City Hall Roll Call: January 26th, 2023
City Hall Roll Call: January 26th, 2023
Introducing Trail Mix: The Scoop on 2023
Happy Thursday and a very fine “Go Birds” to all of our readers. 2022 was an incredible year of growth for the newsletter and I am truly appreciative of all the engagement and kind words you’ve sent me these past few months.
Thanks to your support, I’m very excited to announce a new feature to the newsletter that will launch in February, “Trail Mix: The Scoop on 2023.”
A special election year bonus edition of the Broad and Market newsletter, Trail Mix will:
track news and developments in the upcoming 2023 municipal elections;
share information regarding endorsements and financial support of the candidates;
provide information on upcoming public forums and events;
summarize and compare the candidates policies on a number of issues facing the city; and,
provide general resources for voters.
If you are interested in sponsoring the Trail Mix edition of the newsletter to help ensure it remains free to readers, please email me at Lauren@enactstrategies.com
And if you know a friend that is looking to get more engaged about the upcoming election, please share some Trail Mix and have them subscribe by clicking the button below:
And with that, back to our regularly scheduled programing:
Welcome to Thursday’s City Hall Roll Call, powered by The Committee of Seventy.
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Welcome to City Hall Roll Call, a summary of City Council’s weekly Stated Meeting. Reminder, the information provided below is not an official or complete record. City Council’s official legislative database can be accessed through Legistar.
For a full play-by-play of the Council session, including speeches and public comment, be sure to follow me on Twitter. Also, don’t forget to tune in on Tuesday mornings at 10:25 a.m. to WURD Radio and Reality Check’s “City Council Calendar with Lauren Vidas.” Show host Charles Ellison and I preview the issues and break down the legislation that Council will tackle at its Thursday meeting.
Session Recap:
Today’s Council Stated Meeting continued the trend of the last few weeks, an efficient meeting with mostly honorific or administrative legislative matters being offered by members.
Councilmember Sharon Vaughn (D-AL) introduced a resolution “Condemning the Union League of Philadelphia for bestowing its highest honor, the Gold Medal, upon Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.” As reported by Billy Penn,
When news broke last fall that DeSantis — considered a likely Republican presidential contender — would be the recipient of the Union League’s prestigious Lincoln Award, there was a mini revolt among members, with several publicly voicing complaints, a rarity for the organization. The dinner was postponed from last October to this January, as the club ostensibly deliberated how to handle the situation. In the end, no changes were made.
The protest and backlash were prompted in party by DeSantis’ recent announcement that Florida would eliminate student access to an AP course on African American Studies. This announcement comes after his signing of what has been nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” which DeSantis called necessary to fight back against "woke gender ideology." Protestors were joined by a number of Councilmembers who spoke out against the award including Councilmembers Jamie Gauthier, Katherine Gilmore-Richardson and Kenyatta Johnson.
Council stands adjourned until Thursday, February 2nd.
Bills and Resolutions Introduced Today (By Subject Matter)
Due to the volume, ceremonial resolutions introduced by Councilmembers that honor or memorialize individuals or organizations will not be listed below, but can be found on Legistar.
🏗️ Construction / Zoning
Bill amending the zoning in an area bounded by Haverford and 44th Streets. (Gauthier)
🗺️ Land Disposition / Acquisition
Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of property located in the 1st Councilmanic District. (Squilla)
🚦Streets
Bill authorizing the vacating of a Sloane Street located in the 3rd Councilmanic District. (Gauthier)
Bill authorizing the revision of lines and grades for land located in the 10th Councilmanic District. (O’Neill)
⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)
Resolution urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to allow cities of the 1st Class to set their own minimum wage standards and laws. (Harrity)
Resolution urging Congress to pass the “Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act” which would repeal the Tiahrt Amendments, whose provisions have hampered efforts to address gun trafficking. (Clarke)
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Children and Youth to conduct hearings to examine the state of Philadelphia’s child welfare workforce. (Phillips)
Bills and Resolutions Introduced Today (By Member)
Due to the volume, ceremonial resolutions introduced by Councilmembers that honor or memorialize individuals or organizations will not be listed below, but can be found on Legistar.
Councilmember Mark Squilla (D-1st)
R- Authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of property located in the 1st Councilmanic District.
