2341 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - CONTINUED - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania February, 29, 2000 1:30 p.m. - - - BILL 000005 - An ordinance adopting the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2001 PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA, Chair COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILMAN FRANK J. DICICCO COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN ANGEL L. ORTIZ COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO - - - VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 561-2220 2342 BILL 000005 PAGE MAYA BURNETT, Family of Dell East ........... 2343 DENNIS R. WINTERS, Philly Walks ............. 2347 TOM CRONIN, AFSCME District Council 47 ...... 2354 SHELLY YANOFF, Philadelphia Citizens for .... 2359 Children Youth VIVIAN VAN STORY, Community Land Corporation..2373 CLAUDIA CRANE, Recycling Advisory Committee and Solid Waste Advisory Committee ..... 2374 KIMBERLY NICHOLAS, Clean Air Council ........ 2378 SUSAN GOBRESKI, Clean Water Action .......... 2383 RICK BUTLER, Dogtown Civic Association ...... 2394 BILL CARAPUCCI, Acting Commissioner of the Recreation Department .................. 2398 LAUREN BORNFRIEND, Friends of Philadelphia Parks .................................. 2400 SALLY KENNEDY, Greater Germantown Recreation Network ................................ 2405 JANE BORGERHOFF, Victim Services Agencies ... 2414 CHALYNN HARRIS .............................. 2416 JACQUELINE KEMP ............................. 2417 FRANK CERVONE, Support Center for Child Advocates ............................. 2421 ESTHER MCCREA MIKE MCCREA, Philadelphia Recreation Advisory Council ............................... 2427 DEIDRA LYNGARD, Mural Arts ................. 2444 SANDY SPICER, Mural Arts ................... 2448 SCOTT MAITS, Philadelphia Trolley Coalition. 2453 LAURIE WARD, Children Youth and Family Council ............................... 2464 MAURICE SAMPSON, Solid Waste Advisory Committee ............................. 2474 LAURENCE MOY, Commissioner, Streets Dept. .. 2495 SHEILA HARPER, Public Health Center No. 9 .. 2503 BRAD THOMPSON, Park Budget ................. 2526 RUTH BIRCHETT, Heritage Community Development Corporation ........................... 2530 JOANNE FABIAN, Fisher Park Community Alliance .............................. 2545 BILL CARAPUCCI, Acting Commissioner of the Recreation Department ................ 2550 2343 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 P R O C E E D I N G S
Good afternoon. Thank you all for your patience. This is a continued public hearing of the Committee of the Whole on the operating and tax bills. Our first witness today is from the Robin Hood Dell East. Miss Burnett. Good afternoon kindly identify for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Good afternoon, President of Council Ann Verna, Honorable Members of City Council, distinguished guests, and commissioners. Would the Family of the Dell East please stand? (Family of the Dell East stands.)
Thank you. My name is Maya Burnett and I'm the president of the Family of the Dell East. We have a Council board of 12 hard-working members representing a citywide membership of 358 season ticket subscribers. My presence here today is to help continue the focussing of light on the need to support our wonderful institution that is the Robin Hood Dell East. We are presently in need of 2344 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 a permanently increased appropriation of operating funds. Dell East is a summer treasure and oasis for inner-city residents and many thousands of regional patrons, many of those who grew up being entertained on hot summer nights in the cool of East Fairmount Park at the Dell East concerts and programs. The pass 28 years, which was the last quarter of the 19th century, the City of Philadelphia and the Department of Recreation has frugally and phenomenally programmed and funded the operation of the Dell East. The biggest names in the history of music, particularly rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel, and urban have performed for the City's most appreciative audience. The Dell East is most known throughout the country as one of the most outstanding summer amphitheaters featuring the best family entertainment and talent at the most affordable cost. The Dell East essence of entertainment serves the cultural needs of a diverse population consisting of the Irish, the Ukrainians, the Latinos, and the African-American and Caribbean community. There is a vibrant tradition at Dell 2345 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 East. Its setting is most unique. The best acoustics in the region are evident as you listen to music at the Dell East. You feel the warm vibes and family presence. You know you are safe and comfortable. Most importantly, you feel as though you are most appreciates and valued at Dell East as a patron. It is this tradition that must continue to be protected and nurtured. Changes in our economy and the priorities of all time, schedules has done a double whamy on the Dell East. On one hand automation and efficiencies has increased our leisure time opportunities. Yet on the other, the high cost of doing business has restricted our purchasing power and reduced our ability to present higher quality events. For that reason and others, we are here asking you, City Council and the current City Administration, to continue to program outstanding events at the beautiful and loved Dell East. We would like to enter this new millennium with restored