City Hall Roll Call: October 20th, 2022
City Hall Roll Call: October 20th, 2022
Workers raise concerns about overcrowding at City's Juvenile Justice Center
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 Session featured yet another incredibly short voting calendar and introduction of mostly routine bills and resolutions, including a number of resolutions authorizing committee hearings. The vast majority of the meeting was dedicated to public comment, with corrections workers pleading for support and victims of one of the most shameful chapters in the City’s history sharing their experiences.
“Someone is going to end up dying.”
After hearing about dangerous overcrowding conditions from Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center (PJJSC) corrections workers, Councilmember Jones today introduced a resolution encouraging the Law Department to take legal action against the Commonwealth to alleviate the unsafe conditions. The resolution urges injunctive relief for “the state’s refusal to take custody of juveniles sentenced to state facilities who are currently housed” in city facilities.
Testifying in support of the resolution were a number of PJJSC workers, who sounded the alarm on the dangerous staffing conditions inside the facility. Ebony Richards, one of the staffers working on a day where only four staff members were available to oversee over two hundred juvenile residents, pleaded for help from Council. “We are working in vile conditions. It is unacceptable and outrageous at this point,” she testified. “Someone is going to end up dying at that facility. We need help and we need it immediately.”
City formally apologizes for Holmesburg Prison Experiments
Council also formally apologized for the City’s role in the Holmesburg Prison Experiments. As described by the Philadelphia Inquirer,
Albert Kligman, one of the pioneers of modern dermatology who developed Retin-A, experimented on mostly Black male inmates, exposing them to pharmaceuticals, viruses, fungus, asbestos, LSD, and a component of Agent Orange. The men were paid but unknowing subjects, with some experiencing active reactions for up to seven months, according to reports published by The Inquirer in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.
A number of activists and family members provided moving testimony in support of the resolution. Adrienne Jones Alston, a daughter of one of the test patients and prisoners, shared the lifetime of trauma that resulted from her father’s experience while at Holmesburg Prison. She stated that her father, who went into prison for a non-violent charge, came out a different person. She recounted that the man who used to take her to baseball games and carry her on his shoulders wasn’t the same. “He became hostile and sometimes violent,” resulting in her family falling apart and her later ending up in foster care and then the criminal justice system.
“The community of Philadelphia was poisoned and no one opened their mouth," said Alston. “Then, they let them out to poison the rest of the community.” Council unanimously adopted the resolution, formally apologizing for this long and dark chapter in the City’s history.
Council stands adjourned until Thursday, November 3rd at 10 a.m.
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 VDO Overlay in the 5th Councilmanic District. (Clarke)
Bill establishing the Wynnefield Veterans Memorial.
🗺️ Land Disposition / Acquisition
Bill requiring certain Real Estate conveyed to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority or Land Bank to be included in the City’s self-insurance system. (Clarke)
Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 5th Councilmanic District. (Clarke)
Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 5th Councilmanic District. (Clarke)
Resolution - Authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to transfer property located in the 1st Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Land Bank. (Squilla)
🚦Streets
Bill establishing no truck parking on a street located in the 4th Councilmanic District. (Jones)
🔏 Contract / Agreement Authorization
Bill authorizing Public Property to accept a historically designated building to become part of the Fairmount Park system. (Clarke)
💸 Finance / Budget
Bill approving the plan estimated cost and methods of assessment of taxation of the Center City District for years 2023-2027. (Clarke)
⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings to discuss the youth experience in schools as a follow-up to the student led “Enough is Enough” Anti-Gun Violence campaign. (Thomas)
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Housing to examine the expiring Housing and Urban Development (HUD) affordability contracts and identifying resources and solutions to prevent the displacement of residents. (Jones)
Resolution encouraging the Law Department to file a lawsuit against the State of Pennsylvania seeking injunctive relief for their refusal to take custody of juveniles sentenced to state facilities who are currently housed at the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center (PJJSC). (Jones)
Resolution affirming and praising Philadelphia’s City Commissioners and citizen poll workers in implementing free and fair election procedures to determine the will of all eligible Philadelphia voters, and decrying efforts to undermine such officials and citizen participants through bullying and legislative interference. (Brooks)
Resolution urging Drexel University, as the recipient of the Atwater Kent Collection to ensure adequate stewardship of the collection and protect the interest of donors, art lovers, and the residents of Philadelphia. (Bass)
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings regarding expanding Philadelphia’s mobile crisis response capacity to develop strategies and best practices for non-lethal de-escalation, crisis intervention, and restraint of individuals experiencing mental or emotional distress. (Bass)
Resolution authorizing the Committee of Parks and Recreation to hold public hearings on the status of the City of Philadelphia’s Rebuild Initiative. (Bass)
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)
Resolution - Authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to transfer property located in the 1st Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Land Bank.
Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. (D-4th)
Bill - Establishing no truck parking on a street located in the 4th Councilmanic District.
Bill - Establishing the Wynnefield Veterans Memorial.
Resolution - Authorizing the Committee on Housing to examine the expiring Housing and Urban Development (HUD) affordability contracts and identifying resources and solutions to prevent the displacement of residents.
