PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL APPROVED ORDINANCES DURING THE MARCH 7 CITY COUNCIL SESSION THAT WILL NOW GO TO PHILADELPHIA MAYOR CHERELLE PARKER FOR HER SIGNATURE OR VETO
Council approved Bill #240007, which would add a new Chapter 21-3400 to the Home Rule Charter entitled “Youth Name, Image, and Likeness Protection,” to establish provisions related to education and counseling for certain Philadelphia youth and their families who are considering licensing publicity rights. The bill is sponsored by At-Large Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, Council’s Majority Whip.
Council approved Bills #240064, #240065, and #240066 that would amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas in the First and Sixth Council Districts. The bills were introduced by Councilmembers Mark Squilla (1st District) and Mike Driscoll (6th District).
Bills #240007, #240064 and #240065 will now go to Mayor Cherelle Parker for her signature for approval or veto.
During the Council session, lawmakers also approved the following resolutions:
- Resolution #240125 that authorizes the creation of the Philadelphia Task Force on Food Insecurity to study and develop proposals, strategies, and recommendations to alleviate hunger and increase access to high quality food in the City of Philadelphia. The resolution was sponsored by Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District).
More than 210,000 Philadelphians, 13.6% of the city’s residents, struggle with food insecurity, according to Feeding America’s 2023 Map the Meal Gap report, which is based on 2021 data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Children are particularly impacted as 25% of Philadelphia youth are considered food insecure. This issue disproportionately impacts people of color as 22% of Black households and 23% of Hispanic households struggle to access enough healthy food.
Task Force members will be appointed by the Council President. The Task Force shall be convened within 45 days of its creation and shall meet at such times as the Chair of the Task Force deems necessary and appropriate. Within one year of its first meeting, the Task Force shall prepare and distribute to the Mayor, Members of City Council, and any interested members of the public a report of its findings and its strategic plan to address food insecurity in Philadelphia.
- Resolution #240162 honoring Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles Center Jason Kelce on the occasion of his retirement from the national Football League and his generous philanthropic contributions to Philadelphia made through the Make The World Better Foundation and his (Be) Philly Foundation. The resolution was sponsored by Council President Johnson.
- Resolution #240130 authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 5307 Market Street and 723 North Shedwick Street in the Third Councilmanic District and transfer to the Philadelphia Land Bank fee simple title to such properties pursuant. It was sponsored by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District).
- Resolution #240143 authorizing and ratifying the designation of Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr. (5th District), as Council’s representative in connection with an appeal of the decision of the Zoning Board of Adjustment with respect to 1451 North Broad Street and all litigation related thereto. This was sponsored by Councilmember Young for Council President Johnson.
- Resolution #240144 that will ceremonially rename Federal Street, between 6th and 7th Streets in South Philadelphia, as “Bob Pantano Way” in honor of the legendary disk jockey. His “Saturday Night Dance Party” radio show is currently the longest running radio dance party in the nation, celebrating almost 50 years on the air. The resolution was introduced by Councilmember Squilla.
- Squilla also sponsored Resolution #240145 that will ceremonially rename Chestnut Street between 12th and 13th Streets in Center City, as “Michael Hinson Way” to honor the life and legacy of Philadelphia’s first appointed liaison with the city LGBTQ+ communities by former Mayor John F. Street. Hinson, who died in 2022 at age 55, founded Colours Magazine, co-founded the Black Gay Men’s Leadership Council and served as Chief Executive Officer of SELF, Inc., a human services agency that provides emergency and permanent supportive housing and other vital services and resources for Philadelphia’s most vulnerable communities.
LEGISLATION CONCERNING KENSINGTON BUSINESS CORRIDOR HELD
Councilmember Quetcy Lozada (7th District) held off having Council take a final vote on her Bill #240013, which would amend Chapter 9-600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Service and Other Businesses,” by adding a new section regulating the hours of operation of certain establishments and providing for penalties within a section of Kensington bounded by East Lehigh Avenue, Kensington Avenue, D Street, E Tioga Street and Frankford Avenue. Certain businesses in this area would be closed between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily.
A final vote could happen on the bill as soon as the March 14 Council session.
PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCILMEMBER KENYATTA JOHNSON HELD A “PEACE NOT GUNS” ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION THIS WEEK FEATURING PHILADELPHIA MAYOR CHERELLE PARKER AND POLICE COMMISSIONER KEVIN BETHEL
Council President Johnson, Mayor Parker, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel and Acting Chief Public Safety Director Adam Geer met with more than two dozen victims and co-victims of gun violence in Philadelphia City Council Chambers.
The primary objective of the gathering was to explore effective advocacy approaches and actionable recommendations, solutions, and strategies to address the issue of gun violence in Philadelphia. Commissioner Bethel is completing a comprehensive plan to reduce crime throughout Philadelphia that is expected to be made public soon.
A growing number of antiviolence advocates and experts across the country believe that unaddressed, widespread trauma is at the root of the city’s gun crisis. Thousands of Philadelphians, especially young men, are living with pent-up pain and anger that are affecting their relationships and ability to process emotions and escalating to acts of violence.
The “Peace Not Guns” meeting was scheduled well before a series of shootings this week that happened either on SEPTA buses or around bus stops.
On March 3, 27-year-old Sawee Kofa was shot and killed after an argument on a SEPTA bus in the city’s Oxford Circle neighborhood; 17-year-old Dayemen Taylor, who attended Imhotep Institute Charter High School, was killed and four others were hurt March 4 when gunfire rang out at a bus stop in the city’s Ogontz neighborhood. A man was shot and killed on a Route 79 bus March 5 in South Philadelphia and eight students were injured at a SEPTA bus stop on March 6 in the city’s Burholme neighborhood.
During Council’s member speeches this week, Councilmembers Phillips, Jones, Thomas, Bass, Squilla, Young and Rue Landau (At-Large) expressed their outrage about the shooting.
In a written statement, Council President Johnson said Philadelphia remains in a state of emergency, in his opinion, when it comes to gun violence:
“It is important that all citizens in our city come together and address this issue of gun violence,” Johnson said. As Council President, I will continue working with Mayor Parker, Police Commissioner Bethel, all Councilmembers, and residents throughout Philadelphia to address the senseless gun violence impacting our city. We must all work together to have a city of peace not guns.”
Johnson also pledged that City Council will work with SEPTA CEO Leslie Richards and SEPTA Board Chairman Kenneth Lawrence to ensure passenger safety.
The next Meeting of City Council is scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 10 a.m. The meeting will feature Mayor Parker’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget address, her first budget address as mayor. 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.