vigor and vitality knowing that we will continue to leave a legacy for the next generation, a legacy that we cared, we preserved, we protected the music and tradition that is known as the essence of the 2346 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 entertainment at the Robin Hood Dell East. The facts and figures of the increased operating appropriation is a modest figure of $135,000. The management of the Department of Recreation and the General Manager Warren Haskins of the Dell East can best elaborate on the details of our monetary requests. However, the Family of the Dell East is committed to focus on the light, on the communal and City government needs to support this worthwhile cultural tradition in this wonderful city of neighborhoods that is known as Philadelphia. This definitely is not the last time we will present to you here in Council. The Family of the Dell East is multiplying and we are ascending towards a much better program and venue. We are currently training young talent in the disciplines of the business of music with an eye on preparing the next generation to assume leadership roles in preserving their music, culture, and institutions. A quality culture is evident by the diversity and acceptance of all preserved subcultures. Government throughout the world support and nuture their arts, as we know Council will do, in helping to perpetuate the 2347 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 tradition of Dell East by your endorsement and vote of confidence.
Thank you to all of you for allowing me to speak in your Chambers and may God bless you and may blessings be upon all of you. I invite all of you to come to any of our meetings whenever its appropriate for you.
Thank you very much. Are there any questions from members of the committee? (No questions.)
Thank you so much for taking the time out coming out to come in to testify. (Applause.)
Over our next witness is Nancy Lavin. (Witness comes forward.)
Ms. Lavin is out of the 2348 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 country on family business. I'm Dennis Winters, and I'm on the Board of Philly Walks and I've been asked to enter testimony in her place. President Verna and Honorable Members of Council, my name is Dennis R. Winters, Secretary of the Board of Directors of Philly Walks, Incorporated, Philadelphia's pedestrian advocacy group. I am also a policy analyst in the transportation area for the Clean Air Council. Thank you for this opportunity to address the Fiscal Year 2001 City budget. The Philly Walks Board of Directors and members have asked me to appear before you today to express organization's frustration with the lack of enforcement of laws and regulations that impact directly on the safety and accessibility of people who walk in Philadelphia, namely, everyone. We are frustrated with adequate enforcement. Philadelphia is one of the most walkable cities in the nation. It's narrow colonial era streets and tight grid system beckon to visitors celebrating Philadelphia's historical significance as well as residents simply walking around the block for a quart of a milk. There is a persistent problem, 2349 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 however, that greatly impedes those on foot, namely, the lack of adequate police enforcement of the laws and regulations that pertain to motorists and bicyclists. Philly Walks is aware that Center City District Police have made sporadic attempts to educate and enforce laws designed to make it safe to walk on Philadelphia sidewalks and cross Philadelphia streets at intersections. But both the cyclists and motorists continue to use the former and latter, respectfully, carelessly at best, and more often with reckless disregard to pedestrians also occupying those spaces. Philly Walks does appreciate the educational forays that Lieutenant Schmidt and his bicycle officers have made in Rittenhouse Square to apprise bicyclists of the prohibition of riding on the sidewalks if over 12 years of age. This effort has found that most older cyclists on the sidewalks are unaware that they are breaking the law and they react obediently when told. This educational effort must continue, even if implemented sporadically every few weeks or so. It also needs to take place at various locations 2350 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 throughout the City. And where the offenders repeat or truly bicycle with abandon through pedestrians on the sidewalks, they should receive at a minimum a ticket carrying some kind of monetary penalty. Red-light running, including illegal right turns on red are pandemic in the Philadelphia area. So is speeding, a particularly hazardous activity given the City's narrow streets and curb parking. Philly Walks would love to see enough funding set aside for traffic enforcement on an ongoing basis, here again, even if it is done only sporadically. Motorists might become a little more law-abiding if there was a realistic threat of occasionally getting caught. A similar strategy used by state law enforcement officials on heavy trucks using Philadelphia area highways has shown excellent results. Philly Walks and other groups of pedestrians have been told by Commissioner Timoney and other high-ranking officials of the Philadelphia Police Department that the lack of funding has been the chief reason for non-enforcement of laws an regulations that will 2351 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 not only save lives, but improve the quality of life in the City for anyone who has to walk anywhere. Thank you for your time.
