel to medical appointments, to work,

1:27:01and to the grocery store.

1:27:03As the cost of transportation increases,

1:27:06but wages do not, the zero fare program

1:27:08is ensuring that everyone retains access

1:27:11to the opportunities that urban life

1:27:13provides.

1:27:15With that, I will close by asking you to

1:27:17commit to supporting the Transit Access

1:27:19Fund and the zero fare program as we

1:27:21take a step forward to building a

1:27:23stronger, more equitable Philadelphia.

1:27:35>> Okay.

1:27:36Hello, my name is Julie Ryan and I'm

1:27:38also here to speak in support of

1:27:41Councilwoman O'Rourke's resolution.

1:27:44I live in Kensington on Front Street

1:27:46with the York-Dauphin stop on the L, a

1:27:48half block away from my apartment. SEPTA

1:27:50takes me to doctor appointments,

1:27:52shopping excursions, and all other

1:27:54aspects of local life. However, this

1:27:56year SEPTA riders face a 20% increase in

1:27:59fare costs at a time when wages remain

1:28:02stagnant and consumers are contending

1:28:05with burdensome cost increases. The

1:28:07median annual income in Kensington is

1:28:10approximately $29,000,

1:28:12making the cost of a round trip trip

1:28:16on SEPTA $12 for riders with

1:28:18disabilities who use paratransit, is a

1:28:20source of significant pain for my

1:28:22neighbors. The Transit Access Fund would

1:28:25address the far harms caused by infla-

1:28:28inflation by permanently funding the

1:28:30zero fare program. The zero fare program

1:28:33provides free SEPTA passes to low-income

1:28:35residents of Philadelphia. Currently,

1:28:38the program is funded through July 27.

1:28:42If additional funding is not found part

1:28:44of that time, the zero fare program will

1:28:46cease. Thank you for your time.

1:29:00>> My name is Katie Ashby. I want to thank

1:29:02you for introducing the SEPTA zero fare

1:29:04program and Transit Access Fund. Making

1:29:07transit accessible to all as we navigate

1:29:09an affordability crisis is a necessity,

1:29:12which is why I'm here with Power Inter

1:29:13Faith to ask Council to pass the We Make

1:29:16Philly campaign and extend the homestead

1:29:18exemption. With property taxes growing

1:29:21more disproportionately unaffordable,

1:29:23our neighbors are being increasingly

1:29:24forced out of their homes and in their

1:29:26place corporations are taking over. Over

1:29:29a third of all single-family homes in

1:29:31Philadelphia are now purchased by

1:29:33investors. This is double the amount

1:29:35than the national average. When we've

1:29:38created a financial environment so

1:29:39insidious that renters cannot afford to

1:29:41save for a home due to the steady rise

1:29:43of already unaffordable rents, and

1:29:46homeowners cannot afford to lose their

1:29:47property because they can neither afford

1:29:49a home or exorbitant rent, it is up to

1:29:52our elected officials to implement a

1:29:53solution for this affordability crisis.

1:29:56If Council passes the We Make Philly

1:29:58agenda, that would mean our

1:29:59neighborhoods could stay in the hands of

1:30:01our neighbors. And at a time of

1:30:03unmatched financial precarity,

1:30:04increasing the homestead exemption could

1:30:06mean the difference between housed and

1:30:08homeless. Thank you.

1:30:20>> Hi, I'm speaking on

1:30:23in support

1:30:24My name is Aaron Young. I'm speaking on

1:30:28the Nicholas O'Rourke's zero fare

1:30:30resolution in support of a transit

1:30:33access fund.

1:30:35I'm a member of Transit Forward

1:30:36Philadelphia and I live in District 3.

1:30:40I

1:30:42I am speaking in support of the transit

1:30:44access fund because it would protect

1:30:46programs like zero fare from funding

1:30:48cuts and put them on the path to

1:30:51permanent funding. This would create

1:30:54stability for zero fare participants who

1:30:57will currently see their coverage expire

1:30:59in July next year.

1:31:01I fully depend on SEPTA and I take it

1:31:03everywhere. I'm disabled and can't walk

1:31:06or bike long distances, so I need to buy

1:31:08a monthly pass. Last year fares

1:31:10increased 21.5%

1:31:13but wages in Philly did not.

1:31:15I pay more for worse, more unreliable

1:31:18service and myself and other

1:31:21Philadelphians who are financially

1:31:23insecure are all affected by this fare

1:31:25increase. While the state of PA has

1:31:28refused to fully fund public transit,

1:31:31the city should step in to help

1:31:33residents afford the cross cost of

1:31:35transit. So I ask you, will you support

1:31:37a transit access fund in Philadelphia?

1:31:48>> Okay, cool.

1:31:50>> Good morning. My name is Janice Tosto

1:31:52and I'm a transit writer and a volunteer

1:31:55for Transit Forward Philadelphia and I'm

1:31:57speaking on behalf of Council Member

1:31:59O'Rourke's zero fare

1:32:01proposal resolution. Um last year's

1:32:0421.5%

1:32:06fare hike was excessive and burdensome

1:32:09for us transit riders. People have lost

1:32:11jobs, continue to lose jobs, and face

1:32:14considerable financial pressure. The

1:32:16zero fare program will ensure that

1:32:19riders with the greatest need can access

1:32:21our public transportation system. Money

1:32:23should not be a barrier to to getting

1:32:25around our city. I urge passage of the

1:32:28transit access fund bill, including

1:32:30permanent funding for the zero fares

1:32:32program. Thank you.

1:32:43>> Hello. My name is Alegría Dingle. I am

1:32:46here in support of an expanded zero fare

1:32:48and the transit access fund.

1:32:51I work as a Southwest Philadelphia

1:32:53fellow at Transit Forward Philadelphia.

1:32:55I am also low income. I am also

1:32:57chronically ill. There are days when I

1:32:59am able to work a full day, and then

1:33:01there are others when I am so exhausted

1:33:02I am in bed all day. I am that rider

1:33:05that takes the 42 three blocks to to

1:33:08connect to the 52.

1:33:10We all know that disabled people

1:33:12overwhelmingly rely on public transit. I

1:33:14cannot stress enough how much my life

1:33:16has improved now that I do not have to

1:33:17worry about paying a $2.90

1:33:21every time I get on a bus.

1:33:23I think that everyone deserves this

1:33:24level of care. I'm excited to continue

1:33:26engaging in discussions about how we can

1:33:28make this city more affordable for the

1:33:29people that make it run. Thank you.

1:33:39>> Good morning. Thank you, Council and

1:33:41Council President, for hearing us today.

1:33:43My name is Joy Ann. I'm Nurse Advocacy

1:33:45Manager at the National Nurse-Led Care

1:33:48Consortium or NNCC, where I work with

1:33:51other registered nurses and parent

1:33:53coaches who provide free home visiting

1:33:55for pregnant families and families with

1:33:57young children in all of the neighbors

1:33:59in Philadelphia. I'm here to comment on

1:34:02Council member O'Rourke's privileged

1:34:04resolution on the zero fare program.

1:34:07For years, we at NNCC have strived to

1:34:10create workarounds for the families we

1:34:12serve regarding transportation.

1:34:14Families use transportation for a number

1:34:16of reasons, getting to school and work,

1:34:19job searching, grocery shopping, adult

1:34:22and pediatric doctors visits, connecting

1:34:24with family, friends, and other support

1:34:26people, going to therapy appointments,

1:34:29safely delivering young children to

1:34:30school, taking their children to parks,

1:34:32the zoo, the aquarium, etc. The

1:34:34unaffordability of public transportation

1:34:36for families creates a barrier for

1:34:37accessing any of these things. As nurses

1:34:40and home visitors, we know that this is

1:34:42a public health issue. Social service

1:34:45organizations cannot afford to continue

1:34:47carrying the cost of transportation. A

1:34:49zero fare system would improve the

1:34:50health and lives of the families we

1:34:52serve by making it affordable to access

1:34:55healthy foods and health services. Thank

1:34:57you.

1:35:06>> Hi, my name is Joanne Douglas, and I

1:35:08work for Clean Air Council as a

1:35:09Sustainable Transportation Outreach

1:35:11Coordinator. Our organization works in

1:35:14solidarity with several organizations to

1:35:16reduce pollution across the city. We

1:35:18fully support Councilman O'Rourke's

1:35:20Transit Fund initiative. It is vital

1:35:23that public transit be affordable and

1:35:24accessible to all. The zero fare program

1:35:27ensures that the most vulnerable

1:35:28populations can move around the city,

1:35:30getting to appointments, food services,

1:35:32and jobs without further pressuring them

1:35:34into poverty or a tough spot, burdening

1:35:37their limited finances. Subsidizing

1:35:39small businesses to adopt the Septa Key

1:35:41Advantage program helps with employee

1:35:43retention, assisting with cost of living

1:35:46due to a stagnant city wages, and

1:35:47keeping the hard working people who make

1:35:50the city great inside of Philadelphia. I

1:35:53want to thank you for your time and for

1:35:54hearing myself and my fellow advocates.

1:35:57We look forward to seeing the transit

1:35:59access fund in action.

1:36:06>> Will Nesbitt, Will Nesbitt Child Hurry,

1:36:10Owen Taylor, Kyle Baptiste,

1:36:13Autumn Fingerhood, Gloria Cortiengo

1:36:18Hearts,

1:36:19Eden McDougall, please make your way to

1:36:22the podium.

1:36:27>> Hello. My name is Linnea Bond and I'm

1:36:29the director of education for Physicians

1:36:31for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania.

1:36:35Fund the transit fund, obviously. Um,

1:36:38but go beyond that to support health and

1:36:41SEPTA through a data center moratorium.

1:36:44On each of your desks, and Council

1:36:45President I have yours, is a report

1:36:48written by Nobel Prize-winning economist

1:36:50Paul Krugman. He argues that 8.2 billion

1:36:53dollars, which is the amount of money

1:36:55typically invested in a data center, in

1:36:57any other investment is 10,000 jobs,

1:37:01non-construction jobs, compared to 100

1:37:03jobs from that amount of investment in a

1:37:06data center. He argues further that that

1:37:08investment is happening not beside other

1:37:11investment but at the expense

1:37:13>> Can you also talk about the transit

1:37:15>> Oh, yeah.

1:37:16>> bill and zero fiscal impact together?

