And the last we heard, how much of that was used? About only 100,000 of the 3 million was used.
Okay. Mayor Street appealed our contract because he stated he couldn't afford $10 million over a 5-year period to fund hepatitis C. The Philadelphia Fire Department, last, the EMS Program pulled into the General Fund $16,539,000 went to the General Fund from the men and women of the Philadelphia Fire Department, and Mayor Street can't afford 10 million over 5 years 2306 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET to help hepatitis C? There is something wrong with this picture, and I really, really appreciate having the honor to speak before youse today. There's something wrong with this.
Miss Logan, before you start your testimony, we do have quite a list of witnesses to testify, and we're giving every witness three minutes in which to testify.
Thank you. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Sure. My name is Angela Logan, L-O-G-A-N. I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Angie 2307 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET Logan, and I am the Assistant Child Care Director for Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth, the advocacy partner for the Childcare Matters early childhood initiative. I am here today to urge you to support increased funding for the City's child care, health and safety fund. The health and safety fund originated as a partnership between Childcare Matters and the City of Philadelphia, with each contributing $85,000 to the program. Since June, the fund has provided small grants to 112 child-care programs to help them meet fire safety code, improve playground safety, and make accommodations to serve children with special needs. More than 2000 of Philadelphia's children have benefitted from this program. Child-care programs often lack resources to make even minor improvements to address basic health and safety regulations. Child-care programs have an especially hard time because the State reimbursement rates do not cover the true cost of care for child-care programs, and child-care programs are limited in what they can charge by what parents are able to pay. 2308 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET The fund is critical for helping resource-poor programs meet quality health and safety standards. Without this fund, programs would have delayed making basic improvements that protect children's safety. Health and safety funds can be used for a variety of purposes to improve the health and safety of child-care programs. Funds can be used to assist providers in complying with local and State governmental requirements, to help programs serve children with special needs, to exceed minimum safety requirements through best-practice standards, but most importantly, to ensure that children are not injured while they are in child-care programs. Three key areas that the fund addresses are: playground safety, which is the most likely location for injury to children in child-care programs; food safety; and fire safety. While the purpose of these funds is laudable, the amount of funding available is nowhere near what is needed. The health and safety fund provides grants of up to $1,000 to family child-care homes, up to 2,000 for group 2309 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET homes, and 5,000 to child-care centers. Group child-care homes and centers are eligible for an additional 5,000 for a qualified fire detection system, but the cost of many of these improvements is far greater than the grant provides. For example, a fire detection system costs at least $15,000. Here are just a few examples of how these funds have make child-care programs safer and healthier for our kids, and I would be more than happy to supply the City Councilmembers with other stories of constituents within their districts who were able to address the health and safety needs of their children. In the Northeast, Minuette Taylor, a family child-care provider, was able to install safety doors. ) Day Care updated her fire detection system and made her outdoor play area safe for children. Sky Blue Academy in West Philadelphia used health and safety funds to install a wheelchair-accessible ramp to make it easier for children to access her facility. This program 2310 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET also installed fire doors for added safety. ) Smith of South Philadelphia was able to install radiator covers, a garbage disposal, and a carbon monoxide detector. Unfortunately, demand outweighs the supply for funding for this program. In Fiscal Year '99-2000, a total of 207 applicants requested over $500,000; yet only 83 were funded. Only 11 of 95 applicants were funded during a second grant 12 cycle. Indeed, only 12 percent of eligible 13 child-care centers. Seventeen percent of eligible 14 group child care homes and 15 percent of eligible 15 family child-care providers were awarded grants.
16 Currently the CCRD, which administers 17 the programs, has $479,000 in outstanding 18 requests, but only $138,000 available. It is 19 obvious from numbers that there is strong demand 20 for this program. Let me speak for a moment about why child care is important for children, families, and Philadelphia's economic health. Child care is important to Philadelphia's economic viability. We know City Council is concerned with keeping 2311 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET families and businesses in Philadelphia, and child care is one such service that enables parents to work and stay in this city. Child care is also a business that generates tax revenues for this city. Quality child-care programs help children do better in school, especially for at-risk. Other states support children by investing heavily in both quality child-care and preschool, because they know that quality child-care and preschool programs are essential to preparing children for school. City Council has shown its support for increased standard-based outcomes in its City public schools. We ask only that City Council be just as concerned with our youngest children's early-childhood educational experiences. And lastly, child care is important for families. Today, 60 percent of Pennsylvania's families have one or both parents in the workforce. And welfare reform has been successful, in large part, due to families who are able to leave welfare for work because they have access and can afford child care. We urge you to support a $600,000 2312 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET annual appropriation for the City health and safety fund as you participate in the budget process. Keep children safe and happy in regulated child-care settings by helping the child-care providers help meet health and safety standards. In addition, we would like a line item in the budget so we can better monitor funding for this important program. By providing these funds, you will ensure that for many more child-care programs can provide safe and healthy environments for children. Thank you.
Thank you very much. We appreciate your coming in to testify.
The National Student Union: Pop Dixon, Carole Jones, Ebony Jones, Jeremy Kaplan, and Day Augustine. (Applause.) 2313 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET (Philadelphia Student Union members in audience hold up signs.) (Witnesses come forward.)
All right. Would you identify yourself for the record, please, and proceed with your testimony.