Thank you, Madam Chair. How are you, sir? I have to ask you a question. Are you familiar with the City's policy on bump-outs at intersections.
Has your organization participated in formulating that policy?
We think they're a great idea. But one thing, when you widen streets to 2352 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 include a lane of park, which we may or may not support, providing the bump-outs keeps the distance that the pedestrians have to cross at a minimum, and we think that's a good thing.
Okay. There are certain intersections that apparently bump-outs are being proposed and there's not a street widening project. I'll give you an example. One in particular, Broad and Cecil B. Moore, Temple just built its new complex and there's a bump-out there and the street was not widened and the bump-out was placed there to, obviously, shorten the distance that pedestrians had between the streets. But I'm hearing from vehicular traffic that there's an issue with respect to making those turns. That's why I was wondering were you involved in the policy of the locations of those bump-outs.
Is the new bump-out into a travel lane or into a parking lane?
It traditionally was into a travel lane in that the parking was set back from the corner originally, so people obviously were coming around and cutting that 2353 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 corner.
Well, if it's an incursion into a travel lane, I can see where that might be a problem.
Okay, so in some instances it could potentially a problem based on where they're located? Because in talking to the individuals that requested that it be installed there, they felt that it wasn't an issue with respect to vehicular traffic.
I'd really have to see the application to know whether it was appropriate or not. It doesn't sound like it was.
Excuse me, sir. I just wanted you to know that one of the our deputy police commissioners is in the audience. I think he's heard everything you said. Maybe you would just like to have a side-bar conversation with him and maybe we can come up with something that would address your concerns.
Thank you, Madam 2354 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 President.
Thank you. Tom Cronin. (Witnesses come forward.)
Good afternoon, Madam President. This is Mike Walsh who's the secretary treasurer of AFSCME District Council 47.
We do plan on submitting some written testimony, however, not today. I just wanted to use the two or three minutes allotted to make a couple of points that are very important to the people in District Council 47 concerning the whole budget process. Those points, briefly, are the need for early negotiations with the City of Philadelphia. Two, our concern about health and welfare information. And three, our support of the City's efforts along with the union in RGI, the Redesigning Government Initiative that is now 2355 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 working in a number of departments. Madam President, first of all, with early negotiations, District Council 47 has a strong concern, and we have expressed this to the Mayor privately as well as we've expressed it publicly, that the need for early negotiations with the City unions has to be of paramount concern. When I say that traditionally, we start labor negotiations in the late spring. However, because we're dealing with a new Administration and we have all four municipal contracts are due, and as we know, also every major hospital contract in the City of Philadelphia, I think, expires as well this summer, we have the Republican National Convention coming in town, we have the AFSCME International Convention coming in town, we have the Teachers National Convention coming in town, and I know that you folks have a full legislative plate as well as the Mayor, I know, has a full plate in front of him. I have said to him and I'm urging City Council also to say to him that it is conceivable that nobody wants a problem, but unless we start sitting down and talking, you could stumble into a problem inadvertently. I 2356 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 said that to the Mayor. I've also said that I think that we ought to start with the issue of the health and welfare benefits. And the reason I think that is because that is the most emotional, the most contentious, and the most difficult issue in front of, I believe, all four City unions for these contracts. m. in some smoke-filled hotel or motel room to get this decided. So I would urge the Council to join with us in urging the Mayor to sit down and bargain quickly. With respect to the health and welfare issue, one of the difficulties that we have as a union when we review the five-year plan, we find that the figures are there for the FOP the, figures are there for the fire fighters, the figures are there for AFSCME, although it's not really broken down between District Council 33 and 2357 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 47. However, we see a lack of information, a lack of figures when it comes to the non-represented City employees, the managers, and we feel that really in order to make some decisions on a difficult issue, we need that additional information. So that would be really the second point I make. And finally, with respect to RGI. With RGI, the union proposed the RGI program in 1992. It was rejected by the City Administration then. I'm talking about redesigning government. It was finally accepted in 1996 by the Rendell Administration with the -- and put in the contracts of District Council 33 and 47. Now, the results of the RGI initiative have been exactly what we said that they would be, that every place that it has been tried, it has either saved the City money or produced more services from City workers and it's been a win-win-win, a win for the City Administration, a win for the union, and most importantly, a win for the general public. I was able the other day to catch the labor relations of the City of Philadelphia testifying, and the question of RGI came up and 2358 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 they said that money was put in to continue the RGI project. And I'm delighted to hear that and we support that. The only thing that I would say about that is that I think it ought to be doubled.