1:37:19>> So, if a data center gets built in

1:37:20Philadelphia, that's a 9,900 job gap in

1:37:23the job market. Across the state,

1:37:26there's 135 proposed data centers, which

1:37:29means 1,336,500

1:37:32fewer jobs. So, that money is enriching

1:37:34private equity, which buys up more of

1:37:36our housing and hospitals and prices us

1:37:38out. And Pennsylvania exempts data

1:37:41centers from sales tax, which funds the

1:37:42general fund,

1:37:43which funds SEPTA and our schools.

1:37:47>> Thank you.

1:37:47>> Thank you.

1:38:04>> Good morning President Johnson,

1:38:07council members and everyone here. My

1:38:09name is Jacqueline Green and I'm a

1:38:11member of Second Baptist Church of

1:38:13Germantown. I'm here with power this

1:38:16morning in support of councilman

1:38:18O'Rourke's resolution regarding transit

1:38:21access fund and zero fare program, which

1:38:25makes public transportation and

1:38:27essential public service affordable

1:38:30affordable service. And I'm here as a

1:38:33senior homeowner today to shed light on

1:38:36the many

1:38:37many ways that Philadelphians of all

1:38:40ages are looking for relief from

1:38:42affordability crisis and urge city

1:38:44council to support and make make the

1:38:49make Philly agenda. Seniors face a major

1:38:52challenge related to the availability

1:38:56of maintaining our homes and we what

1:39:01we're asking for is assistance from city

1:39:03council to

1:39:07I can keep going. Okay.

1:39:12To make sure that that we have

1:39:15means to

1:39:18maintain our homes with

1:39:21contractors who are vetted by a group

1:39:25that makes sure that we're not

1:39:29that we're not using tradesmen that are

1:39:31charging us more than we we should pay.

1:39:35I'm interested in making sure that we

1:39:38save

1:39:40um

1:39:42Okay.

1:39:45I just asked you to support O'Rourke's

1:39:48bill. Thank you.

1:39:50>> Thank you, ma'am.

1:39:56Thank you, ma'am. You have 1 minute.

1:39:58>> Good morning, Council President and

1:39:59members of City Council. My name is

1:40:00Nasbi Chaudry and I'm here in support of

1:40:02Council member O'Rourke's privilege

1:40:04resolution on the zero fare program and

1:40:06the establishment of a permanent transit

1:40:07access fund. In 2024, I moved from

1:40:09Florida to Philadelphia to support my

1:40:11partner while she attended grad school.

1:40:13During that time, I relied heavily on

1:40:15SEPTA regional rail and experienced

1:40:16first hand uncertainty of service cuts

1:40:18and fare increases. This September, we

1:40:20moved into the city, now your

1:40:22constituent, Council President, and

1:40:24downsized from two vehicles to one.

1:40:26Intentionally choosing to rely more on

1:40:28SEPTA. My partner now works in

1:40:30Philadelphia's performing arts industry

1:40:31and takes SEPTA to work every day.

1:40:33Unfortunately, their employer doesn't

1:40:35participate in SEPTA Key Advantage,

1:40:36meaning transportation comes directly

1:40:38out of her paycheck. But, affordability

1:40:39is also a public safety issue. Recently,

1:40:42a young woman approached me at a station

1:40:43asking whether I could pay her fare or

1:40:45let her follow me through the accessible

1:40:47fare gates. I paid her fare and she

1:40:49laughed at me, but that's Philly. But

1:40:51then, there's not so common

1:40:52interactions. A man was stabbed last

1:40:54week after intervening when individuals

1:40:55pushed a woman through a turnstile to

1:40:57avoid paying. Thankfully, police was

1:40:58there, but entering the station and was

1:41:01able to help, but usually they aren't.

1:41:02What happens when the cost of

1:41:03transportation becomes a barrier to

1:41:05accessing it safely? I'm asking Council

1:41:07to make zero fare permanent, zero fare

1:41:10permanent, and establish a dedicated

1:41:11transit access fund. Thank you so much.

1:41:19>> Okay.

1:41:20>> Hi, my name is Owen Taylor. I'm with St.

1:41:23Vincent de Paul Catholic Church where my

1:41:25family are members. As many of us here

1:41:28today, I live and work in the 8th City

1:41:30Council District in Germantown. My

1:41:33partner and I have a 10-year-old son.

1:41:36He runs the farm at Bartram's Garden. I

1:41:38run a farm at the Schuylkill Center.

1:41:39We're both farmers. We're neither low

1:41:42income nor high income and I wanted to

1:41:44talk about supporting Council Member

1:41:47O'Rourke's zero fare program. Thank you

1:41:49for introducing an affordability program

1:41:53and affordability in general. We own our

1:41:56home in Germantown. Our property taxes

1:41:58doubled as another speaker said, our

1:42:01monthly payments have gone up 40%. We

1:42:04also had an increase in our gas, water

1:42:07and electricity almost 50% for

1:42:09electricity, 30 for the other two. So,

1:42:11our prices are going up. We're

1:42:13supporting family who are in more

1:42:15economic need than us constantly. We're

1:42:17now dipping into our savings and getting

1:42:19second jobs to cover the increases. So,

1:42:21we highly support any measure that's

1:42:23going to impact the affordability for

1:42:25Philadelphia. So, thank you.

1:42:33>> Thank you everybody for having me here

1:42:35today.

1:42:36My name is Kyle Baptiste. I'm a member

1:42:38of Power Inter Faith and a resident of

1:42:40the 8th District. I'm here today to

1:42:42speak in support of the SEPTA zero fare

1:42:43program.

1:42:45And

1:42:46I want I want Philly to be able to pass

1:42:49this agenda. I believe it is urgent that

1:42:51the City Council take steps to address

1:42:52the affordability crisis in our city.

1:42:54I'm currently a postal carrier in the

1:42:5514th District and I've been a long

1:42:57lifelong resident. I fear of being

1:42:59priced out and being in out by outside

1:43:01forces. I take pride in my community and

1:43:03see long-term value from the local

1:43:05residents that have roots here.

1:43:07The financial burdens are so heavy that

1:43:09I can barely take care of myself

1:43:10creating a real fear of me not being

1:43:12able to start a family or have or be

1:43:14having to move out altogether.

1:43:16Passing the increase in the homestead

1:43:18exemption is critical so that young

1:43:19people like myself can stay here for

1:43:21years to come. I would love for City

1:43:22Council to pass the We Make Philly

1:43:24campaign. Thank you.

1:43:32>> Thank you.

1:43:33Good morning. My name is Gloria Smoches

1:43:35and I have a heart. I'm here speaking on

1:43:37behalf of my Kensington families that

1:43:39are struggling in getting to and from

1:43:41home work. Also, the children how they

1:43:43going to provide for their families if

1:43:45they can get to work in the doctor's

1:43:46offices. So, I'm here for appreciating a

1:43:49role for taking the lead and fighting

1:43:51for us. This is a city problem, but it's

1:43:53a Kensington family hard working

1:43:54problem. So, how are we going to thrive

1:43:56and succeed in life for the future of

1:43:58our children to get to and from where

1:44:00they need to go. It's more of us than it

1:44:02is SEPTA. So, I appreciate if you have

1:44:04compassion and have a heart and support

1:44:07us in the Kensington area and overall

1:44:09Philadelphia. Thank you.

1:44:14>> Will Owen Barbagallo, Barbagallo,

1:44:18Jeremiah Merrill, Daniel DeCastro,

1:44:22Edward Lang, Paul O'Bona-Hagens,

1:44:26Wanda Walker, and Teria Murray. Please

1:44:30make your way to the podium.

1:44:37>> My name is Eden MacDougall. I'm a

1:44:39District 2 resident and I'm a reading

1:44:40tutor in Philly. Uh I want to thank

1:44:42Councilmember O'Rourke for his

1:44:44privileged resolution on zero fare.

1:44:46Um I spent the last 2 years teaching in

1:44:48Nicetown and I currently uh tutor in

1:44:50Kensington. I took the Broad Street Line

1:44:53to Nicetown everyday and I currently

1:44:54take the L to Kensington and I actually

1:44:56get to walk by KCT on my way to school.

1:44:59Um

1:45:00Money is tight for a lot of people in my

1:45:01school life including teachers, staff,

1:45:03and students' families. People need

1:45:05every bit of relief they can get. Um

1:45:08zero fare recipients are more likely to

1:45:10ride SEPTA to work and school than the

1:45:11control group in the Better Government

1:45:13Lab report. So, transit is really

1:45:15important for making sure people can get

1:45:17to school, um have money to take care of

1:45:19their kids.

1:45:20Um my first year tutoring, I had a

1:45:22kindergarten student whose parents

1:45:24switched schools because transportation

1:45:26was a barrier for them. Investing in

1:45:28SEPTA uh is investing in our communities

1:45:31and we can do that through zero fare and

1:45:32through the transit access fund. Thank

1:45:34you.

1:45:45>> My name is Owen Barbagallo.

1:45:47My name is Owen Barbagallo. I This is my

1:45:49first testimony. I'm a frequent rider of

1:45:51SEPTA and a student of Temple

1:45:53University. I know a lot of people who

1:45:55use and rely on SEPTA every day. One of

1:45:57my friends, if the 2025 budget cuts went

1:46:00through, wouldn't have been able to

1:46:01continue their education. People rely on

1:46:03this to survive and things are getting

1:46:06more and more expensive. If this If this

1:46:09is made permanent, people will be able

1:46:11to budget this in. They will be able to

1:46:13budget lower costs permanently for the

1:46:15long term and so will SEPTA. SEPTA This

1:46:19is one of the best ways for the city to

1:46:20be able to help fund SEPTA through its

1:46:23inevitable 2027 budget crisis by giving

1:46:26it a reliable fund for part of its

1:46:28revenue for tickets.

1:46:30Um it will also encourage people to tap

1:46:33instead of hop, which increases the

1:46:34reliability of ridership

1:46:37the ridership

1:46:39statistics and will strengthen its

1:46:42SEPTA's able ability in order to get

1:46:44proper funding for any expansion

1:46:46improvement projects. This There's

1:46:47significant economic benefits as well as

1:46:49social benefits sold by everyone else.

1:46:51Thank you.

1:47:00>> Hello, my name is Jeremiah Morrell. I am

1:47:03a Temple sophomore. I am a member on the

1:47:06SEPTA Youth Advisory Council and I'm

1:47:09here today to talk about the Transit

1:47:10Access Fund.