My name is -- my name is Day Augustine, and I am a member of the Philadelphia Student Union. (Applause.)
The reason I'm here testifying is simple. I go to West Philadelphia 2314 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET High School and I am attending a school for aviation and an ROTC program, but I live in the Wynnefield area, which is several miles from the school that I attend. So I must take a bus. My grandmother's on a fixed income and it is very difficult for her to put out $36 every month just for me to go to school and get the education that I so rightfully deserve. (Applause.)
There has been many times when I have had to miss school because my grandmother and I couldn't afford tokens. When I was in my sophomore year, there were multiple cases when I couldn't go to school. In fact, the reason was because I didn't have the transportation to get there. During that time, I was very serious in graduating in three years, but instead of that happening, I ended up failing a class because I didn't have tokens, and now instead of graduating in three years, now I have to go to school my senior year and make up that class that I failed. (Applause.)
You know, the craziest thing 2315 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET about it is, I'm not the only student that has this problem. There are many students in the Philadelphia School District that seem to have this problem, and that's why we're here today pretty much. I think we deserve free tokens. The public school is supposed to be free, but if we have to pay to get there, it's not really free. (Applause.)
Our access to school as well as our education is free, because you have to keep in mind, our parents pay taxes for us to go to school. I mean, regardless of the fact that they may not pay a lot of taxes, but they pay taxes for us to get to school. And I see it this way: If we are allowed to get free tokens, then that means more students will go to school, more students will graduate, meaning that they won't be out in the streets and getting in gangs or with drugs, or even worse, hurt or killed. And it's just as simple as this: I want to go to school to learn, but I need your help to do it. 2316 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET Thank you.
Hello. My name is Ebony Jones, and I live at Cecil B. Moore, near Cecil B. Moore, and I attend Simon Gratz High School. I enjoy going to school also, and I'm very serious about getting my education. My mother has four children that attend public high schools. She spends $144 a month on school tokens to send me and my siblings to school and back. I believe that school is very important in a child's life and I would hope that you have the same beliefs as I do. (Applause.)
I think that $145 a month is too much to pay for a free education. (Applause.)
I'm not speaking just for myself. There are lots of other students in a similar situation. Some students are ashamed of letting people know that they can't afford tokens, and that's why some aren't here today. 2317 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET (Applause.)
What I am so adamantly asking you is to consider not voting on the budget until you come up with a plan to make tokens free or more affordable for public school students. (Applause.)
We understand that you don't have to vote on the budget until the end of May so that gives you time to find out a solution to our problem. You are our leaders. (Applause.)
You are our leaders, and we look up to you, and it is your responsibility to take -- it is your responsibility to take action in this tragic situation. We can tell that money is no issue, you know, when we see the stadiums. When City Council wants something done, it happens. Everyone says that education is paramount, and this is your chance to prove it. (Applause.)
Good evening. 2318 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET
My name is Jeremy Kaplan. I'm a senior at Masterman High School. The most valuable asset of our future is young people, specifically students. We will be the City's next doctors, the next lawyers, the next City Councilmen, or even the next City's SEPTA drivers. We're tired of being overlooked, taken for granted, and taken advantage of. Our newly-elected mayor, John Street, has a large focus on improving the quality of our city's schools. The Student Union feels that we should start with lowering the cost of public transportation for students. (Applause.)
We pay three times more than our peers in Boston and more than four times the students in San Francisco. (Applause.)
What is the reasoning behind this extreme inequality? Do these other cities simply place more value upon getting their students to and from school than we do in Philadelphia? (Applause.) 2319 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET
In an effort to illustrate our predicament, we'd also like to draw comparisons to our fellow Pennsylvania cities like Pittsburgh and Erie. In both of these cities, transportation to school is free. In response, people say, All right, Philadelphia is a larger city than Pittsburgh or Erie, so their system wouldn't work like it would work in Philadelphia. In theory, that may sound good, but the largest city in our nation, New York, has worked out a system to also get their students to go to school for free. Why are we still paying $36 a month? (Applause.)
This is not a small amount and this is not a small issue. Transportation costs can have large effect on an experience per student. It can be the difference between attending a magnet school or a neighborhood school. It could also be the difference between buying food for a family with four children or paying $144 a month for tokens. The Student Union has come up with a plan to reduce the cost of tokens for all students. In order for our proposal to be carried 2320 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET out successfully, we need the support of the City Council. (Applause.)
First of all, we would like SEPTA to stop charging the School District for transfers. That way, the School District could use that money to reduce the price for families. The School District has estimated that alone would drop the cost of a pack of tokens by $4. We are also asking that the City Council withhold $2.3 million from SEPTA unless they agree to stop charging the School District for transfers. We believe that it is fair to ask SEPTA to give this discount to students. SEPTA discounts for senior citizens and other groups, but currently gives no discounts for students. In addition, we would like City Council to contribute an extra $2 million to further reduce the cost of tokens. With this extra money, the School District would be able to drop the price of tokens to a reasonable amount, or at least competitive with these other cities. (Applause.) 2321 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET
Our third suggestion to you is this: We call on you to use your position to find the means from the State, the City, or other resources to make tokens free. (Applause.)
We know that you have the money. We have witnessed you find billions of dollars for a stadium, or stadiums. (Applause.)
