COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON LAW AND GOVERNMENT Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Monday, April 6, 2026 10:25 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON, CHAIR COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA, VICE-CHAIR COUNCILWOMAN RUE LANDAU
Good morning. I now note that the hour has come to begin today's hearing. Clerk, will you please call the roll to take attendance. Members who are in attendance will please indicate that you are present when your name is called.
I am present. Thank you. A quorum of this committee is present and the hearing is now called to order. This is the public hearing of the Committee on Law and Government regarding Bill 17 No. 260263. Clerk, will you please read the title of the bill.
Bill No. 21 260263, an ordinance to repeal in its entirety Bill No. 241056 (approved March 10, 2026), entitled An Ordinance Providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to eliminate the requirement that City officers and employees resign from their City office or employment before becoming candidates for public office; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election; and to rescind the direction provided to various City officers set forth therein.
Thank you very much. Are there any colleagues of the committee who would like to make opening remarks? (No response.)
Seeing none, are there any witnesses here to provide testimony for today's hearing? UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: (Inaudible).
Pardon me. Give me one moment. I'm talking about witnesses right now. (No response.)
Seeing there are no 13 witnesses for the public hearing, are there any individuals present to give public comment regarding today's hearing? Clerk, will you please call the names that we have.
Please approach the witness table and state your name for the record. Okay. Thank you, dear.
And while she's approaching the witness table, are there any additional individuals here to provide public comment for today's hearing? (No response.)
Okay. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you for coming. Please state your name for the record and then proceed with your public comment.
Yes, ma'am. My name is Sloan Ebony King-Wolf. So good morning. I also go by China. I'm the founder and creator of Legacy Roots Housing Initiative, LLC. Legacy Roots is a Philadelphia-based platform focused on modular-ready housing, strategic land activation and implementation- centered community development. My work sits at the intersection of housing production, workforce opportunity, and neighborhood stability.
Thank you. Thank you very much for your public comment. We appreciate you being here and thank you so much for your great work.
Thank you, dear, for coming. Thank you so much. Are there any further witnesses here to provide public testimony or public comment whose name has not been called? (No response.)
Are there any further witnesses here to provide public comment or testimony whose name has not been called? (No response.)
Seeing none, that will conclude the public hearing. We will now begin the public meeting on the previously mentioned bill, which is Bill No. 260263. Clerk, will you please call the roll to take attendance. Members who are in attendance will please indicate that you are present when your name is called.
Chair Gilmore Richardson. I am present. Thank you. A quorum of the committee is present and the Chair recognizes Councilmember Landau for a motion on Bill No. 260263.
Thank you, Chair. I move that Bill No. 24 260263 be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
The Chair notes for the record that Councilmember Squilla seconds the motion. It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 14 260263 be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading at the next session of Council. All those in favor will indicate by stating aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Bill No. 6 260263 will be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation with the request that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading at the next session of Council. There being no further bills or resolutions on the agenda, this concludes the business before the Committee on Law and Government today. Thank you very much for your attendance and your participation. Thank you, colleagues. (Committee on Law and Government concluded at 10:35 a.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I, hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence noted are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me in the foregoing matter, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. ______________________________ TANEHA CARROLL