1:47:12For so many, the Transit Access Fund is

1:47:15an opportunity of hope. For too many

1:47:17young people for too many people within

1:47:18the city for too many people throughout

1:47:20the country, it feels like there isn't a

1:47:22lot of hope in that government can do

1:47:24things that are positive for like people

1:47:26that really need it the most. I believe

1:47:28the Transit Access Fund is an

1:47:30opportunity for low-income people, for

1:47:31people that really need

1:47:33um

1:47:34transportation in the city to get access

1:47:36to where they work, where they

1:47:38where they go to school,

1:47:40um to the grocery store. I feel like

1:47:42this piece of legislation is very needed

1:47:43and your support and all the co-sponsors

1:47:46and uh the advocates here today that are

1:47:49in support of it, you guys are doing

1:47:50really great work. And um yeah, I just

1:47:53thank you guys for so much for your

1:47:54time. Yes.

1:48:01>> Good job.

1:48:03>> Good morning. My name is Daniel DeCastro

1:48:05and I'm commenting today on the zero

1:48:07fare resolution. I am a Philadelphia

1:48:09resident and I live in Washington Square

1:48:11West. I am a substitute teacher in the

1:48:13School District of Philadelphia and I do

1:48:14not have access to a vehicle. I, along

1:48:16with many other staff members of the

1:48:18School District of Philadelphia, rely on

1:48:20SEPTA in order to get to and from

1:48:21assignments across over 200 schools

1:48:23across the district. Having reliable

1:48:25access to transit is not only a lifeline

1:48:27for school staff members, but it is

1:48:28essential for the almost 200,000 public

1:48:31school students within the School

1:48:32District of Philadelphia to have

1:48:34reliable access to education. I am

1:48:36asking you today to please support the

1:48:37Transit Access Fund to guarantee public

1:48:39transit is a priority here in

1:48:41Philadelphia. At a time when transit

1:48:43funding is not a guarantee in the

1:48:44Commonwealth, it is vital that support

1:48:46comes from City Hall to help ensure

1:48:48programs such as zero fare and SEPTA Key

1:48:50Advantage remain an option for

1:48:52Philadelphians. I appreciate your time

1:48:53and consideration and thank you for your

1:48:55service.

1:49:02>> Hello, my name is Jake Lang.

1:49:05Philadelphia!

1:49:07Philadelphia, do we truly believe that

1:49:09putting an extra piece of fruit in a

1:49:11child's school lunch is going to solve

1:49:13that 90% of black students here who

1:49:16cannot pass a math test. Do we believe

1:49:19that putting an extra piece of fruit

1:49:21inside the school

1:49:22>> Chase him real quick cuz you

1:49:24>> Yes, this is about the school lunches.

1:49:26They're obviously not nutritious enough

1:49:28because your young black students are

1:49:30murdering white people in the street.

1:49:32>> You can cut him. Thank you very much,

1:49:34sir. It's not tolerated. Thank you. You

1:49:36can go viral. I'm sorry.

1:49:38Thank you, sir. Turn it off.

1:49:45Thank you, sir.

1:49:57Please call the next person, please.

1:50:00Thank you very much.

1:50:05Thank you, sir.

1:50:24Thank you very much. Could you please

1:50:26proceed, sir?

1:50:46>> Good morning.

1:50:48Uh

1:50:50My name is Obonna Haggins. I'm the

1:50:51president of the Philadelphia

1:50:53reparations coalition for American

1:50:55freedom. And I'm glad everybody's in a

1:50:56great mood right now cuz I am, too.

1:51:00I would like to commend

1:51:04Councilman Nicholas O'Rourke.

1:51:10Yeah. That zero program the for the for

1:51:14Scepter and the task force

1:51:17invaluable information.

1:51:19Uh people in Philadelphia

1:51:22are not being paid what they should be

1:51:24paid.

1:51:26Uh my organization, the Philadelphia

1:51:28Reparations Coalition for American

1:51:30Freedmen, we have a constitutional

1:51:32remedy

1:51:34to make sure that what your study said,

1:51:38which is that it takes $29 an hour

1:51:42to

1:51:43live in Philadelphia. I I want to ask

1:51:45you, Councilman, are you willing to work

1:51:47with the Philadelphia Reparations

1:51:49Coalition to make that a reality?

1:51:56I would love for you to respond, sir.

1:51:57Please.

1:51:58>> If we really wanted to

1:51:59>> Can you Can you put it on the that

1:52:01you're willing to work with my

1:52:02organization?

1:52:04>> Can you say something more? Okay, I got

1:52:05you.

1:52:06Yeah.

1:52:07In the words of Councilman Kenyatta,

1:52:08thank you, Council President. Addressing

1:52:10our comment to the 18th unseated uh

1:52:13council member.

1:52:14Um respectfully, first of all, I

1:52:15appreciate your kindness in

1:52:16acknowledging that. Both myself

1:52:19>> Nicholas O'Rourke.

1:52:20>> Thank you, sir.

1:52:21>> You're welcome, sir.

1:52:22>> Um

1:52:23I simply just want to say that like

1:52:26Councilman Kenyatta, both of us wanted

1:52:28to work with you early on because we

1:52:30both recognized the importance of a

1:52:32Department of Freedmen Affairs. Um the

1:52:35Bureau, I have recognized reading W. E.

1:52:37B. Du Bois talking about the the the the

1:52:40necessity of having that particular

1:52:41piece in the effort towards

1:52:43reconstruction. So, there is a desire, I

1:52:46think, across this body evidenced by the

1:52:48hearing that was held in this chamber

1:52:49that we all attended and and listened

1:52:51related to that uh particular body to

1:52:54want to realize it and make it real.

1:52:55What I think all of us desire is uh some

1:52:59some collegiality as we try to work

1:53:01together to make something like that

1:53:02happen. So, yes, absolutely support the

1:53:04initiative and hope to see it realized.

1:53:06So So, you would be willing to work with

1:53:07my organization?

1:53:08>> Again, we have certainly worked with

1:53:10you, tried to work with you in time

1:53:11past, would love to work with you. You

1:53:14and I have some issues we probably need

1:53:15to work out about how that went, but of

1:53:18course that's

1:53:18>> issue. So, we don't have a back and

1:53:20forth, right, as we take care of council

1:53:23business. I would respectfully ask that

1:53:27Councilman O'Rourke and

1:53:29O'Banana Hagans have this conversation

1:53:32as a sidebar after council, as well as

1:53:35he has office hours where you can join

1:53:36him and engage in a dialogue. Um as he's

1:53:39is responding to our your

1:53:41um request.

1:53:42>> Thank you. Appreciate it.

1:53:44>> Uh thank you very much, sir. Please call

1:53:45the next person to testify, please.

1:53:47Provide public comment.

1:53:49>> Good morning, beautiful people. My name

1:53:51is Wanda Walker, and I'm going to talk

1:53:53about this transit, whatever you're

1:53:55talking about. I don't agree.

1:53:57Before we start talking about free stuff

1:53:59>> Just for the record, Wanda, you're

1:54:00talking about the transit action fund

1:54:03and also

1:54:03>> is talking about today I shouldn't be

1:54:05talking about.

1:54:06>> to clarify for the record. That's all.

1:54:08>> President. I don't agree. Before we talk

1:54:10about free stuff, we need to talk about

1:54:12audits, investigations, and where all

1:54:15our money goes. Philadelphia pays more

1:54:17taxes than any other city in the entire

1:54:20United States. We're the sixth largest

1:54:22city, yet we're the second poorest big

1:54:25city. Giving people free rides isn't

1:54:27going to make this situation better.

1:54:29Audits and accountability will. And if

1:54:32City Council did a better job at

1:54:35figuring out where all this money is

1:54:37going, we wouldn't have people begging

1:54:38for free rides. Free does not solve a

1:54:41problem of affordability when you have

1:54:44so many things going on like PPA, the

1:54:47utility bills, the taxes going up. These

1:54:51are the things that really we really

1:54:52need to address. It should not be about

1:54:55free rides. We need to fix the systems

1:54:57that we have in place so everybody can

1:55:00have accessibility.

1:55:02Thank you.

1:55:03>> Thank you. Please call the next person

1:55:05to testify, please.

1:55:14>> Hi there. My name is Tariq Murray, for

1:55:16the record.

1:55:17>> You got 1 minute.

1:55:18>> Thank you.

1:55:19Um I'm here to talk about bill 250768

1:55:22to prohibit contractors from

1:55:24incinerating collected waste. Um this is

1:55:26the second time I've come up here. The

1:55:27last time I referenced how the top uh

1:55:30nations for longevity, being uh Japan

1:55:33and I believe Singapore,

1:55:36uh have heavily utilized and regularly

1:55:38utilize uh waste-to-energy incinerators.

1:55:40My issue with this bill is that it is

1:55:42kind of all-encompassing and kind of

1:55:44removes any possibility for us to ever

1:55:48be able to utilize this on a citywide

1:55:50level, which would be the most impactful

1:55:51way to utilize it. Currently, this would

1:55:54now allow a centralization of energy and

1:55:57fuel resources to then be coordinated

1:56:00and uh monopolized essentially by fossil

1:56:03fuel and other types of uh energy

1:56:06utilizations like that, uh aside from

1:56:08other big corporations that utilize.

1:56:10Now, I understand that Re-World is not a

1:56:11good organization. I believe that this

1:56:13bill has a lot of merit, but I believe

1:56:14that it should be um re-examined and at

1:56:18you know, added upon or uh edited. Um

1:56:20that is the only thing I request. This

1:56:22is the final passage. I really

1:56:23appreciate and would hope that you guys

1:56:25consider my words today. Thank you for

1:56:27your time.

1:56:31>> Honor to the Council President, that

1:56:34concludes our listing for public comment

1:56:36for today.

1:56:36>> Thank you very much. That concludes

1:56:39today's public comment.

1:56:43We will now consider

1:56:46resolutions on the final passage

1:56:48calendar

1:56:50and bills on the second reading and

1:56:52final passage calendar.

1:57:04>> Would the clerk please read the title of

1:57:05resolution number 260847?

1:57:08>> A resolution also naming the 3900 block

1:57:11of Lancaster Avenue as Chosen 300 Way to

1:57:14honor the legacy and impact of the

1:57:16Chosen 300 Ministries on the West

1:57:18Philadelphia community.

1:57:19>> The chair recognizes Councilman Jamie

1:57:21Gauthier for a motion regarding

1:57:22resolution number 260

1:57:24847.