You seem to be able to find funding for these that you feel are important. Well, this is one of these issues. You make it work when you want to, so make it work. (Applause.)
We are demanding that you not vote on your budget until you find a provision to reduce the price of tokens. There still is time, because you do not have to vote on your budget until the end of May. Our responsibility is to go to school; your responsibility is to get us there. Thank you. (Applause.) 2322 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET
I would like the record to reflect that there are approximately 40 students here with signs. "We want to learn to learn." "Help us."
And we certainly want to thank all of you for coming in and testifying this evening. Thank you very much.
I'm sorry. Would you mind taking your seats again. Councilman Rizzo, do you want to be recognized?
Thank you, Madam Chair. Rather than speak to one of you, I'll speak to all of you and everyone in this room. Until we resolve this problem, a very kind person in this city -- and it distresses me to hear, Day, that you couldn't go to school because you couldn't afford the token, so we need to do 2323 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET something, and do it quickly. But, but until we get this resolved, there's a very kind person in the City of Philadelphia that has a foundation, and she helps young people that have this same problem that you described today. And her name is Mary Mason, the Mary Mason Foundation. And she gives -- and people -- and it needs to be justified. So if you know anyone that's in a situation that you ever were put into, please reach out to the Mary Mason Foundation. If you can't figure out how to do that, you call me, Councilman Frank Rizzo, and I will put that student in touch with the Mary Mason Foundation, because that really distresses me to hear what has occurred to you. And because of the kindness of Mary Mason and her ability to have this foundation, hopefully, until we resolve this problem, we can avoid this ever happening again. Thanks.
I think that I can speak for the rest of us, that we do extend our gratitude to Mary Mason, but we don't feel that it's her responsibility, and that's basically -- 2324 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET
So don't cut off your nose, you know, to spite your face here. If you have a person that needs some help between now and when we have it resolved, if you don't want it, maybe someone else does. So --
Excuse me, I'm not saying that we don't want it, and I said that we extend our gratitude to her for it, but all I'm saying is that we are here today because we feel that it's the City's responsibility.
We understand that, and that's why we're here and I'm here to listen to you.
Ellen Maenner. 2325 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET (Witness comes forward.)
Good evening. My name is Ellen Maenner, and I'm a ward leader for the 7th Ward, and I am here today to speak out against Prevention Point, the needle exchange program. I am aware of some of the studies, but not all of them support the conclusion of the needle exchange program reduces the transmission of HIV, as you know it. I believe the needle exchange program sent the wrong message to our children. They seem to be condoning illegal drug use and conflict of efforts in reducing illegal drug use. The root of our problem of spreading HIV through needles sharing is drugs. Remember, this is a major part of our drug culture, not recognizing the real problem. And the increase of numbers of needles that circulate not only add to the AIDS epidemics in the long term. There are numerous numbers of for urban underclass of (indiscernible) suspected of social engineering and willing to exploit them, as they have been 2326 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET exploited in the Tuskegee experience -- experiments. I remind you that the needle exchange program would not take place either in Center City, Northeast, Chestnut Hill, Manayunk. But the needle exchange program, however, has devastated the effects of the West Philadelphia, Kensington, South Philadelphia, and North Philadelphia. If needle exchange has ever become legal or allowed to operate legally, it will be the ultimate scenario. More tax dollars will needed to fund a provision of more needles for more people to use drugs and contact HIV. We'll be running -- it will (indiscernible). It will put them in immediate cost of medical care, like your firemen with hepatitis C. We put all our firemen and policemen and everybody else, our community, at risk. Taxpayers should ask themselves, why are they willing to pay for more drug use and continue their destructive behavior in consequences of our society and holding the outstanding providing the safety and healthy environments of ourself and our children (sic). 2327 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET Furthermore, to allow illegal activity such as PPP, Project Needle Exchange, to continue will once again to send the wrong message to our children. I've had a meeting with the Health Commissioner, who was here today, and asked him if he knew that this was illegal; he did know it. I brought 80 dirty needles here today and have turned in 150 at the last meeting with him. There are some legal technalities (sic) about this program. Not one tax dollar money is allowed to be spent on this program. The cards, which I do have an example of, when the police stop these people with drugs on them, they are told they are not allowed to take the needles because the City of Philadelphia allows them to have these needles. I've brought copies of everything here. Act 64, I believe it was two years ago. I have met with City Councilmembers and showed them Act 64, where it was illegal and the executive order. There was never no hearings held on this executive order. The executive order, you're supposed to have a hearing held within 30 2328 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET days of that executive order. That has never happened. So $300,000 of our taxpayers' money is being misspent, and the City is paying for it.
Mary, did I understand you to say earlier, before you testified, that those needles were found in front of your property?
I have found 150 with John, who works with the needle exchange van. He came out, he wanted to know why I was attacking the van. Now, spend one day with me, and he did do that. He picked up 150 dirty needles. I have children living on my street. We had ten dead bodies in one month on my street from drug overdoses. We had over 1,000 drug overdoses. We've lost Episcopal Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital. Okay? Now, this has become a real problem in our community. These people don't care. They're out there for the money, that's it. There is no 23 one out there saying, Let's go into drug rehab. If we took this money and spent this on drug rehab, really, we'd be doing better services for 2329 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET our community and our tax dollars being spent properly. (Applause.)