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd)
B - Authorizing the vacating of a Sloane Street located in the 3rd Councilmanic District.
B - Amending the zoning in an area bounded by Haverford and 44th Street.
Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)
R - Urging Congress to pass the “Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act” which would repeal the Tiahrt Amendments, whose provisions have hampered efforts to address gun trafficking.
Councilmember Anthony Phillips (D-9th)
R - Authorizing the Committee on Children and Youth to conduct hearings to examine the state of Philadelphia’s child welfare workforce.
Councilmember Brian O’Neill (R-10th)
B - Authorizing the revision of lines and grades for land located in the 10th Councilmanic District.
Councilmember Jim Harrity (D-AL)
R - Urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to allow cities of the 1st Class to set their own minimum wage standards and laws.
Bills and Resolutions Passed by City Council at Today’s Session
Resolutions:
📛 230014 (Clarke): Approving the reappointment of Wendell Anthony Ewing to the Philadelphia Water, Sewer and Storm Water Rate Board.
🗺️ 230018 (Johnson): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2315, 2316, 2317, 2318, 2337, 2339, 2349 Greenwich Street; 1709, 1711, 1822R - 34, 1836 Point Breeze Avenue; 1555 S. Ringgold Street; 2445 Federal Street and 2329 Ellsworth Street located in the 2nd District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.
🔏 230021 (O’Neill): Authorizing requests to the Law Department to represent City Council in an appeal from decisions of the Department of Licenses and Inspections to the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment or the License and Inspection Review Board and, if the Law Department declines to render such services to City Council, authorizing the retention of outside counsel to provide such services.
🏆 230### (Johnson): Recognizing February 1-7, 2023, as National Gun Violence Survivor Week, in honor of survivors of gun violence and the lifelong burdens they carry.
🏆 230### (Johnson): Honoring the life and legacy of South Philadelphia legendary disc jockey and entertainer Jerry Blavat known as "The Geator with the Heater" and "The Boss with the Hot Sauce”
🏆 230### (Vaughn): Recognizing Berisford “BJ” Jones, co-chair of the Philadelphia Police Department LGBTQ Liaison Committee, for his tireless efforts toward improving relations between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
🏆 230### (Gilmore-Richardson): Recognizing and honoring the Philadelphia High School for Girls on the occasion of its 175th Anniversary and history of academic excellence.
🏆 230### (Phillips): Commemorating the closing of Relish, the beloved West Oak Lane institution.
⚖️ 230### (Phillips): Authorizing the Committee on Children and Youth to conduct hearings to examine the state of Philadelphia’s child welfare workforce.
Bills:
🏗️ 220770 (Clarke): To amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the measurements of zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Cottman Avenue, Oxford Avenue, Tyson Avenue, Rising Sun Avenue, Glenview Street, Bingham Street, Kerper Street, Rising Sun Avenue, Unruh Avenue, Martins Mill Road, City Boundary, and Hasbrook Avenue.
🏗️ 220942 (Jones): To amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designation of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Parkside Avenue, 49th Street, Jefferson Street, and 48th Street (extended).
📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings
(Click on the Committee listing to download the full agenda of bills and resolutions for the meeting.)
Tuesday, January 31st
Committee of the Whole, 9:00 AM - Council will hold public hearings regarding a series of appointments to the Board of Directors for the Old City Special Services and Center City Districts.
Committee of the Whole, 9:00 AM - Council will hold public hearings pursuant to the Educational Supplement of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to review the administration, management, operations, and finances of the School District and adopt plans to coordinate the activities of the Board of Education, the Mayor, and the City Council for the improvement and benefit of public education in Philadelphia.
Friday, February 3rd
Committee on Commerce & Economic Development, 10:00 AM - Council will hold a hearing to establish uniform standards for flag raising ceremonies.
Monday, February 6th
Committee on Law and Government, 10:00 AM - Council will hold hearings on an number of bills and resolutions, including: a change to the requirements for contributions and minimum balance of the Budget Stabilization Reserve (220733), revising prohibited activities for appointees to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission,” and a bill requiring the Commerce Department to report to Council to certain “aggregate information regarding employment rates and training opportunities, and to report on assessments of the economic impact of the City’s workforce development programs.”