Holding fast to his commitment to starting council meetings on time, Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson dropped the gavel at 10 am sharp, and Council was in session for February 1, 2024.
I was pleased to see Brother Mohamad Sharif of the Center City Mosque, invited to give the invocation by Councilmember Mark Squilla. In his invocation, Brother Mohamad touched on many things, including his love for the City of Philadelphia–but what resonated most was his remark, “Those entrusted to govern society must be those who stand for justice.” I couldn’t help but wish every elected official in our country could hear those 12 words. Simple yet so profound.
The first order of business for the day was the acknowledgment of a Resolution recognizing the African American Children’s Book Project on the anniversary of their 32nd Annual African American Children’s Book Fair. The book fair was held on February 3rd at the Philadelphia Convention Center.
Communications from Mayor Cherelle Parker to the Philadelphia City Council included three (3) resolutions appointing Elizabeth Woods to the Board of Directors of the Old Center City Services District, a Resolution appointing Louis Tise to the Board of Directors of the Old Center City Services District, and a Resolution appointing Paul Levy to the Board of Directors of the Old Center City Services District.
Bills and Resolutions introduced in February 1st Council Session
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd), who chairs the Council’s Committee Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless introduced the “Defying Displacement Campaign,” a package of bills intended to address Philadelphia’s housing affordability crisis.
In the press release from Gauthier’s office, the package offers:
Increased protections for residents using housing vouchers by identifying rental vouchers, including Section 8, allows the tenant to take a private rate of action after 100 days as opposed to 1 year, prohibits property owners from purposefully failing to process rental vouchers in a timely manner, and instructs Human Relations Commission to provide tenants with a Notice of Right to Sue if the commissions fail to complete its investigation within 100 days (about three and a half months).
Freezes property taxes for low-income eligibility at the maximum income allowable for the state’s Pharmaceutical Assistance Program (PACENET), freezes property taxes at their current rate for homeowners within the eligible income range.
Investment of revenue generated by investors buying “Density Bonuses” back into neighborhoods, which would entail amending the Home Rule Charter to mandate that “payment in lieu of affordable housing” must be added to the Housing Trust fund the following year as new additional deposits on top of the City’s other allocation requirements, requires density bonus payments be spent within specific geographic boundaries to direct resources to areas of the city seeing increased development.
“Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods. The very thing that makes Philadelphia. Philadelphia Is under attack. Many of our neighborhoods are becoming hostile to Black and Brown families who stewarded them for generations. The city has a choice will our communities finally be able to look at their local government as their protector, or will the displacement tidal wave wash them away?”
The bill was co-sponsored by Councilmember Rue Landau (D-AL), who serves as Vice Chair of the Housing Committee. Landau said, “These bills aren’t just legislation; they are a commitment to ensuring every Philadelphian has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.”
Resolution Establishing the Kensington Caucus to represent a united legislative front in the Kensington Area.
Councilmembers Quetcy Lozada (7th District), Mike Driscoll (6th District), Jim Harrity (At-Large), and Mark Squilla (1st District) joint statement read, “The Kensington Caucus supports the work of all our public safety partners and their efforts to restore the quality of life for the residents who call Kensington home.”
Bill amending Title 14 Zoning and Planning to create a distinction between hospitals and alcohol and substance abuse facilities.
Resolution Authorizing the Joint City Council Committees on Public Safety and Health and Human Safety to hold hearings investigating trauma centers in the city and how they are transporting shooting victims.
Resolution Authorizing the Council Committee on Health and Human Services to hold hearings to explore the effects of recent Rite Aid and other pharmacy closures to understand the impact on prescription access.
Bill Two (2) Amending zoning maps, changing the zoning of land located in the 6th Councilmanic District.
Resolution Authorizing Council to hold hearings to investigate stop-and-go establishments that don’t adhere to restaurant and liquor license requirements.
Resolution Authorizing the Committee on Oversight to hold hearings investigating the city’s progress toward carbon neutrality.
Bills and Resolutions Passed in February 1st Council Session
240032 Approving 2023-2024 Neighborhood Preservation Initiative Program Statement and Budget.
240033 Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 5906 and 5908 Market Street located in the 3rd Councilmanic District.
240034 Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 4320 and 4322 Lancaster Avenue in the 3rd Councilmanic District.
240042 Calling on the leadership to implement the more than 140 recommendations and next steps found in the Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia.
240045 Authorizing the appointment of a Chief Ethics Officer for the Council of the City of Philadelphia.
240048 Renaming the 1900 block of Kirby Drive “Tony Caruso Way.”
240049 Authorizing request to the Law Department to represent City Council in appeals from decisions of the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment and, if the Law Department declines to render said services to City Council, authorizing the retention of outside counsel to provide said services.
This is just a brief weekly synopsis of the events that took place in the City Council Session on February 1, 2024; to read more about the happenings in Council, please visit the City Council website, or better yet, make some time to attend a council meeting. Meetings are held each Thursday at 10 am sharp, and residents are encouraged to come and participate.
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