But to continue somebody continuing this, it's wrong, it's illegal. And if you're going to support this needle exchange program, you better also have them accept the responsibility for lawsuits, because somebody who dies, it's just like a drug dealer. If somebody gives somebody a bad batch of drugs, they could be held for murder. So I think the City should be responsible. You have 132 firemen with hepatitis C out there. What do you think they're doing to our communities, what do you think they're doing to the people who live in them communities. This is an illegal program, and it should be stopped here tonight.
Councilman 2330 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET Rizzo would like to make a statement or ask you a question.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Ellen, I know how involved you are with this issue, and we appreciate all of the work you do in your community. I spoke with Director Estelle Richman, and I'd appreciate you surrendering that bag of needles to the sergeant-at-arms and she will make sure that they are properly disposed of.
I dispose of these needles my way: I take 'em to the hospital. By giving her these needles, the number of needles that are supposed to be exchanged and the number of needles that are supposed to be returned, this will give 'em 80 needles that would have not been returned to the needle exchange, that they would have had credit for. I take these to Episcopal Hospital, and they are disposed of there.
Well, I'm again offering you to surrender those to the sergeant-at-arms, and Miss Estelle Richman will 2331 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET make sure that they get disposed or properly.
Thank you. And thank you so much for coming in to testify.
There is one other thing. This program was operating within 50 feet of schools and churches, and they had meetings over this. And Estelle Richman did move it from five of the locations. But if you look under State law, this is illegal. There's no danger in them needles. They have been. . .
Thank you. Thank you very much for coming in. Thank you. Our next witness?
Good evening, Council President Verna. I'm here tonight. My name is 2332 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET Glenn Gross, and I am representing my wife, Beth Gross, who took ill on Monday morning and is currently in the hospital. So if you don't mind, I will read her information for her.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Again, my name is Glen Gross. My wife, Beth, and I live in Center City Philadelphia. Beth would like to impart with you that during the last three years, she has spoken with many people who use public transportation in Philadelphia. So far, Beth has collected by herself over 23,000 signatures of people who agree with the no-strike requirement for SEPTA. She has provided these signatures to many public officials, including Governor Ridge, Mayor Street, Representative (indiscernible), Representative John Perzel, State Senator Vincent Fumo, and (indiscernible) President Harry Lombardo, as well as you, Council President Verna. She appreciates the opportunity to express her views and concerns with respect to ensuring uninterrupted public transportation in 2333 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET the City, where over 800,000 people rely on the service every day. Seventy thousand of these riders, as you have seen, are students. They rely on SEPTA to get to school. (Indiscernible) opportunity for all of them. Public transportation is a center service for the people who live in the City with no private transportation in order to get them where they need to go. SEPTA is funded by primarily State and local taxes. Please acknowledge the inequity between those of us who use public transportation and those who have cars to gain access to employment and jobs. The mobility that is provided by SEPTA enables us without cars the freedom to go to work, school, and employment places. The household income of SEPTA riders is relatively low. Two-thirds of your riders -- I'm sorry, two-thirds of the respondents to a recent survey said that they were annual household was less than $35,000. Public transportation is a service which is paid for but then never provided during the last SEPTA strike. People who bought TransPasses as well as TransPasses were never 2334 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET provided the service they paid for. They were never reimbursed, and they were expenses that they paid for. Living and working in the City, where millions of taxpayer dollars used to fund the public transportation, we are entitled to wake up a working SEPTA. And in gathering the 23,000 signatures for support of a no-strike policy, Beth became aware of nearly 200 people who lost their jobs because of the 1998 strike. Over 50 students were unable to attend their own graduation. Beth wishes to be able to attend this services that she, along with thousands of other Philadelphians, have paid for directly or indirectly through here their tax money. To date, no single approach has consistently been implemented to ensure the riding public uninterrupted contract negotiations without escalating conflicts. (Indiscernible) make a contribution to remediation, but it falls short of (indiscernible) available. Correspondence has been received from Babette Josephs, State Senator Vincent Fumo, and John Perzel sent a letter today in support of a no-strike clause. 2335 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET To close, John Perzel, who has specifically asked his staff to study the possibility of expanding (indiscernible) or of the public employee relations that would prohibit strikes while providing a form of binding arbitration for contract disputes to include public transportation workers. Please help Beth to prevent the fear that is experienced by public transportation users everywhere every three years when SEPTA negotiates a new contract. One way this could be achieved is by implementing a no-strike clause. However, if you are aware of a better way to ensure that the rider services are available to everyone, I would be pleased to work with you. Beth thanks you for your time and your willingness to hear her issues. Thank you very much.
We certainly appreciate your taking the time to come in and testify, and we certainly hope your wife is feeling better.
Thank you. 2336 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET And I'm sure that we will all look into this issue.
