COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS INTRODUCES BILL TO PROTECT THE FINANCIAL INTERESTS OF STUDENT ATHLETES
Councilmember Isaiah Thomas (At Large) introduced legislation this week in Council to provide financial literacy and consumer protection for youth athletes with prospective endorsement deals. These deals, commonly called NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) deals, are already at the collegiate level and are on their way to high school athletes. With the Philly NIL Youth Protection Act, Philadelphia can lead the nation with this set of protections with a proactive approach.
If passed by Council and signed by the Mayor, the Philly NIL Youth Protection Act would provide educational materials on NIL deals to students and their families, including information on the likelihood of acquiring a NIL, the benefits and risks of a deal, and guidance on various kinds of NIL deals. The bill would establish the creation of the Philly NIL Youth Protection Fund which would equip families of students with prospective NIL deals with a city-vetted lawyer and/or accountant, to assist in navigating and negotiating these deals.
“NIL deals are coming to high school athletes,” said Councilmember Thomas, who is also a coach of youth athletes and runs a Summer camp for other youngsters to participate in sports. “Philly can lead by providing proactive safeguards to these families. By putting financial education and consumer protection at the forefront of these deals, Philly is sending the message that you can play, work and grow here. Philly’s professional teams and fans are having a moment – this bill will ensure that this moment extends to the next generation of Philly leaders.”
States across the country are providing guidance on which students can and cannot receive Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. Approximately 15 states have prohibited these deals and approximately 15 states have allowed these deals with others, including Pennsylvania, considering offering guidance based on membership consideration. In Pennsylvania, the PIAA does not currently allow student athletes to receive NIL deals, although it may ease these restrictions in the coming weeks.
“We are expecting PIAA to allow student athletes to receive NIL deals,” said PIAA District XII Chair Michael Hawkins. “PIAA is excited to see youth athletes rise to fame in Philadelphia but we need to make sure this rise is done responsibly. We are grateful to PIAA XII board member and basketball coach, Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, for putting young people first.”
The Philly NIL Youth Protection Act requires the creation and development of educational materials to be distributed to all Philadelphia students who are eligible for NIL deals. The educational materials will outline key definitions, data, and risks/benefits and be graphically rich, easy to understand, and provide relevant and up-to-date resources. The Philly NIL Youth Protection Fund will be established and funded annually. This Fund will be accessible to Philadelphia resident high school students and their families with AGI of less than $150,000. The Fund will provide up to 5 billable hours with a lawyer and/or accountant to provide families with contract negotiation support.
The Philly NIL Youth Protection Act was introduced by Councilmember Thomas, and co-sponsored by Councilmembers Cindy Bass, Mike Driscoll, Brian O’Neill, Kendra Brooks, Jamie Gauthier, Curtis Jones, Jr., Katherine Gilmore Richardson, and Mark Squilla.
COUNCILMEMBER GAUTHIER OFFERS RESOLUTION RENAMING THE TIFFANY FLETCHER RECREATION CENTER
The September shooting death of Tiffany Fletcher, a city Recreation Department employee and mother who was shot fatally in the course of her work cleaning and maintaining the Mill Creek Recreation Center at 47th and Brown Streets in West Philadelphia unnerved a city already on edge from gun violence. City leaders held a news conference the next day at the recreation center, and vowed to do everything possible to quell the relentless tide.
On Thursday, in Council, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) took another step, offering a resolution to rename the Mill Creek facility as the Tiffany Fletcher Recreation Center. The resolution stated:
“On September 9th, tragedy struck the Mill Creek Rec Center when gunshots rang out, and beloved Mill Creek team member Tiffany Fletcher lost her life in the crossfire; and
“Tiffany Fletcher took on the role of Pool Maintenance Attendant with the Department of Parks and Recreation to ensure that Mill Creek’s residents had access to the pool, and eventually became a Seasonal Maintenance Attendant to provide residents with a clean, safe space to gather; and
“Tiffany Fletcher was a cherished member of the Mill Creek Community, remembered for always putting the needs of others above her own, and striving every day to make a difference in the lives of those around her.”
“Tiffany is survived by three sons, and leaves behind colleagues and a community that is devastated by her loss. Her life mattered,” Councilmember Gauthier concluded.
COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON RETURNS TO COUNCIL AFTER ACQUITTAL IN FEDERAL COURT
For the last two years, Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District) has labored under a cloud brought on by a federal indictment that charged he and his wife, Dawn Chavous, on federal bribery charges in connection with a rezoning issue and land in South Philadelphia.
On Wednesday, following an earlier trial that ended with a deadlocked jury, a federal jury found the Councilmember, his wife and co-defendants not guilty on all charges.
On Thursday, Councilmember Johnson returned to Council, smiling and ready to go back to work. His Council colleagues greeted him with a standing ovation and cheers.
Member after member congratulated Councilmember Johnson on his acquittal, and Council President Darrell L. Clarke (5th District) broke with protocol to welcome Councilmember Johnson back to City Council, as “my true friend.”
SEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA…
My thanks to my @PHLCouncil colleagues who today passed my Resolution recognizing #FinancialAwarenessMonth. Predatory loans, lack of credit awareness, financial mistakes, etc. can be costly! Learn more: https://t.co/KTqDGilUbE pic.twitter.com/UkzEt2RaY1
— Cindy Bass (@cindybassphilly) November 3, 2022
IN OTHER NEWS…
City Council Makes Technical Corrections to Wage & Business Tax Bills Approved last Summer. City Council also approved on Thursday technical corrections to the Wage and Business Tax ordinances which Council approved at its final meeting in June before the break. The technical corrections ensured that the important tax bills conformed to Council’s original intent and consent.
Councilmember Gilmore Richardson Updates Council on Community Evening Resource Centers. Councilmember Gilmore Richardson (At Large), a champion of the city’s revitalized curfew centers, updated her colleagues with news that two more of the Evening Resource Centers are now open, for a total of four citywide. The ultimate goal: One Center for each of the city’s six Police Divisions.
The Centers are a partnership between the city Department of Human Services, Philadelphia police, and City Council.
The Centers are a community-based prevention tool to help keep youth engaged from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Programming includes homework support, yoga class, sports, cooking instruction, movie nights, droning, financial literacy classes, and peer mediation. Programs also emphasize conflict resolution, violence prevention, mentoring, and service linkages. Here are the four current sites:
- Juvenile Justice Center (Northwest)
- IDAAY/Institute for the Development of African American Youth (Central)
- Dixon House at Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance, formerly known as Diversified Community Services, (South)
- Community of Compassion, Inc. (Southwest)
OTHER SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM THE COUNCIL WEEK
Committee on Streets and Services 10-28-2022
Stated Meeting of Philadelphia City Council 11-3-2022
This Sunday morning marks the end of Daylight Saving Time, so before you go to bed on Saturday night, set your clocks back one hour.
The next Stated Meeting of City Council is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 10 a.m. in Philadelphia City Hall, Room 400 and will air on Xfinity Ch. 64, Fios Channel 40 and stream at www.PHLCouncil.com/watch.
Weekly Stated Meetings will be in-person for the remainder of the year. Masks will be recommended and provided.
Out of an abundance of caution and with the public’s health in mind, public hearings will continue to be conducted remotely.
Featured Photo: Jared Piper/PHLCouncil