I think if it were doubled, what you would see is the ability to hire because we have hired two staff on grants now, federal grants. We'd be able to hire most staff, have more projects, I think improve services even more, and be able to show the City of Philadelphia that we can even save more money through the use of their own City employees. So I'm clearly here to support City's efforts. I just think it should be expanded, Madam President.
Thank you very much. Are there any questions of Mr. Cronin? (No questions.)
Fine. Thank you very much, gentlemen. 2359 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 (Applause.)
Good afternoon. I'm Shelly Yanoff, Executive Director of Philadelphia Citizens for Children Youth, the region's child advocacy organization. I want to thank you for the opportunity to testify today. As you know, we advocate on behalf tens of thousands of children who are not here, but who need good public policy to improve the quality of their lives. While we do not seek at PCCY or receive funding from the City, we do seek funding for children and families of the City. As always, we ask that you deliberate and decide on issues with them in mind because they are all of our children. We will comment briefly on the budget. We are delighted with the increased emphasis on children and family needs in this year Administration's budget. We believe that the City's future lies in its children an families, in families wanting to move here, to work and raise 2360 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 children here, and to those who have always been continue to stay here. We commend the emphasis and many of the initiatives that have been announced. Specifically, we support the increased funding of after-school and summer programs to protect and support kids and help keep neighborhoods saver and families working. The creation of the Office of Child Care, the Child Health and Safety Fund, the attention to the critical role of child care in the City, the initiation of Welcome New Babies Program and other efforts to improve the beginnings of life for so many of our children. Finally, we commend the attention that is being paid to the importance of education to our city's future. But the poets and philosophers tell us that between the idea and the reality falls the shadow. And the shadow here is figuring out and maximizing the funding. Before turning to individual departments, I want to underscore that in this year of the child, we need to do more to look harder to determine whether we are being as strategic as we can be to invest now to build a future. 2361 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 We begin with health. For the 412,000 young people in the City, we need to do our part to make sure they're born and grow up as healthy as possible. The City has shown that we can make a difference in lowering the number of babies born to mothers who have not had adequate and timely prenatal care. We have cut in half in this decade the number of mothers who had babies without having had adequate prenatal care. But we all know that there's much more to do to lower the number of babies who do not develop well during their infancy. Yet understanding that we as a City have an unacceptably high number of babies who die in their first year of life that we as a City still have far too many young teens giving birth. The early childhood branch of the Health Department is being provided only a minimal increase, less than $200,000 from the General Fund. That's not enough to save our babies, to help develop programs to assist new families, to provide good solid beginnings for our City, to build on the successes we've had. We can do better. As children grow we should be able to 2362 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 make sure that the environment is as safe as it can be for our kids. The Health Department reports that about 30,000 out of about 125,000 babies and young children were tested for lead last year. That's not enough. The CDC recommends all young children be tested at periodic intervals. While we are glad that only 1,000 of the children tested were shown to have been lead poisoned, far more must be done to test our children so that we really know how we're doing and what we can do to lower the incidence of lead poisoning. This Council's support in the past in developing fair ways to protect our children from the devastating effects of lead needs to be built upon. The lead safe house that was opened this month needs to be watched, provided necessary support and, if appropriate, funding must be allocated so that it can be replicated.