Good evening, Council President Verna and honorable City Councilmembers. My name is Joseph T. Zemartis, and I'm a business agent for AFSCME, Local 222. I represent Recreation and Fairmount Park employees. I'll try to make this testimony brief as possible. As a union representative and a City resident, I am not only concerned for my members but the conditions of the deteriorating recreational park facilities. At this time, there is no problem with the Department of Recreation. I would like to commend Commissioner Vic Richard for the wonderful job that he has done to lead and guide the Department on the correct path to benefit the citizens of Philadelphia and also to 2337 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET members that work for the Department of Recreation. My concern tonight is for the employees of Fairmount Park Commission. I have met with the director and his staff. Together, I thought that we might eliminate ongoing problems of an understaffed and declining workforce. Unfortunately, the same problem of underfunding keeps arising. At one time, the Fairmount Park Commission employed approximately 700 employees. Today, the workforce is around 200, and of these, one-third to a half are in supervisory positions. No wonder there is such a drastic backlog for tree removal, pruning, and areas around the City where cutting grass is ignored. I was here Friday, February 16th, for Director Mifflin's testimony regarding the Fairmount Park Commission's FY 2002 Operating Budget, and I am troubled by the director's failure to request additional funding. It is very unfortunate that the present and past administrations cannot support Fairmount Park at a greater level than presently exists. 2338 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET I am here to testify that the Fairmount Park Commission does in fact need an enormous increase in our FY 2002 budget before this beautiful park deteriorates from the inside out. As you know, it's the largest inner-city park in the United States and it is our city's greatest treasure. My next issue involves the Fairmount Park Rangers. For over years the park rangers 11 have fallen short of reaping the same benefits as 12 civil service employees. It is imperative that 13 City Council consider making these 19 park rangers full-time civil service employees. Be reminded that the City considers the rangers essential personnel during citywide emergencies. Here are some other vital reasons should become civil service employees. They operate City-owned vehicles that are repaired at Shop 282, the car barn. They are located and dispatched from City-owned facilities. They have security codes for City buildings and their alarm systems. They have keys and access for City parking lots and different district locations. They work with City-owned equipment and City 2339 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET office supplies. I have talked to several City Councilmembers on these issues who agree that Fairmount Park Commission is substantially understaffed and underfunded in all of these aspects. I urge you to join with me and your colleagues in fully supporting the needs of the Fairmount Park Commission. This concludes my testimony, Madam President and honorable Councilmembers. And I would be glad to answer any questions about this testimony.
Can you tell us when the Fairmount Park Commission had 700 employees?
And you say 20 of the 200 that we presently have, approximately half of them are in supervisory positions?
Yes, 75 to 100 are in supervisory positions, that's correct.
Okay, the Chair recognizes Rizzo. 2340 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET
Madam Chair, thank you. Mr. Zemartis, I do remember the days when there were 700-plus employees in the Fairmount Park Commission, but could you maybe elaborate on how we've been able to do what we do? And I understand we're not, in your opinion, doing the job that we once did with City employees, but have they been split supplemented by private contractors? The tree removal is not done, in most cases, the Fairmount Park Commission directly; I believe they're subcontracted a lot of that work out. Do you know of other privatization or do you know of any contracts now that are in place with the Fairmount Park Commission doing the work of those 700-plus employees?
Most of the work, Councilman Rizzo, is done by contractors.
The people they have now are basically for special events. When the contractors don't show up, they use these people to cover up what the contractor misses. 2341 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET
So what basically you're saying is that replacing the employees and doing the work currently required in Fairmount Park, there are private contractors doing those tasks?
That is correct. And as we all know, little by little, as contractors move in and the employees and the equipment leaves, prices go up, and we end up losing in the long run. That's what I'm concerned with, long-term issues.
Thank you. Can I assume that perhaps among the 700 employees 15 or 20 years ago, they may have been under the SETA program?
Were they 2342 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET under the SETA program?
That's not correct. With SETA and the mounted police, it was probably close to to 1300 employees. 6
Okay. 7 Are there any other questions or 8 comments from members of the committee? 9 (No further questions.) 10
Good evening. Please identify yourself for the record for the record.
I would like to talk about 2343 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET Prevention Point of Philadelphia.
I would like to talk about Prevention Point of Philadelphia, the City's needle exchange program. As a former employee of the needle exchange program, I would like to let you know that it's a misuse of taxpayers' dollars. They promote prostitution, they print up pamphlets like these, "Tricks of the Trades," with taxpayers' dollars, telling people to get their money up front, telling women to wear something fashionable. They print up other pamphlets telling people how to smoke crack successfully. I have never seen a successful crack addict yet. Smoke crack before you go to work, smoke crack after work. They tell people basically again and again that you should inject drugs safely. Their idea of injecting drugs safely is to have people get high in their building at Third and Girard, which is their main office. They hold groups there that are supposed to teach people about HIV 2344 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET and AIDS. Instead of teaching people about HIV and AIDS and the spread of transmission, they have people that are getting high in the basement. It's basically a shooting gallery. That's their idea of what have they call "harm reduction." They have doctors at their sites -- that's what they tell their participants. They're just medical students. These students come out in groups of 30, they have a medical van. Inside this medical van, these people actually think that they're seeing doctors. They're medical students. They're cutting open wounds, cleaning out abscesses, lancing boils. All of this on a van, okay? One of my neighbors collected these syringes. These are clean, by the way. Now, all of these syringes were collected by one of my neighbors. My neighbor's no drug addict. She just feels as though if she goes to the van and collects syringes, there will be fewer more syringes that will be left out in the streets of Philadelphia. Okay? Every week, my neighbor goes over to the van and gets seven more syringes. They give 2345 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET syringes out to people from New Jersey, Delaware. People come as far as New York. Prevention Point of Philadelphia sets a bad example. They give out syringes behind McMichael Elementary School every Tuesday morning at 37th and Brown?