1:57:26>> Thank you, Council President. I move for

1:57:27the adoption of the resolution.

1:57:29>> It has a moving property and second that

1:57:31resolution number 260847 be adopted. All

1:57:34those in favor of the motion will

1:57:35signify by saying I.

1:57:37Anyone opposed? The eyes have it. The

1:57:38motion carried and resolution is

1:57:39adopted. Would the chief clerk please

1:57:41read the title of resolution number

1:57:42260873?

1:57:45>> A resolution confirming the

1:57:46reappointment of James Engler as a

1:57:48member of the Board of Ethics to serve

1:57:50in the term ending November 16th, 2031.

1:57:53>> The chair recognizes majority leader

1:57:54Gilmore Richardson for a motion

1:57:56regarding resolution number 260873.

1:57:59>> Thank you, Mr. President. On your

1:58:01behalf, I move the adoption of the

1:58:02resolution.

1:58:03>> It has a moving property and second that

1:58:05the resolution number 260873

1:58:08be adopted. All those in favor of the

1:58:09motion will signify by saying I.

1:58:12Anyone opposed? Eyes have it. The motion

1:58:14carried and resolution is adopted.

1:58:17Would the clerk please read the title of

1:58:18bill number 260692?

1:58:21>> An ordinance amending section 9-208 of

1:58:24the Philadelphia Code entitled cafes to

1:58:27authorize additional locations for

1:58:29sidewalk cafes all under certain terms

1:58:31and conditions.

1:58:35>> This bill having been read on two

1:58:37different days, the question is shall

1:58:40the bill pass finally? Chief clerk,

1:58:41please call the roll.

1:58:43>> Council member Gilmore Richardson.

1:58:46Council member Gauthier.

1:58:48Council member Thomas.

1:58:54>> Emphatically, I.

1:58:57>> Councilmember Landau.

1:59:00>> I.

1:59:00>> Councilmember Lozada.

1:59:02>> I.

1:59:03>> Councilmember Young.

1:59:04>> I.

1:59:06>> Councilmember Harrity.

1:59:09>> I.

1:59:10>> Councilmember O'Rourke.

1:59:11>> I.

1:59:13>> Councilmember Driscoll.

1:59:14>> I.

1:59:15>> Councilmember O'Neill.

1:59:16>> I.

1:59:17>> Councilmember Squilla.

1:59:19>> I.

1:59:20>> And Councilmember Ahmed.

1:59:21>> I.

1:59:22>> And Council President Johnson.

1:59:24>> I.

1:59:27Chair recognizes Councilmember Jones.

1:59:29>> I'll be recorded as voting eyes on all

1:59:31bills and especially mine.

1:59:34>> Thank you very much.

1:59:35The eyes are 14.

1:59:38The nays are zero. Majority of all

1:59:40members having voted in the affirmative,

1:59:41the bill passes. Chief Clerk, please

1:59:43read the title of bill number 260693.

1:59:47>> An ordinance authorizing encroachments

1:59:49in the nature of a sidewalk cafe in the

1:59:51vicinity of 4201 Mandeonk Avenue,

1:59:53Philadelphia, PA

1:59:55under certain terms and conditions.

1:59:58>> This bill having read on two different

1:59:59days, the question now is shall the bill

2:00:01pass? Finally, Chief Clerk, please call

2:00:03the roll.

2:00:05>> Councilmember Gilmore Richardson.

2:00:06>> I.

2:00:07>> Councilmember Gautier.

2:00:08>> I.

2:00:09>> Councilmember Thomas.

2:00:10>> I.

2:00:11>> Councilmember Jones.

2:00:13>> I.

2:00:13>> Councilmember Landau.

2:00:15>> I.

2:00:16>> Councilmember Lozada.

2:00:18>> I.

2:00:19>> Councilmember Young.

2:00:20>> I.

2:00:21>> Councilmember Harrity.

2:00:23>> I.

2:00:24>> Councilmember O'Rourke.

2:00:25>> I.

2:00:26>> Councilmember Driscoll.

2:00:27>> I.

2:00:28>> Councilmember O'Neill.

2:00:29>> I.

2:00:30>> Councilmember Squilla.

2:00:31>> I.

2:00:31>> Councilmember Ahmed.

2:00:33>> I.

2:00:33>> And Council President Johnson.

2:00:35>> I. The eyes are 14 and the nays are

2:00:38zero. Majority of all members having

2:00:40voted in the affirmative, the bill

2:00:42passes.

2:00:44Chief Clerk, please read the title of

2:00:45bill number 260706.

2:00:48>> An ordinance authorizing an encroachment

2:00:50in the nature of a staircase in the

2:00:51vicinity of

2:00:53319 through 25 North 11th Street,

2:00:56Philadelphia, PA under certain terms and

2:00:58conditions.

2:00:59>> This bill having been read on two

2:01:01different days, the question now is

2:01:02shall the bill pass finally? Chief

2:01:05Clerk, please call the roll.

2:01:06>> Council member Phillips.

2:01:08>> I and also be recorded our eyes on bills

2:01:10prior to this.

2:01:12>> Council member Gilmore Richardson.

2:01:14>> I.

2:01:15>> Council member Gautier.

2:01:16>> I.

2:01:17>> Council member Thomas.

2:01:18>> I.

2:01:18>> Council member Jones.

2:01:19>> I.

2:01:20>> Council member Landau.

2:01:22>> I.

2:01:22>> Council member Lozada.

2:01:24>> I.

2:01:25>> Council member Young.

2:01:26>> I.

2:01:27>> Council member Harrity.

2:01:28>> I.

2:01:29>> Council member O'Rourke.

2:01:30>> I.

2:01:31>> Council member Driscoll.

2:01:32>> I.

2:01:33>> Council member O'Neill.

2:01:34>> I.

2:01:35>> Council member Squilla.

2:01:36>> I.

2:01:37>> Council member Ahmad.

2:01:38>> I.

2:01:38>> And Council President Johnson.

2:01:40>> I. The eyes are 15 and the nays are

2:01:42zero. A majority of all members having

2:01:44voted in the affirmative,

2:01:45the bill passes. Chief Clerk, please

2:01:47read the title of bill number 260707.

2:01:51>> An ordinance authorizing encroachments

2:01:53in the nature of a sidewalk cafe and in

2:01:55the vicinity of 544 East Girard Avenue

2:01:59under certain terms and conditions.

2:02:01>> This bill having been read on two

2:02:02different days, the question now is

2:02:05shall the bill pass finally? Chief

2:02:07Clerk, please

2:02:09call the roll.

2:02:10>> Council member Phillips.

2:02:11>> I.

2:02:12>> Council member Gilmore Richardson.

2:02:14>> I.

2:02:14>> Council member Gautier.

2:02:16>> I.

2:02:16>> Council member Thomas.

2:02:17>> I.

2:02:18>> Council member Jones.

2:02:19>> I.

2:02:20>> Council member Landau.

2:02:21>> I.

2:02:22>> Council member Lozada.

2:02:23>> I.

2:02:23>> Council member Young.

2:02:25>> I.

2:02:25>> Council member Brooks.

2:02:27>> I.

2:02:28>> Council member Harrity.

2:02:29>> I.

2:02:30>> Council member O'Rourke.

2:02:31>> I.

2:02:32>> Council member Driscoll.

2:02:33>> I.

2:02:33>> Council member O'Neill.

2:02:35>> I.

2:02:35>> Council member Squilla.

2:02:36>> I.

2:02:37>> Council member Ahmad.

2:02:39>> I.

2:02:39>> And Council President Johnson.

2:02:41>> I. The eyes are 16 and the are zero. A

2:02:44majority of all members having voted in

2:02:47the affirmative, the bill passes.

2:02:52Will the clerk please The chair

2:02:54recognizes

2:02:56Councilmember

2:02:58Kendra Brooks.

2:03:00>> Thank you, Council President. I wanted

2:03:01to be voted I on any bills or

2:03:03resolutions I missed while I was out.

2:03:04Thank you.

2:03:05>> Thank you very much. Shall be recorded.

2:03:08Will the clerk please read any

2:03:09additional resolutions on today's

2:03:11calendar?

2:03:13>> A privileged resolution authorizing the

2:03:15Committee on Transportation and Public

2:03:16Utilities to hold hearings examining the

2:03:18Philadelphia Gas Works residential

2:03:20shutoffs for nonpayment and measures to

2:03:22prevent households from losing essential

2:03:24utility service. Introduced by

2:03:26Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr.

2:03:28>> Chair recognizes Councilmember Curtis

2:03:30Jones Jr. for motion.

2:03:32>> Thank you so much, Mr. President and

2:03:33colleagues. Uh this is a continuation of

2:03:36all of our work.

2:03:37We're looking at affordability in a

2:03:39serious way. Um we're looking at trying

2:03:42to prevent

2:03:44people from being dislodged from their

2:03:46homes due to lack of utilities. That

2:03:48goes for this utility, it goes for PECO.

2:03:52>> Member,

2:03:53could you call the motions and and and

2:03:55save your speech for the time of the

2:03:58speaker, please?

2:03:58>> for the passage of this resolution.

2:04:01>> Thank you very much, sir.

2:04:04Is there a second?

2:04:06It has been moved and properly seconded

2:04:07that the resolution be adopted. All

2:04:09those in favor signify by saying aye.

2:04:11>> Aye.

2:04:12>> Anyone opposed? The ayes have it and the

2:04:14resolution is adopted. Chief Clerk,

2:04:15please call the title of the next

2:04:17resolution.

2:04:18>> A privileged resolution honoring and

2:04:20congratulating Wayne Miller on his more

2:04:22than five decades of service to

2:04:24Sprinkler Fitters Local Union 692 and

2:04:27the Philadelphia Building Trades.

2:04:28>> Sure.

2:04:29>> Introduced by Councilmember Ketty Lozada

2:04:32and Councilmember Katherine Gilmore

2:04:34Richardson on behalf of Council

2:04:36President Johnson.

2:04:37>> Chair clerk, announce Councilmember

2:04:38Kenyatta Johnson for motion on the

2:04:39resolution.

2:04:40>> Thank you, Council President. Um,

2:04:43on behalf of Councilmember Gilmore

2:04:44Richardson and your behalf, I move for

2:04:47the adoption of the resolution.