Resolution - Encouraging the Law Department to file a lawsuit against the State of Pennsylvania seeking injunctive relief for their refusal to take custody of juveniles sentenced to state facilities who are currently housed at the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center (PJJSC).
Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)
Bill - Authorizing Public Property to accept a historically designated building to become part of the Fairmount Park system
Bill - Requiring certain Real Estate conveyed to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority or Land Bank to be included in the City’s self-insurance system.
Bill - Amending the VDO Overlay in the 5th Councilmanic District.
Resolution - Authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 5th Councilmanic District.
Resolution - Authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 5th Councilmanic District.
Bill - Approving the plan estimated cost and methods of assessment of taxation of the Center City District for years 2023-2027.
Councilmember Cindy Bass (D-8th)
Resolution - Urging Drexel University, as the recipient of the Atwater Kent Collection to ensure adequate stewardship of the collection and protect the interest of donors, art lovers, and the residents of Philadelphia.
Resolution - Authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings regarding expanding Philadelphia’s mobile crisis response capacity to develop strategies and best practices for non-lethal de-escalation, crisis intervention, and restraint of individuals experiencing mental or emotional distress.
Resolution - Authorizing the Committee of Parks and Recreation to hold public hearings on the status of the City of Philadelphia’s Rebuild Initiative.
Councilmember Kendra Brooks (I-AL)
Resolution - Affirming and praising Philadelphia’s City Commissioners and citizen poll workers in implementing free and fair election procedures to determine the will of all eligible Philadelphia voters, and decrying efforts to undermine such officials and citizen participants through bullying and legislative interference.
Councilmember Isaiah Thomas (D-AL)
Resolution - Authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings to discuss the youth experience in schools as a follow-up to the student led “Enough is Enough” Anti-Gun Violence campaign.
Bills and Resolutions Passed by City Council at Today’s Session
Resolutions:
🏆 220834 (Jones): Naming the 600 Block of N. 56th Street as “Reverend Leonard George Carr Way”, in honor of Reverend Leonard George Carr, the founder of Vine Memorial Baptist Church.
🏆 220836 (Jones): Formally apologizing for the heinous acts of abuse and torture perpetuated against inmates at Holmesburg Prison during the 1950’s - 1970’s.
🏆 220837 (Gauthier): Renaming the 6000 Block of Spruce Street “Julia Chinn Way”, in honor of the life and work of civic leader Julia Chinn.
🏆 220### (Thomas): Honoring Champion of the Week, Philadelphia Military Academy, for receiving a Gold Star award for outstanding performance.
⚖️ 220### (Thomas): Authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings to discuss the youth experience in schools as a follow-up to the student led “Enough is Enough” Anti-Gun Violence campaign.
⚖️ 220### (Jones): Authorizing the Committee on Housing to examine the expiring Housing and Urban Development (HUD) affordability contracts and identifying resources and solutions to prevent the displacement of residents.
🗣️ 220### (Brooks): Affirming and praising Philadelphia’s City Commissioners and citizen poll workers in implementing free and fair election procedures to determine the will of all eligible Philadelphia voters, and decrying efforts to undermine such officials and citizen participants through bullying and legislative interference.
🏆 220### (Gauthier): Honoring the People's Emergency Center on its 50th Anniversary.
⚖️ 220### (Bass): Authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings regarding expanding Philadelphia’s mobile crisis response capacity to develop strategies and best practices for non-lethal de-escalation, crisis intervention, and restraint of individuals experiencing mental or emotional distress.
⚖️ 220### (Bass): Authorizing the Committee of Parks and Recreation to hold public hearings on the status of the City of Philadelphia’s Rebuild Initiative.
🏆 220### (Oh): Recognizing the 10th anniversary of Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Philadelphia.
📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings
(Click on the Committee listing to download the full agenda of bills and resolutions for the meeting.)
Friday, October 21st
Committee on Rules, 1:00 PM - the committee will hear three bills establishing overlay districts: Bill No. 220658, “Nelson Brown People’s Village Overlay District”; Bill No. 220661, “Yorktown Neighborhood Overlay District”; and, Bill No. 220662, “Nehemiah Homes Overlay District.”
Monday, October 24th
Committee on Commerce & Economic Development, 1:00 PM - the committee will hear Bill No. 220813, amending the ‘2021 Public Health Emergency Leave’ Act to “establish additional leave time under certain circumstance, modify existing provisions concerning the paid sick leave, and make technical changes” and take testimony on Resolution No. 220648, to examine “what the Philadelphia Water Department is or could be doing to take advantage of new and existing federal water quality infrastructure funding to address chronic sewage overflows in overburdened communities.”
Friday, October 28th
Committee on Streets and Services, 10:00 AM - the committee will take testimony on twenty-eight (28) bills related to streets, including parking regulations, street strikings and encroachments.
Tuesday, November 1st
Committee on Rules, 10:00 AM - the committee will hear testimony on Bill No. 220418, clarifying certain Zoning Code provisions and making technical changes; Bill No. 220769, authorizing Animal Husbandry Use on a certain location in Fairmount Park; and, Bill No. 220776 changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within the Far Northeast.