Yes, 37th and Brown. I believe that's Miss Jannie Blackwell's district.
Okay, Prevention Point of Philadelphia also gives out syringes on Wednesday morning behind the Performing Arts High School in South Philadelphia. They feel as though, oh, it's okay to give out syringes at that time because school's in session. It's not okay to give out syringes behind the school. They leave behind broken syringe points, orange caps, bottles, cookers, all types of drug paraphernalia. It's a shame.
Thank you, Madam 2346 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET Chair. I just needed to try to get some additional information with regard to the gentleman's testimony. Now, did I understand you to say that you were a former employee of Prevention Point?
Well, when I originally went there, I actually believed in the organization and the work that they did, until actually, when I got there, I realized that the work they did was not to stop the spread of AIDS or HIV. Basically, all their employees are there just to get a paycheck. And basically, the whole idea of the organization is to keep people getting high, keep giving 'em clean syringes, and we can maintain a job.
The reason why I left is 2347 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET because I didn't agree with them teaching prostitution, telling people how to smoke crack successfully, and they were not really promoting people to get into drug rehab or treatment. They just continuously wanted people get into their van and exchange syringes week after week after week. They didn't make their exchanges responsible at all.
I understand that and I heard most of that story. Did you resign your position?
Thank you. Are there any other questions or 2348 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET comments from members of the committee? (No further questions.) (Applause.)
Thank you. I just again would like to request of the Chair, if there is some opportunity, the testimony that we just heard was -- I'm not sure if I'd try to characterize it, but the Director of Social Services and former Health Director of the City is here, and I've not talked to her obviously between that testimony and right now. But I do think that it's the kind of situation that may need some level of clarification, if not possibility some clearing of the record. We've had tons and tons and hours and 2349 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET hours of discussion about this particular issue. I don't know the gentleman, I don't know the circumstances of his employment. But, you know, we have all, I'm sure, experienced some situations where, in a post-employment environment, certain things may be said about a company or an organization or entity, and so I think that at a minimum, there should be some equalization of comments about such a very serious public health matter.
And I totally agree with you, and perhaps after the two witnesses that we have at the table testify, we will call Estelle Richman up.
Thank you. McMichael School is my area, and McMichael School -- it's not far. McMichael School is at 36th and Fairmount, and he's talking about 37th and Brown, which is not far. But the needle exchange program is -- 2350 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET Brown Street has many lots, vacant lots, and it's part of what we're talking about for renewal in my area. We have a lot of vacant lots there. The needle exchange program has been there for a while and for several years. And, basically, the community supports it. I've been out there, I've seen it. And it's -- it's not directly behind it, but if that's the issue, I respect varying people's different opinions, but I will say that for that community,, the needle exchange program is appreciated and supported by the adults who live there. If that's the question.
And I know that the people who testified earlier are still here, and I just want them to know immediately after we hear testimony from the two witnesses at the table, we will ask Estelle Richman to come up, okay. Please identify yourself for the record for the record.
My name is Shira Walinsky, and I'm here through the Mural Arts Program, and I'm just here to encourage you to 2351 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET keep supporting the Mural Arts Program. I've done one mural and hopefully will do some more. I'm working at Olney High School, and it's a great program because it works intensely with a small number of kids who may not have had any art experience, and it helps them to discover themselves, it helps them learn new skills, it helps them to improve their communities. So I would just say the proof is just to look at all of the murals in the City and look at how they've really helped the communities and helped to change the look of the whole City. So I'm going to be really brief and just say, please keep supporting the Mural Arts Program. And this is one of my students, Cherie Harris.
My name is Cherie Harris. I think that we need more money to get more paints and stuff for our murals, and we need more canvas for our murals. And that's all I have to say.
Thank you 2352 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET both so much for coming in to testify.
And we in Council truly support that program. It's really a wonderful program.
Thank you. May I ask Estelle Richman, the Director of Social Services, to please come up since there has been an issue that has been brought out this evening. People are still here and I would like you to have the opportunity to please explain about this program. And you heard what the complaints have been. (Witness comes forward.) COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: The needle exchange program has been -- I'm Estelle Richman Director of Social Services, City of Philadelphia. The needle exchange program has been operating in Philadelphia for approximately nine years under an executive order by Mayor Ed Rendell. The Philadelphia program has actually been one of the more successful programs in the country, with one of the highest exchange rates. 2353 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET In other words, the number of needles turned in and the number of needles turned in for exchange is usually in the high 90 percent range. We have -- the program started with two sites, expanded to three, and the newest site is in West Philadelphia. The purpose of the program is to prevent HIV. There's also a strong effort to be able to work with people who are at the exchange to encourage them to enter drug treatment programs. Some have, many do not, but the effort to continue to have them do that continues. The program does have as part of its staff students from the Jeff Home Program. They are supervised by an attending physician. As you can imagine, no medical student is allowed to provide any kind of medical care without supervision from the folks at Jefferson, and they are very vigilant in doing so. Obviously, I am not there to examine all of the activity that's going on a day-to-day basis, but the Behavioral Health office of the Coordinating Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs does monitor the program. 2354 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET There has been literature developed at times that we have -- that had not been pre-approved by the Director of CODAAP or AICO. Consequently, we put in a very tight monitoring program that Prevention Point or any other of the AIDS or drug and alcohol providers cannot develop material without having it reviewed first by the directors of those programs and subsequently by me before any of those. We did do that this year in response to some material that we agreed probably should have not been approved before we had an opportunity to review it. If there are other issues that I can clarify, I'd be glad to do so.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Thank you. Director, again, constantly, we hear and defend Prevention Point. We hear these complaints. Could you provide to the Chair this report that you just reported on where this program request is allegedly a very successful and model program. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Yes, I'd be very 2355 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET glad to do so.