2:04:49>> It has been moved and properly seconded

2:04:50that the resolution be adopted. All

2:04:52those in favor signify by saying aye.

2:04:55Anyone opposed? The ayes have it and the

2:04:57resolution is adopted. Chief clerk,

2:04:58please read the title of the next

2:04:59resolution.

2:05:00>> A privileged resolution authorizing the

2:05:02Special Committee on Kensington to hold

2:05:04a hearing to evaluate the progress of

2:05:05the last year, the current state of

2:05:07affairs, as well as future barriers and

2:05:09goals. Introduced by Councilmember

2:05:11Kenyatta Johnson.

2:05:12>> Chief clerk, announce Councilmember

2:05:13Kenyatta Johnson for motion on the

2:05:15resolution.

2:05:15>> Thank you, Council President. I move for

2:05:17the adoption of the resolution.

2:05:19>> It has been moved and properly seconded

2:05:21that the resolution be adopted. All

2:05:22those in favor signify by saying aye.

2:05:25Anyone opposed? The ayes have it and the

2:05:27resolution is adopted. Chief clerk,

2:05:28please read the title of the next

2:05:29resolution.

2:05:30>> A privileged resolution authorizing the

2:05:32Committees on Streets and Services and

2:05:34Housing and Neighborhood Development and

2:05:35the Homeless to hold joint hearings to

2:05:37investigate the prevalence of

2:05:38unsheltered homelessness in public

2:05:40rights-of-way and examine the city's

2:05:42coordination and utilization of

2:05:44resources to connect individuals

2:05:45experiencing homelessness with

2:05:46appropriate housing, shelter, and

2:05:48supportive services. Introduced by

2:05:50Councilmember Jeffrey J. Young.

2:05:52>> Chief clerk, announce Councilmember

2:05:53Jeffrey J. Young for motion on the

2:05:54resolution.

2:05:55>> Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its

2:05:57adoption.

2:05:58>> It has been moved and properly seconded

2:06:00that the resolution be adopted. All

2:06:01those in favor signify by saying aye.

2:06:04Anyone opposed? The ayes have it and the

2:06:06resolution is adopted. Chief clerk,

2:06:07please read the title of the next

2:06:08resolution.

2:06:10>> A privileged resolution celebrating the

2:06:11National Model Zero Fair Program and

2:06:13recognizing the initial findings of the

2:06:15Georgetown University Better Government

2:06:17Lab report on the program's success.

2:06:19Introduced by Councilmember Nicholas

2:06:20O'Rourke.

2:06:21>> Chief clerk, announce Councilmember

2:06:22Nicholas O'Rourke for motion on the

2:06:24resolution.

2:06:25>> Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the

2:06:26adoption of the resolution.

2:06:28>> It has been moved and properly seconded

2:06:30that the resolution be adopted. All

2:06:31those in favor will signify by saying I.

2:06:34Anyone opposed?

2:06:36I have it. The resolution is adopted.

2:06:38Chief Clerk, please read the title of

2:06:39the next resolution.

2:06:40>> A privileged resolution honoring and

2:06:42recognizing Dr. Bernice Sandler for her

2:06:44landmark 44-year tenure of leadership,

2:06:46desegregation trailblazing, and

2:06:48community stewardship at Hamilton

2:06:50Disston School. Introduced by

2:06:52Councilmember Mike Driscoll.

2:06:54>> I will recognize Councilmember Mike

2:06:55Driscoll for a motion on the resolution.

2:06:57>> I move for its adoption.

2:06:59>> It has been moved and properly seconded

2:07:00that the resolution be adopted. All

2:07:02those in favor will signify by saying I.

2:07:05Anyone opposed? The I's have it. The

2:07:07resolution is adopted. Chief Clerk,

2:07:08please read the title of the next

2:07:09resolution.

2:07:10>> There are no further resolutions in my

2:07:12possession, Council President.

2:07:13>> That completes our calendar for the day.

2:07:16Any speeches on behalf of the minority?

2:07:18I will recognize Councilmember Kendra

2:07:19Brooks.

2:07:20>> Thank you, Council President.

2:07:23I want to take a moment to thank

2:07:25everyone who joined me at Wingohocking

2:07:27Neighbors Day earlier this month. It was

2:07:30a wonderful day, and my neighbors truly

2:07:31appreciated the resources, the food, the

2:07:34performances, and just a chance to come

2:07:36together and celebrate our community.

2:07:39Not that long ago, the police department

2:07:41wouldn't even let us have a block party

2:07:43on Wingohocking Street because concerns

2:07:45of violence. But now, we host one of the

2:07:47biggest annual street festivals in

2:07:49Nicetown, and that's something that

2:07:51we're really proud of.

2:07:52Wingohocking Neighbors Day would not

2:07:54have been made possible without the

2:07:55general support of so many partners. In

2:07:58particular, I want to thank my

2:08:00colleagues, Councilmember Isaiah Thomas

2:08:03and Councilmember Jim Harrity, for

2:08:04helping me make that day possible. I

2:08:07also want to thank my colleagues for

2:08:09participating in this year's

2:08:10spooktacular at the John Heinz National

2:08:13Wildlife Refuge.

2:08:15Uh Councilmembers Gilmore Richardson,

2:08:17Overbrook, Landau, Thomas, and Harrity.

2:08:20My team and I are looking forward for a

2:08:22really fun evening with costumes, fall

2:08:25crafts, a trail of treats, and archery

2:08:28for the children. That will be next

2:08:30Thursday, October 29th from 4:00 to 6:00

2:08:33p.m. All are welcome. Thank you so much.

2:08:37>> Thank you very much, Councilwoman

2:08:39Nicholas O'Rourke.

2:08:40>> Thank you, Mr. President. I want to

2:08:41thank uh begin by thanking uh member

2:08:44Jones for forwarding the call for

2:08:48hearings into the rising debts that our

2:08:50neighbors owe to PGW. I'll be watching

2:08:53that conversation with intent

2:08:55uh good uh good brother, and we need to

2:08:57find a fix that doesn't involve shutting

2:08:59off service nearly as much as we

2:09:01currently do. It is a shame that we have

2:09:03gotten to this point. Thanks for

2:09:05shouting out uh the cost of living

2:09:06report in the resolution, as well. You

2:09:08know I'm always down to turn the words

2:09:10into action, so thank you for doing that

2:09:11through this resolution. It really is uh

2:09:14an encouragement to see how not just

2:09:17yourself, but others across this body

2:09:18have been trying to figure out how we

2:09:19tackle this affordability issue, and how

2:09:22exploitation kind of be is is is a foot

2:09:24in our city.

2:09:25Making a a shift to what turned out to

2:09:28be kind of the public comment theme of

2:09:29the day. I am excited to reintroduce the

2:09:33Transit Access Fund, colleagues, and to

2:09:35have your support and the support of the

2:09:37Transit Forward Philadelphia and so many

2:09:39other organizations as I do uh as I do

2:09:42this. This restructured version

2:09:44authorizes creating the fund and

2:09:47requires the city to publish an annual

2:09:50transit access plan to be introduced

2:09:53alongside the operating budget and

2:09:55five-year plan.

2:09:57The plan will lay out all the city

2:09:59operations, including capital spending,

2:10:02that increase SEPTA's affordability and

2:10:03accessibility over the coming 5 years.

2:10:06And our experience, colleagues, shows

2:10:08why this is important, I would say. I

2:10:10hope you can recall when the future of

2:10:12the zero fare program was at risk.

2:10:1420,000 Philadelphians who struggled to

2:10:17afford the benefits of riding transit

2:10:19had a taste of true access to the

2:10:22system, And preliminary results from the

2:10:24Better Government Lab show that our

2:10:25neighbors leaped at that chance.

2:10:28Recipients who initially used transit

2:10:30less than once a week became more than

2:10:32twice as likely to use public transit on

2:10:34a weekly basis. Daily riders took more

2:10:37rides. Infrequent riders began to rely

2:10:39on the system with some regularity,

2:10:40which is a good thing. And here's the

2:10:42finding that matters so much. Zero fare

2:10:45participants say the program, as Steven

2:10:47mentioned in his comments, increased

2:10:50their trust in their local in their

2:10:52local government. Keyword, local

2:10:54government. Not necessarily in the

2:10:56federal system, but us, here in City

2:10:58Hall. So, it helps people look at us and

2:11:00smile as opposed to frown. And we know

2:11:03how important Key Advantage is for the

2:11:04city's workforce, for our staff. I think

2:11:06all of us have staff that have admitted

2:11:08that. And we just saw Key Advantage help

2:11:10to win the Burlington deal over there

2:11:13in, I believe, a member Gauthier's

2:11:15district. That's a wonderful addition to

2:11:17our city's base. I'm so grateful to for

2:11:19Transit Forward Philadelphia's

2:11:20organizing because they've really helped

2:11:22to show how we have to wield sectors of

2:11:25affordability and accessibility

2:11:27together. So, I know we're all excited

2:11:29to build a transit authority that meets

2:11:30the mark on both of those fronts. Thank

2:11:32you all again for supporting this. Let's

2:11:34run on and see what the end will be.

2:11:35Thank you, Mr. President.

2:11:37>> Thank you very much.

2:11:39Speech on behalf of the majority. Chair

2:11:42recognizes majority leader Katherine

2:11:44Gilmore Richardson.

2:11:45>> Very briefly, thank you so much, Council

2:11:47President. I wanted to take this

2:11:48opportunity just to remind everyone

2:11:51about a very important event we'll be

2:11:52having tomorrow in partnership with my

2:11:56district colleague, my Councilman Curtis

2:11:58Jones Jr., and also the Salvation Army

2:12:01Ray and Joan Kroc Center. We are

2:12:03bringing our annual senior resource fair

2:12:06back to the Salvation Army Kroc Center

2:12:09at 4200 Wissahickon Avenue. We have over

2:12:1240 vendors together. Services, light

2:12:16refreshments, music, and fun activities.

2:12:19So, join us tomorrow at the Crock Center

2:12:21for our Senior Resource Fair, Friday,

2:12:24October 23rd, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00

2:12:27p.m. And as always, we're going to

2:12:29dance, we're going to have fun, and

2:12:31we're going to have great giveaways.

2:12:32Thank you for the partnership,

2:12:33Councilmember Jones.

2:12:35>> All right. Thank you very much,

2:12:36Councilmember Kenyatta.

