PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT KENYATTA JOHNSON INTRODUCES RESOLUTIONS THAT WOULD RECOVENE THE PHILADELPHIA TAX REFORM COMMISSION AND CREATE A SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON CITY AND PRIVATE SECTOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION POLICIES
City Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District) introduced two resolutions during the February 15th City Council session that will reestablish the Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission plus create a new Special Committee on City and Private Sector Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policies.
Resolution #240108 would reconvene the Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission and its Advisory Committee to conduct an updated comprehensive analysis of all taxes imposed in Philadelphia, including by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and to make recommendations concerning tax reforms.
Council President Johnson sees the Tax Commission as a way to look at economic growth and development in Philadelphia and making the city more competitive in attracting businesses from throughout the nation and world.
It has been over 20 years since the original Tax Reform Commission issued its final report.
Resolution #240107 would create City Council’s Special Committee on City and Private Sector Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policies, also known as DEI policies, to examine the impact of such policies and to provide practical, evidence-based recommendations to enhance City policy effectiveness in the promotion of minority, women-owned and disabled-owned business in Philadelphia.
While minority, women, and disabled-owned businesses (M/W/DSBEs) play a vital role in providing thousands of jobs in Philadelphia, vibrant commercial corridors, and revenue that directly supports City functions, disparities in opportunity and barriers to entry persist. The City of Philadelphia and some private sector participants have developed DEI policies, barriers still exist that prevent M/W/DSBEs from competing in our local economy.
Both resolutions are scheduled for final approval during the February 22 Council session.
Read the entire press release here.
CITY COUNCIL GAVE FINAL PASSAGE TO TWO RESOLUTIONS DURING THE FEBRUARY 15 COUNCIL SESSION
Only two resolutions (no bills) were up for final passage at the February 15 Council session. City Council approved the resolutions sponsored by Councilmembers Mark Squilla (1st District) and Council Deputy Majority Whip Cindy Bass (8th District).
Squilla’s Resolution #240095 authorized the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose various properties throughout the First Council District.
Bass’s Resolution #240096 will ceremonially rename the 6000 Block of Norwood Street in Germantown “Frankie Beverly Way” to honor singer/songwriter Frankie Beverly for his significant contributions to the music industry.
WDAS-FM DJ Patty Jackson and Dyana Williams, radio and television personality and celebrity media coach, attended this week’s City Council to show their support for the resolution.
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly has had close to 30 hit singles since 1977.
The group is part of the Philadelphia Music Alliance’s Walk of Fame in Center City. Beverly announced that he is retiring from the group this year and the “I Want to Thank You Farewell Tour” will start in March. The group is expected to perform in Philadelphia sometime this summer.
For more information on the group, click here.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 15 BY COUNCILMEMBERS NINA AHMAD, NICHOLAS O’ROURKE, JEFFERY YOUNG JR. AND ISAIAH THOMAS
Councilmember Nina Ahmad (At-Large) introduced Resolution #240115 authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings examining proposed solutions to address racial disparities in the maternal mortality rate in Philadelphia.
In Philadelphia, Black birthing people represent 73% of maternal deaths that occur, despite only making up 43% of the birthing population. Philadelphia comprises 20% of all maternal deaths in Pennsylvania, despite only accounting for 12% of the Commonwealth’s population. As a continuation of various local and state efforts to examine and address this issue, including a 2019 City Council hearing to highlight ongoing work in this space, Councilmember Ahmad will draw from the most recent data, as well as lived experiences to further explore and propose evidence-based solutions to help eliminate racial bias and increase overall maternal care at each phase of the birthing experience.
Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke (At-Large), who also serves as Minority Whip, introduced Resolution #240113 that would authorize the Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy to hold hearings on Philadelphia’s Guaranteed Income (GI) pilot programs and the potential for their expansion.
Unlike traditional poverty alleviation programs, guaranteed income programs provide recurring unconditional cash payments to targeted groups of people. They succeed on the principle that families know best how to spend money in the ways that best help them. Right now, seven GI pilot programs are distributing funds to Philadelphians.
O’Rourke says too often, local, state, and federal funds targeted at addressing poverty in Philadelphia are inaccessible to the city’s working class. Time-intensive, burdensome application and compliance processes can decrease participation, or families may be unaware of the benefits they qualify for. GI programs can and should be another tool — one known for its efficiency in getting cash in pockets — which Council utilizes in its mission to reduce poverty in Philadelphia, O’Rourke stated.
Council Majority Whip Isaiah Thomas (At Large) introduced two resolutions that would authorize Council’s Committee on Education to hold hearings on a variety of things. Resolution #240104 examines the recent report on high teacher attrition and understand its root causes, impact on teacher and student morale, as well as its effects on learning outcomes. Resolution #240105 will look into examine recent high profile violent incidents between parents, faculty, and students at middle and high schools.
City Councilmember Jeffery Young (5th District) introduced Bill #240098 which seeks to amend Economic Opportunity Plan (EOP) requirements by clarifying when applicants seeking zoning variances must submit an EOP in the City of Philadelphia. The proposed legislation seeks to enhance workforce development initiatives and ensure equitable participation in development projects.
FIND INFORMATION ON ALL BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS BEING CONSIDERED BY COUNCIL BY GOING TO PHLCOUNCIL.COM
For an update on all bills and resolutions introduced and being considered by City Council, go to the City Council’s Legislative Information Center. The site provides quick and easy public access to information concerning Philadelphia City Council bills and resolutions. Once you locate a bill or resolution, you will be able to review its legislative history and to view or download a full text copy.
All bills introduced at the February 15 City Council session must be assigned to a committee that will hold a hearing on the legislation. If the legislation gets voted out of committee, it will go to the floor of City Council where it will eventually receive a vote of passage or non-passage. A bill needs at least nine votes to pass in Council. Any bill approved by Council will then be sent to Mayor Parker for her approval signature or a veto.
City Council will hold its first in-person Council Committee hearings in Council chambers during the week of February 20. For a list of all committee hearings, go here.
CHILDREN FROM THE EXCELSIOR SCHOOL OF PHILADELPHIA GET A SURPRISE TOUR OF COUNCIL FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
Eight students and their teachers from the Excelsior School of Philadelphia, which is located in Germantown, visited the City Council session this week as part of a social studies field trip. They showed up to watch their government in action.
Council President Johnson noticed the children in the balcony and welcomed them to the Council session, After the session ended, the students got to meet with Johnson and Councilmember Cindy Bass (8th District) and ask questions. The children also received tours of the Council Caucus Room and the Council President’s office suite.
The third and fourth grade students, who live in neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia, had the visit of a lifetime and several of the students said they wanted to become a City Councilmember someday.
LISTEN TO “SATURDAYS WITH CITY COUNCIL” ON WURD RADIO THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17 FROM 10 AM-11 AM
Philadelphia City Council has a show on WURD Radio (900 AM/96.1 FM) twice a month called “Saturdays with Council.” The show features City Council members discussing issues impacting Philadelphia. The next show is Saturday, February 17 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and it will be hosted by Councilmember At-Large Nina Ahmad.
Listen to the show at 900 AM/96.1 FM in Philadelphia or online here. https://wurdradio.com/
We hope that everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day this week.
All Philadelphia City Council offices will be closed on Monday, February 19 in honor of President’s Day. All offices will reopen on Tuesday, February 20.
The next Meeting of City Council is scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 10 a.m. The Meeting will take place in person in Council’s Chambers on the 4th floor of Council. It will also air on Xfinity Ch. 64, Fios Channel 40, and stream at www.PHLCouncil.com/watch.