Also, have you convened professionals within your organization and in the Health Department to examine exactly how this program is administered? Because I know that sometimes you're surprised by things that you see, and I don't mean to put you on the spot, but I surprised you with a document tonight that you claimed that you've seen before. And I would hope that we would examine this very carefully to make sure that the allegations that we're hearing about being set up behind schools, and I know that there's a criteria of 50 feet, and that doesn't sound very far away, 50 feet. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: I don't think -- I think it's not 50 feet, I think it's 50 yards, but there is a distance, there is a criteria. And we have made sure that they weren't -- I will go back to make sure there is no encroachment on that, but we have moved sites that we felt were too close to a school or to any other building where there would be children.
Director, the taxpayers of the City of Philadelphia pay for this 2356 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET program. And if this is a good program, it should be limited to people who live here in this city, or in this region. I have gotten a call from a father asking me, as a member of City Council, from a child that lives in the State of New Jersey, and it was stated here tonight that we have people coming from out of state to take advantage of this program to get their syringes. I have a parent who was absolutely in tears, saying that his daughter on a weekly basis comes to Philadelphia, picks up clean syringes, and returns to New Jersey. Now, I guess the bottom line is that we're helping -- we're being helpful to a human being, but should this program be allowed to supply people that come from out of state to get clean syringes? COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: The -- no. The program needs to be focused on people in Philadelphia. However, they do not ask for I.D. when people come to the program. There are -- my belief is, and the belief I believe of the people who monitor the program, is that the number of people who use it 2357 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET from out of state is a very, very small percentage. And if one or two people are coming from out of state in relationship to the hundreds of people that are using the program, we probably aren't going to effectively begin to -- have to -- be able shut that down.
Director, it's easy to throw out a number of 1 percent. You just said you don't know. SECRETARY RICHMAN: We don't know.
So don't throw a low ball at me because it's not really fair to do that. You don't know how many people are coming from out of state. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: We do know that most of the people --
Well, look at this young man that just walked in here with a whole bag of clean syringes that the person that got them was not HIV-positive and was able to collect as many syringes basically as she needed, whoever the person was. But my point being, do we need a hearing to examine this thing, to look at it very 2358 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET carefully to make sure? Because we constantly hear about the problems, and we also hear about the good things. But if there's any -- if there's some concern that possibly it's not being administered and the people that are -- you know, you're the former Health Commissioner, and for me to surprise you with that document tonight, it kind of got me a little bit. And again, I'm not -- it's just that I think we need to sit down, either a select group or this entire Council, to see exactly how this program works. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Councilman, we really monitor this program very tightly. I have not seen that particular card before. I would be very surprised if Mark Bencivengo has not seen it. But I'm not sure that the card is a major part of our problem. I actually -- also, the card, as you explained it to me, is used as identification by the people who use the exchange. That may be an opportunity for us to make sure that it is a Philadelphian that uses the 2359 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET exchange and not someone from out of state.
So it's like having a Mac card. You have to show your card before -- that's okay, that's okay. That works. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: And I can find that out for you, but I don't want to leave you with the impression that no matter how tightly we monitor this program, we're going to be able to assure you that everyone who comes to the needle exchange is going to be someone who lives within the boundaries of Philadelphia.
Okay, and I'm very realistic that this is a difficult audience that you're dealing with, that this is a very a tough program to administer. I wouldn't want to have any responsibility in making sure it runs right. But, again, we had a Mayor's executive order that was signed in the previous administration. And the question is, does this current mayor want to continue this program? And the statement was that he does. And if he does, then I would think that this mayor would want to make sure it's run as efficiently and as tightly as humanly possible. And, again, there's area for 2360 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET mistakes and there could be flaws in it, but I think a new reexamination of the program, understanding all of the documents that are associated with it, where it's positioned, how it's run, I think that that's not an unreasonable request. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: No, Councilman, and we will continue to monitor this program very tightly and to assure that all the requirements and procedures that we had originally requested that they follow are continuing to be followed and that all of the safeguards continue to be there. And I will again make sure and talk to the Deputy Commissioner who is in charge of this program and his staff and request from them both a report on a program and that the safeguards are continuing to be in place.
And you can understand that there are a lot of people listening tonight, watching here that depend on syringes to keep them alive, people that have diabetes, and I don't see those folks -- would those folks be able to go to one of these exchanges and bring in their old needles and get 2361 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET clean ones? COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: The folks at the exchange do not inquire as to the health reason from one requesting an exchange, that's correct.
So if they wanted, then they could. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: That is correct. The key for us in the program is to prevent people from dying from HIV, and indeed the program has shown to decrease the number of HIV by ingest injection drug users.