2:12:39>> Thank you, Council President. First, I'd

2:12:41like to

2:12:42um thank you for the opportunity to

2:12:45introduce the bill recognizing William

2:12:46Miller, who has been um one of the first

2:12:50people um and a consistent

2:12:53um

2:12:54um

2:12:55supporter of mine and the work that I've

2:12:57been doing in the community. Um he's a

2:12:59neighbor of Juniata, a neighborhood he

2:13:02grew up in, um and still actively plays

2:13:05a role in ensuring that young people in

2:13:07that community are connected to

2:13:08services. So, thank you uh for my so

2:13:11much for that privilege. Today, I also

2:13:13introduced a resolution uh uh

2:13:15authorizing the Special Committee on

2:13:16Kensington to hold a hearing to evaluate

2:13:18the progress from the past year

2:13:21uh and the current state of affairs,

2:13:23future um barriers, and the goals in the

2:13:26Kensington community. We are in a strong

2:13:28position to build upon the work and the

2:13:29momentum. I want to uh

2:13:32continue to uh strengthen the efforts we

2:13:35have uh made in Kensington by applying

2:13:39uh and learning the lessons we've um

2:13:41we've we've uh learned during the

2:13:43process. Um and I also want to work on

2:13:46improving coordination. Um everyone

2:13:49believes that our residents deserve

2:13:50safe, clean streets, and the people who

2:13:53are struggling and living in addiction

2:13:54deserve access to treatment and recovery

2:13:56service. In order for us to continue the

2:13:58work that we've uh we've done, we need a

2:14:00clear

2:14:02uh picture of the work that we've done,

2:14:04what still needs attention, and um how

2:14:07do we continue to uh progress in order

2:14:10to give the residents of the Kensington

2:14:12community a better quality of life. I'm

2:14:14looking forward to um to listening and

2:14:17learning more and figuring out how we

2:14:19continue to work together uh to give the

2:14:21residents of Kensington the quality of

2:14:23life they deserve. Thank you, Council

2:14:25President.

2:14:25>> Thank you very much. Chair recognizes

2:14:27Councilmember Jones.

2:14:28>> Thank you, Mr. President. Just really

2:14:30brief shout-outs to uh Member Phillips

2:14:34uh for his recognition of the gambling

2:14:36machines that are in our community and

2:14:38keeping that before us uh as an issue.

2:14:42Shout-out to my

2:14:43um

2:14:44she's not my at-large, but everyone's

2:14:46at-large uh Member Gilmore Richardson

2:14:49for her constant

2:14:52diligence on nuisance businesses and we

2:14:55are working together on the 54th Street

2:14:58um curfew to to keep our senior citizens

2:15:02safe. But the hero today is Member

2:15:04Driscoll

2:15:05uh for his standing up for us for gas

2:15:08shut-offs. He is a member of the Gas

2:15:11Commission, uh but he doesn't forget

2:15:13where he comes from. Thank you.

2:15:15>> Thank you very much, Member Jones.

2:15:19Waiting for that gas moratorium bill to

2:15:21come out.

2:15:23Chair recognizes Councilmember Jeff

2:15:25Young.

2:15:27>> Thank you, uh Mr. President. Um this

2:15:30past weekend uh was a powerful reminder

2:15:32that North Philly's legacy is built uh

2:15:35by people who give our neighborhoods

2:15:36their character, their culture, um and

2:15:38their pride. Uh this past Saturday we

2:15:41honored uh Derrick Fetty Gant, a North

2:15:43Philadelphia recording artist who uses

2:15:45music to represent his community um and

2:15:48speak out against gun violence. Um his

2:15:50his song Life with Meek Mill helped

2:15:52bring him wider recognition, while his

2:15:54song No Gun Zone uh called for an end to

2:15:58uh violence affecting our neighborhood,

2:15:59but unfortunately uh Fetty

2:16:02uh was uh murdered um

2:16:05at uh hands of gun violence in front of

2:16:06his own door, um in North Philly. And

2:16:08so, we wanted to to honor him.

2:16:11Um and this is a story that is all too

2:16:13common in North Philly.

2:16:15Um even this past week, again,

2:16:18my family's dealing with the trauma of

2:16:20gun violence again.

2:16:23Um it's just the same story over and

2:16:25over again. While I was at Temple

2:16:27University Hospital, um I was there uh

2:16:30when they brought in uh the three

2:16:32victims who were shot yesterday morning.

2:16:34I I mean that that was 2 days ago. I was

2:16:36there. I saw them the cops. Shout out to

2:16:38the police for just they they scoop them

2:16:41up, they bring them in. And again, it's

2:16:42just a a black body after a black body

2:16:44after a black body um that's affected by

2:16:47gun violence. And so, I'm going to

2:16:49continue to keep you speaking on that. I

2:16:50don't know what these other speakers are

2:16:52speaking of. He must not look at data

2:16:54and statistics and see the things that's

2:16:56actually happening um in the city of

2:16:59Philadelphia. Uh and so, yes, I guess

2:17:01that apple can help prevent someone from

2:17:04going out um and shooting someone

2:17:06because that apple may give them that

2:17:09nutrition they need to fill their

2:17:10stomach their stomach up to keep them

2:17:12having a bad day. Cuz that's what

2:17:14happened to my family the other day.

2:17:15Somebody was having a bad day, just

2:17:17decided to start shooting. Which is

2:17:18crazy.

2:17:20Crazy. Um so, I'm going to continue to

2:17:22speak up uh and talk about the gun

2:17:25violence uh that plagues our community

2:17:27in North Philadelphia. And if you're not

2:17:28talking about gun violence, then I don't

2:17:29know what you're talking about. Um

2:17:31on Sunday, we gathered to honor Coach

2:17:34Kenneth Ham Hamilton, whose decades of

2:17:37dedication to Ben Franklin High School

2:17:39athletics helped shape generations of

2:17:41young people. Uh with over 30 years of

2:17:43teaching and 28 years of coaching at Ben

2:17:46Franklin, uh he accomplished 456 wins.

2:17:50Um and at the time, he was the the had

2:17:52the most wins of any public league coach

2:17:55when he retired, um and which included

2:17:57four championships um and countless uh

2:18:00professional basketball players that

2:18:02came from Ben Franklin High School

2:18:04during his era.

2:18:06These celebrations reflect something I

2:18:08deeply believe in that our communities

2:18:10to deserve to see their hometown heroes

2:18:12recognized, their contributions

2:18:14celebrated, and their legacies legacies

2:18:17preserved for future generations. I'm

2:18:19proud to help ensure that people who

2:18:21poured so much into North Philly receive

2:18:23the recognition and the honor. Speaking

2:18:25of that, Mr. President, I want to thank

2:18:26you for allowing me

2:18:28and also the honorable Judge Crystal

2:18:30Brian Powell for the opportunity to

2:18:33speak at the portrait unveiling ceremony

2:18:37for Judge Raymond Pace Alexander, the

2:18:40first African-American council member in

2:18:42the city of Philadelphia, the first

2:18:43African-American judge on the court

2:18:45court of common pleas, and also former

2:18:47fifth district council member

2:18:48representing North Philadelphia. It was

2:18:50an honor and privilege to be there to

2:18:52speak to his legacy and and how his

2:18:54legacy is is continued.

2:18:57For those who don't know, he was one of

2:18:59the first voices in the city to fight

2:19:02for the desegregation of Girard College,

2:19:04which allowed me all the privileges and

2:19:06advantages that I have today.

2:19:09Today we also introduced a resolution

2:19:11alongside majority leader Katherine

2:19:13Gilmore Richardson to authorize joint

2:19:15hearings to examine unsheltered

2:19:17homelessness in our public right-of-ways

2:19:19and more importantly how effectively the

2:19:22city is connecting our vulnerable

2:19:23residents to housing, shelter, and

2:19:25supportive services. Now I'm just going

2:19:27off anecdotal information being the

2:19:29fifth district council member going

2:19:30around my district,

2:19:32but it seems like when we welcomed the

2:19:34world to our city during fan fests and

2:19:37all these other celebrations,

2:19:40that the issues that we see now

2:19:42particularly in in the Logan Square

2:19:44communities and others just weren't

2:19:46there, right? You know, it seems like

2:19:48the

2:19:49the amount of homelessness street

2:19:51homelessness that we see was not seen

2:19:53during that time. The amount of violence

2:19:55that we're experiencing in the city

2:19:56right now for 40 days it seemed like

2:19:58just disappear, right?

2:20:00Um so I want to make sure we want to

2:20:02examine

2:20:03uh what is the root causes, what what

2:20:06are the

2:20:08um

2:20:09uh the solutions to these causes, cuz it

2:20:11seemed like for 40 days we had a

2:20:12solution. Um and so I want to make sure

2:20:14that we continue those solutions. I want

2:20:16to make sure that uh folks know that

2:20:19homelessness is not a crime and

2:20:21experiencing homelessness does not make

2:20:23someone any less deserving of dignity,

2:20:26compassion, or respect. Um any one of us

2:20:29uh can be housing insecure um at any

2:20:31moment and I I was one of them at one

2:20:34point in my life, too. Uh we lost our

2:20:36home to mortgage foreclosure at one

2:20:37point, right? So uh these are our

2:20:39neighbors um and every person deserves

2:20:42to be treated with humanity regardless

2:20:44of their housing situation. Across

2:20:46Philadelphia, individuals are living on

2:20:48sidewalks, under bridges, and in other

2:20:50public spaces. That should concern us

2:20:52all, not simply because of how our

2:20:54public spaces are being used, um but

2:20:56because no one should have to call a

2:20:58sidewalk home.

2:21:00Um the goal of these hearings is to not

2:21:02criminalize homelessness again um or to

2:21:04simply move people from one block to

2:21:06another block. Um we want to understand

2:21:08what resources are available, where the

2:21:10gaps exist, and whether our city

2:21:12departments and and service providers

2:21:14are coordinating effectively to help

2:21:16people find stable housing and access to

2:21:19support that they need. Uh we must

2:21:21examine whether our current investments

2:21:22and outreach strategies are producing

2:21:24meaningful results. And um and if

2:21:26someone is ready to accept help, are we

2:21:28making it easy for them to get it? Or

2:21:31and and if they aren't, then are we

2:21:33doing enough to build that trust to

2:21:35address the barriers that are in their

2:21:36way? Uh we cannot address homelessness

2:21:38through enforcement alone and we cannot

2:21:40solve it by shifting the problem from

2:21:42one neighborhood to the next. Uh we need

2:21:44a coordinated, compassionate, and

2:21:46accountable approach that addresses the

2:21:48underlying challenges and creates a real

2:21:50pathway to housing stability. I want to

2:21:52thank majority leader Katherine Gilmore

2:21:54Richardson uh for partnering with me on

2:21:56this important issue. I look forward to

2:21:57bring together city agencies, service

2:21:59providers, and community stakeholders,

2:22:01but most importantly, individuals with

2:22:03lived experiences of homelessness to

2:22:06identify solutions that work.

2:22:09And Mr. President, over this past week,

2:22:12I've been getting, you know, a lot of

2:22:13attention

2:22:15regarding a bill we introduced last week

2:22:17regarding parking amnesty.

2:22:20And I heard a lot of questions about why

2:22:22we are prioritizing people with

2:22:24outstanding parking violations.

2:22:27But most concerning to me

2:22:30is, you know, certain media outlets

2:22:33villainizing

2:22:35people, right?

2:22:38You know, these comments feel very

2:22:41anti-Philadelphia,

2:22:43right? Equating laws

2:22:46to being ethical just because they're

2:22:49laws ignores the history

2:22:53that many people have to face, right?

2:22:55Just because it's a law and doesn't mean

2:22:57it's not predatory on how it's enforced,

2:23:01right? It reminds me of folks who say,

2:23:04"Well, if you just comply with the

2:23:06government overreach, you won't get hit

2:23:08over the head."

2:23:09We know how that works out for a lot of

2:23:11people, right, Mr. President?

2:23:13So,

2:23:14I understand the importance of parking

2:23:15enforcement. It helps keeps our streets

2:23:18safe, ensures accessibility, and keeps

2:23:21traffic moving. And I'm not suggesting

2:23:23people shouldn't be held accountable.

2:23:25But there are certain members of the of

2:23:28the media who want you to believe that

2:23:31thousands of Philadelphians

2:23:33in a majority-minority

2:23:35city are criminals, right? Scufflaws is

2:23:39they're going to call them, right? And I

2:23:41wonder why, right? I wonder why in a

2:23:42majority-minority city Um, the media

2:23:47uh, wants to paint these people,

2:23:50um, as being not worthy, right? Well, we

2:23:53live in the poorest big city in the

2:23:56country, right? These people aren't

2:23:58worthy of relief from their city

2:23:59government.

2:24:01It could be a mother rushing into a

2:24:0315-minute doc's appointment who can't

2:24:04afford to park in a $25 garage, a worker

2:24:08making a delivery, a caregiver caregiver

2:24:10checking on an elderly parent, or

2:24:12someone who simply just couldn't read a

2:24:14faded or missing parking sign, right?

2:24:17These are everyday people navigating

2:24:19challenges. And literally, Mr.

2:24:21President, this past weekend, just look

2:24:23at the approximately 40 Eagles fans

2:24:26whose vehicles were recently towed

2:24:28despite inadequate parking signage,

2:24:30right? They just towed them.

2:24:33Cuz they said

2:24:34to tow them.

2:24:36Anyone can find themselves in a position

2:24:38in this city,

2:24:40um, with a ticket. Sometimes even

2:24:42without realizing that they violated a

2:24:44parking restriction.

2:24:45And we're not talking about tickets

2:24:47someone received yesterday.

2:24:49This program addresses older debts

2:24:52dating back to 2021. A ticket that

2:24:54originally cost $40 to $50 may have

2:24:57grown into hundreds of dollars after

2:24:59years of accumulating penalties and

2:25:00fees. And maybe someone couldn't afford

2:25:03the original ticket. Maybe they never

2:25:05received a notice, which happens, right?

2:25:08Maybe they didn't know how to pay it,

2:25:10which also happens, right? You can't

2:25:12even have an appeal of a ticket in

2:25:14person anymore with the parking

2:25:15authority. It's all online. My mom

2:25:18doesn't know how to do that,

2:25:20unfortunately, right? We have to do that

2:25:22for them.

2:25:24Um, whatever the circumstances, we

2:25:25should recognize the difference between

2:25:28holding someone accountable and allowing

2:25:30a financial burden to follow them for

2:25:32years.

2:25:34Uh, this program is not about rewarding

2:25:36violations. It's about giving people a

2:25:39reasonable opportunity to make things

2:25:41right. And it also allows the city to

2:25:44recover older debts that become

2:25:46increasingly difficult and nine times

2:25:48out of 10, according to their own data,

2:25:51right? Eight times out of 10, unlikely

2:25:53to collect.

2:25:55So, with all the cost of living

2:25:57continuing to rise and council has a

2:25:59responsibility to provide relief

2:26:01wherever we have authority to do so and

2:26:04we can support responsible parking

2:26:05enforcement, recover outstanding

2:26:07revenue, and give people a fresh start.

2:26:10Those things are not mutually exclusive,

2:26:13Mr. President. Um and last but not

2:26:16least, I want to announce our continuing

2:26:19quality of life town hall series where

2:26:21we bring city government directly to our

2:26:23neighborhoods, hear residents concerns,

2:26:25and connect our communities with

2:26:26resources and city departments. Um our

2:26:28next stop is October 27th at Celestial

2:26:31World Ministries at 28th and Thompson uh

2:26:35from 6:00 to 7:30. Uh we'll be bringing

2:26:37the conversation to neighbors uh to

2:26:39discuss those quality of life issues. Uh

2:26:41then we'll be uh on November 4th, we'll

2:26:44be at Midtown Parish United Methodist

2:26:46Church um in the 20th Ward, 7th and

2:26:48Norris uh to continue building on these

2:26:50conversations and ensuring residents

2:26:52have a direct line to their council

2:26:55office. Uh these town halls are more

2:26:57about um uh listening. Uh they're about

2:27:00connecting residents with the people,

2:27:01the resources, and the follow-up, which

2:27:03is the most important. The follow-up

2:27:05needed to move concerns towards

2:27:07solutions. I also want to give a shout

2:27:09out to uh Councilmember Katherine

2:27:11Gilmore Richardson for hosting um an

2:27:12event at uh in the 29th Ward at

2:27:15Celestial World Ministries World

2:27:17Ministries um as well um talking about

2:27:20wills and making sure that we can

2:27:22protect our generational wealth in our

2:27:23communities. Um so, with that, Mr.

2:27:25President, I thank you so much.

2:27:27>> Thank you, Chair Councilmember Landau.

2:27:30>> Thank you, Council President. Uh today I

2:27:32was honored to celebrate 60 years of

2:27:35Community Legal Services who fight

2:27:37tirelessly every day for Philadelphians

2:27:39living in poverty and ensuring that they

2:27:41have a right to legal counsel and

2:27:43justice.

2:27:44They serve more than 14,000 residents

2:27:47every year. And I know firsthand as a

2:27:49former lawyer there, they work they do

2:27:51it the work they do is essential and

2:27:54all-consuming.

2:27:55So, I'm glad we had the opportunity to

2:27:57celebrate CLS here today in Council and

2:28:00the dedicated staff that does this work

2:28:02every single day. We got to uplift their

2:28:04work and see even more great things for

2:28:06them in the future.

2:28:08And let me be clear, CLS doesn't just

2:28:11solve the problems of the individual

2:28:12cases that come to them. They try to

2:28:15solve the systemic problems, just as

2:28:17what we're doing here in Council today.

2:28:19So, the real solutions here in

2:28:20Philadelphia is we have to eradicate

2:28:23poverty, eradicate racism, and all other

2:28:25forms of oppression. And when we do

2:28:27that, Philadelphia is going to be in a

2:28:29much better place.

2:28:31I also introduced on your behalf a

2:28:33resolution supporting the workers of

2:28:35Unite Here Local 274 and calling on the

2:28:38management of the Hilton Garden Inn to

2:28:40reach a deal as the only unionized hotel

2:28:43in Center City without a new contract.

2:28:45Thank you, Council President, for

2:28:46speaking up in solidarity with the

2:28:48workers of Unite Here. We're fighting

2:28:50for a fair contract and fair wages as

2:28:53the cost of living continues to rise in

2:28:55our city. This resolution will be up for

2:28:57a vote next week and I urge my

2:29:00colleagues to support it.

2:29:02Additionally, I want to commend my

2:29:04colleague, Council member Jones, not

2:29:06only on his looking at the PGW costs and

2:29:09the shut-offs, but also for his decision

2:29:12to include more outdoor dining options

2:29:14in his district spanning from City

2:29:17Avenue to Overbrook Avenue, making it

2:29:20easier for small businesses to expand

2:29:22their dining room dining rooms with

2:29:24sidewalk cafes. It's something I'm glad

2:29:26we are supporting here in City Council.

2:29:28I'm looking forward to dining out in the

2:29:31Fourth district very soon. It's a date.

2:29:34Lastly, I want to end my speech by

2:29:36reminding the public that we are only a

2:29:38few weeks away from the November 3rd,

2:29:412026 general election. If you haven't

2:29:44yet made a plan to vote, visit

2:29:46vote.phila.gov

2:29:49to find your polling place, see what's

2:29:51on your ballot, make sure that you make

2:29:54a plan to vote on or before November

2:29:573rd. Thank you.

2:29:59>> Thank you very much. Here, I recognize

2:30:01Councilwoman Dockery in our midst.

2:30:03>> Thank you, Council President. Good

2:30:04afternoon, everyone.

2:30:06Um

2:30:07I wanted to echo my colleagues' comments

2:30:10about uh Community Legal Services. It

2:30:13was I was proud to join her and

2:30:15everybody else um in congratulating them

2:30:18for having served faithfully for six

2:30:21decades. Uh CLS is a trusted referral

2:30:24service for so many of us here in

2:30:26Council because of their attention to

2:30:27detail, the fact that they meet people

2:30:30where they are where they're at, and

2:30:32because they center accessibility in

2:30:34everything they do. So, here's to

2:30:36another 60 years. Um I also wanted to

2:30:39introduce um

2:30:41another young talent who's joining our

2:30:44team uh as an intern, Kennedy Brooks

2:30:47from the Community College of

2:30:48Philadelphia.