And you will provide the Chair with -- COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: And we will provide the --
-- the data that substantiates that success. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: That is correct.
Thank you. Maybe it would be better if we all understood how this program works. Would you walk 2362 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET us there how this needle exchange program actually works? COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: The needle exchange program is funded by the Coordinating Office of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Programs, the dollars that go to Prevention Point. Prevention Point sets up, I believe, four sites in different parts of City. The sites typically run from one to two hours, Saturday or different days of the week. During that period of time, an individual can bring needles and are given exchanges for those needles. If you bring in needles, you will get 15 20 fresh needles. The needles that you turned in 16 are then appropriately disposed of so they are no 17 longer a danger for those needles that are 18 returned to us. 19 The exchanges rate is approximately, I 20 don't know, 95 percent. I really would have to get back to the folks at CODAAP to give you the exact exchange. They are exchanging a high number of needles, somewhere -- I'm not sure they've crossed a million, but there are several hundred thousand needles that are being exchanged. If you 2363 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET only took a small percentage of those, you do have needles that are not being exchanged. When they come to exchange needles, they also receive alcohol and other material that can hopefully help them take care of themselves and to ensure their own health. They also are provided with materials around HIV, the dangers of injection drug use. They're also given materials on where they can seek help for their drug addiction, where there may be methadone programs and detox programs. While we do spend $300,000 on this needle exchange program, we spend approximately in the City $60 million on drug rehab, detox programs, and other opportunities for people to treat their drug addiction, and we are constantly giving people opportunities to come into drug addiction programs. And the needle exchange program is one way to reach some of the people who've been most resilient in listening to us to come to drug programs, which makes them highly susceptible and vulnerable to the HIV virus.
Thank you very much. 2364 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET
Thank you. May I again add that before it started, when the site in Mantua was selected, I went out there and went to the van. In fact, the people welcomed me, they were glad to see me out there. As I said, it was on vacant lots. I even have a ward leader in my office for the area. I have not had one complaint in the years it's been there that it wasn't needed. This area is one of the highest infant mortality in the City. It's an area where we have a lot of -- we've had a lot of drug problems. It's an area where we've had the -- some years ago, some of you may remember the women that were killed in Mantua, they were found molested with bags over their heads. We've had many numerous problems in Mantua. Drug problems, infant mortality problems, you name it, we've had problems. In fact, it's adjacent to Mill Creek, where we had the Lex Street massacre. So we are really trying to do all we 2365 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET can. We have an excellent family center at McMichael School, we have a principal in the school that's doing what he can to reach out to the community, notwithstanding that this community needs help. And as I said, this is the first in the year since it started that I've ever heard a complaint. I've never heard anyone say anything than it was a fine program and that it worked well. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Thank you. And, Madam President, I will make sure that you get the research material and the current material on how this program is operating in Philadelphia.
Thank you. Just one moment, please. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
I'd just like to follow up. I'm smart enough to know that that this program is not going to go away, but I would appreciate the fact that this program is run efficiently and it plays by the rules; that if they publish materials, that it gets approved 2366 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET through the approval process; that if it's supposed to be 50 feet or 50 yards, it's 50 yards or 50 feet away from a school. For the record, Director, could you tell us -- I understand we're getting to the point where we're now providing over a million syringes a year, a million. Is that good number? COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: I don't know whether it's over a million or not, but I'm sure it's several hundred thousand and pretty close, but I --
Well, when you were Health Commissioner, it was several hundred thousands, from what I remember. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Yeah.
And from what I understand, it's risen now to be over a million. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Okay, I'm sure that's close, but I can't give you an exact number, but I can find it out.
Okay, but I think this is a really serious program, and Councilwoman Blackwell indicates how pleased the community is with it, and I'm happy about that, but I'm sure 2367 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET the community would be pleased to know that this program is running as effectively as possible and that the people that really need the needles are getting them and not people that are just testing the system or coming in from Pittsburgh or New Jersey, that we keep the out-of-pocket expense -- again for the record, could you tell us in real numbers now, how much are we spending, City dollars, on this program? SECRETARY RICHMAN: I don't have those numbers in front of me.
Could you provide it to the Chair. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Absolutely. We will provide you with a full report on the program, all of the regulations around it, and the research that has been done at the national level.
Terrific. Because I think I would love to be put in a situation where I can say that I believe the people that write to me, that call me to discuss this with me, that I believe that this program is running well, running the best it can. Because, again, this is a very difficult program to manage. I wouldn't, again, 2368 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET want to be a part of that. COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: This is a very difficult program to manage, and it will always have some controversy attached to it, but we will continue to try to make sure that it's as safe as possible for the people who use the exchange as the people who live in the community where the exchanges happen.
Like the point you just made, you come with needles, you leave 12 with 20. Well, one for one, is that absolutely 13 necessary? You know, I don't know if a person 14 needs to come with 20 needles and leave with 20. 15 You know, I don't know whether that's good, bad, 16 or whatever, so I'd like to better the program, 17 and after I read it from cover to cover, I'll 18 understand it better. 19 COMMISSIONER RICHMAN: Certainly, 20 Councilman. If when you read it, you continue to have questions, I would be glad to meet with you along with Mark Bencivengo and anyone else on his staff that monitors the program personally.
Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. 2369 2/27/01 - FY '02 OPERATING BUDGET