2:30:49Uh just want to underscore why it is

2:30:51essential to have young people as part

2:30:53of my team for two reasons. It is a way

2:30:56for me to support the next generation of

2:30:58leaders, and secondly, it keeps my team

2:31:00and me aware of what our youth think and

2:31:03feel about the what City Council does

2:31:05and what is happening in our city. And

2:31:07speaking about youth, uh

2:31:09tomorrow I am attending the Philadelphia

2:31:11Society for Promoting Agriculture's

2:31:13Induction Ceremony at Lankenau High

2:31:15School. I have not forgotten about

2:31:17Lankenau and continue to call on the

2:31:19district to re-evaluate the decision to

2:31:22close this school and all the schools on

2:31:24their closure list. So, save Lankenau.

2:31:27Uh lastly, I wanted to share some items

2:31:29on my agenda for next week. Monday,

2:31:31October 26th from 2:00 to 5:00, the

2:31:33hearing on the Academy of uh Natural

2:31:35Sciences finally happening. This is a

2:31:38heavily anticipated uh conversation. I

2:31:40want to thank Committee Chair Isaiah

2:31:42Thomas and fellow Council Member Jeffrey

2:31:44Young for their partnership in getting

2:31:46this off the ground. I look forward to

2:31:49hearing

2:31:50um to getting to hear all of the an

2:31:53immense amount of um

2:31:55testimony that we're getting ready to

2:31:57hear about and to see how we can save

2:32:00the

2:32:01uh Academy and put all of this on the

2:32:03public record.

2:32:05I'm also proud of hosting an in-person

2:32:07community forum

2:32:08uh about my bill number 250849

2:32:12uh regarding workplace accommodations

2:32:14and protections for those suffering from

2:32:16symptoms of menstruation, perimenopause,

2:32:18and menopause. The forum is next week,

2:32:21Wednesday, October 28th from 6:00 to

2:32:248:00 p.m. at Vera Recreation Center,

2:32:272601 Moore Street. We will have

2:32:29panelists to educate residents on my

2:32:31bill and resource tables for attendees.

2:32:34I want to thank Council President uh for

2:32:36your support of this initiative. Uh

2:32:38lastly, I wanted to remind my colleagues

2:32:40of today's briefing right after this uh

2:32:43to changes from Medicaid as well as the

2:32:46city's one Philly Medicaid access proj-

2:32:49proj- project uh in response to these

2:32:51changes. The briefing will be held in

2:32:54room 576 at 1:00 p.m. and it's being

2:32:57done by the Managing Director's Office

2:32:59and the administration. So, I hope to

2:33:01see you all there and thank you, Council

2:33:02President.

2:33:03>> Thank you very much, and the chair

2:33:05recognizes Councilman Dr. Anthony

2:33:07Phillips.

2:33:08>> Thank you, Council President, and

2:33:09greetings to uh my colleagues again, and

2:33:11most important to neighbors across

2:33:12Philadelphia. I want to address two

2:33:15issues that directly impact the health

2:33:17and well-being of our families. It's the

2:33:19growing rodent infestation our

2:33:21neighborhoods and the quality of meals

2:33:24being served to our children in schools.

2:33:26While these issues may seem separate,

2:33:29they speak to a fundamental

2:33:30responsibility we have as public

2:33:32officials, ensuring that every

2:33:34Philadelphian across Philadelphia has a

2:33:38clean home, a safe a safe safe

2:33:41neighborhood, a clean neighborhood, and

2:33:43nutritious food that supports their

2:33:45health and success.

2:33:47Earlier this month, I introduced a

2:33:49resolution declaring a growing rodent

2:33:51infestation in Lower Northeast a public

2:33:54health and quality of life emergency.

2:33:57Since then, a new ranking released by

2:33:59Terminix placed Philadelphia third among

2:34:02US cities for rodent problems, behind

2:34:04only Los Angeles and New York's

2:34:07New York. But our neighbors did not need

2:34:09a national ranking to tell them what

2:34:12they had been experiencing firsthand.

2:34:14Far too many families in our city are

2:34:17experiencing this nuisance. It's not an

2:34:20occasional nuisance. It has become a

2:34:22daily concern that threatens their

2:34:24quality of life and their ability to

2:34:25feel safe in their homes. I've been on

2:34:27record for the past couple years calling

2:34:30out the Philadelphia Public Health

2:34:31Department saying, "Please address this

2:34:34resolve this issue." However, instead of

2:34:37that being an issue being addressed, we

2:34:39continue to approach this issue with the

2:34:42same strategies and expect different

2:34:44results.

2:34:45This resolution came at my wit's end

2:34:48because it's a cuz at this point, I

2:34:50don't believe I should be the person to

2:34:52have to work to solve this particular

2:34:54problem. This should be something that

2:34:55should be at a urgency. And so that

2:34:58means that I'm asking

2:34:59the severity of this problem demands a

2:35:01more coordinated, proactive, and

2:35:03sustainable response. That means

2:35:05strengthening prevention efforts,

2:35:07improving sanitation practices, and

2:35:09addressing the conditions that attract

2:35:11rodents, ensuring responsible treatment,

2:35:13holding property owners accountable when

2:35:16necessary. I'm urging the Philadelphia

2:35:19Department of Public Health to work with

2:35:22the Department of Sanitation and

2:35:23Departments of Licenses and Inspections

2:35:25to identify immediate interventions and

2:35:28long-term solutions. Our goal is not to

2:35:31simply do what has been happening,

2:35:34responding to complaints as they arise,

2:35:37but to address the underlying conditions

2:35:39that allow for these infestations to

2:35:41persist and spread. I've both publicly

2:35:45and privately have asked for this to

2:35:47happen. Our neighbors deserve more than

2:35:50temporary fixes. They deserve a city

2:35:53response that is coordinated,

2:35:55consistent, and capable of delivering

2:35:57meaningful results. I encourage our

2:35:59neighbors to continue documenting what

2:36:01they are experiencing, submitting

2:36:02reports to 311, and the Department of

2:36:05Public Health's Vector Control Program,

2:36:07and sharing their block information and

2:36:09case numbers with our office if you live

2:36:11in our district. Also, we also want to

2:36:14hear directly from those living with

2:36:16this problem. Your reports help us

2:36:18understand the extent of these of these

2:36:20infestations, identify areas requiring

2:36:23immediate attention, and hold the

2:36:26appropriate city agencies accountable.

2:36:28The same commitment to listening to our

2:36:30neighbors and addressing their concerns

2:36:32is guiding our work on school meals. Let

2:36:35me begin by making one thing clear. I

2:36:38have tremendous respect for the food

2:36:39service employees working in our

2:36:41schools. These individuals show up every

2:36:44day, often under difficult

2:36:46circumstances, to ensure our children

2:36:48are fed. Our efforts are not intended to

2:36:51diminish their work or place blame on

2:36:54the very people responsible for serving

2:36:56our children.

2:36:57However,

2:36:59many of our staff, to no fault of their

2:37:02own, need better food resources to

2:37:05deliver quality meals to our children.

2:37:09I also want to acknowledge and thank

2:37:11Gabrielle McLaughlin of Temple

2:37:12University's College of Public Health

2:37:15for sharing her research with us here

2:37:17today at Philadelphia City Council. And

2:37:19I really appreciate her research as

2:37:22Professor McLoughlin seeks to inform

2:37:24those individuals most directly impacted

2:37:27by this situation.

2:37:29I also want to emphasize that our

2:37:30concerns are not based on a single visit

2:37:33to Olney High School, nor are they

2:37:35limited to one school. We are hearing

2:37:37directly from students across

2:37:39Philadelphia, and their experiences

2:37:41deserve our attention. One student told

2:37:43me, "If there is a way our food can be

2:37:45fixed, I would do whatever it takes to

2:37:47make it happen." Another student said,

2:37:50"Students have reported sandwiches that

2:37:52leave their stomachs upset,

2:37:55uh breakfast foods that start their

2:37:57mornings all poorly." One student said,

2:37:59"Some of the food is so dry that it

2:38:01feels like a choking hazard." Others

2:38:03have reported spoiled fruit cup fruit

2:38:05cups, spoiled milk, and rotten rotten

2:38:08rotten fruit.

2:38:10This is unacceptable. This statement

2:38:12should resonate with every one of us.

2:38:14Our students are not simply complaining,

2:38:16they are asking to be heard, and they

2:38:18want to be a part of the solution.

2:38:21So, lastly, I just want to say, our

2:38:23children deserve meals that are

2:38:25nutritious, appealing, and safe. And our

2:38:27food service employees deserve the

2:38:29staffing, equipment, ingredients,

2:38:31training, and support necessary to help

2:38:34them achieve that that milestone.

2:38:37Supporting our workers and advocating

2:38:39for better meals are not competing

2:38:41priorities, they go hand-in-hand. That

2:38:43is why my office continues to engage

2:38:45students, parents, caregivers,

2:38:47educators, food service employees, and

2:38:49other members of our school communities.

2:38:51We want to hear what is working, what is

2:38:53not, and where improvements can be made.

2:38:56Something is wrong with our food

2:38:58services into our children, and we have

2:39:00to figure out how to make it better.

2:39:03So, as I close, I want our neighbors to

2:39:04understand one thing, your voice

2:39:06matters, and your concerns deserve

2:39:07action. So, please contact our office

2:39:10regarding these issues. Whether your

2:39:12neighbor dealing with rodent

2:39:13infestations on your block, a parent

2:39:15concerned about meals your your child

2:39:17receives, a student asking for better

2:39:19food, or a school employee seeking

2:39:21resources to do your job more

2:39:23effectively, you deserve to be heard.

2:39:25Our neighbors deserve better. Our

2:39:27children deserve better. And together,

2:39:30we can do better because no family

2:39:32should have to accept rats as a normal

2:39:35part of living in Philadelphia, and no

2:39:37child should be expected to sit in a

2:39:38classroom hungry because the meal that

2:39:42they wish to eat is not there.

2:39:45Thank you, Council President.

2:39:48>> Thank you very much. As there are no

2:39:50more speeches, the chair recognizes the

2:39:52Councilwoman Isaiah Thomas for a motion

2:39:54to adjourn.

2:39:56>> Thank you, Council President. Thank you

2:39:57to the tech team and everybody for

2:39:59making today a success. I move that

2:40:01Council stands adjourned until Thursday,

2:40:03October 29th, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

2:40:06>> It has a move and properly seconded that

2:40:08Council stand adjourned until Thursday,

2:40:09October 29th, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

2:40:13All those in favor will signify by

2:40:15saying I.

2:40:16Anyone opposed? The eyes have it and the

2:40:19motion carries. Thank you all very much.

2:40:21Great job today.