We've had some success in fighting the lead epidemic. We must underline here what this Council knows well - investing and helping prevent lead poisoning from occurring or recurring is far less damaging to our wallet or to the child, family, and future than choosing not to do so. Like the budget for early 2363 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 childhood services, the proposed budget ambulatory health services is pretty much a status quo budget. We we're to make sure kids get the health care they need, we've got to make it easier to use the centers. The City's health centers should all have Saturday hours so that parents can work and kids can go to school; they do not. Families should not have to wait for routine physical health or dental treatment; they do. The proposed budget for health centers will not provide them with pharmaceuticals nor the staffing they need to provide adequate support to the children and families who are their patients. We do want to commend the Council's continuing funding support through Community Behavioral Health for preventive mental health services for our youngsters as an important addition to the resources that are being provided children. The history of health care in this City for children and families has shown that we can have an impact, but only if we focus and invest in the future. We need more support for early childhood programs for helping our babies thrive, for lead poison prevention and supports for 2364 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 infants and families, and we need those health centers open when working and schooling families get to them. Turning to the Department of Human Services' Children and Youth Division again, we commend the direction, proposed initiatives and prevention, in outcome-focused efforts, in after-school programs, in home visits, and in adoption. Again, the number of children being adopted today shows that with focused and concentrated staff and adequate resources, we can make a difference in the lives of many very vulnerable children. The record also shows that family preservation efforts in Philadelphia have paid off. We should make sure we are able to take some of the elements that work in these programs and spread them. The ability to draw on resources to help families, for example, should be provided many workers, even those not working in family preservation programs. Family centers and the prevention and truancy prevention work that accompanies them must be supported as well. We, again, support the proposed rate increase for providers, the continuing neighborhood work, and 2365 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 the outcome focus, but we are concerned that there is not enough support for the group homes and semi-independent living needs that older youngsters, pregnant and parenting teens coming into care need. Our further cautions about the child welfare budget are found in our urging that a way be found to actually hire the workers needed and proposed. Every year, the budget proposes case workers for families who are then not hired, not trained, and not able to assist families. The City must be able to do better than that. If resources are needed to attract applicants or to facilitate the training, the budget should reflect and respond to that need. We cannot lower the caseload to worker ratio or to improve training and support without developing and supporting new strategies for attracting and maintaining staff. In juvenile justice, our budget comments are three-fold. First, we believe the Administration has struggled to improve the situation of the Youth Study Center, but it continues to be overcrowded and in need of repairs. We agree with new Commissioner that we must repair an rebuild and do both with all 2366 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 deliberate speed.
Second, we commend the ongoing efforts to use scientific measures of treatment interventions to analyze, identify, and support the programs that are working and to decrease the use of those programs that are not. We commend and urge the expansion of this effort. Third, we're concerned that there appears to be a serious drop in after-care programming which meets neither our understanding of the demand nor of accepted practice or legal standards of care. We believe we need to continue and expand juvenile justice prevention and step-down efforts, work toward helping the number of females in the system and provide support to truancy and after-school efforts. In Recreation, we are pleased that there's more funding to support the current after-school programs being carried over into summer programs for young people. We need the summer opportunities, but we also need more support for improving the quality of the after-school programs that are currently existing and we need to expand them. Again, the sites in which are they are situated in many instances need 2367 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 more staffing and general improvement. We urge that the department receive the funding to allow these accommodations. We thus urge that there be an increase in staffing for the popular after-school programs that currently exist, more support for improving quality, and generally improved facilities support for the recreation centers. The library presents the same issues. We support the library's after-school programs expansion with LEAP and other supports and urge that the City not defer the improvements to the library facilities that mean so much and have been models to communities around the country. A closed in a neighborhood is a symbolic and real loss to the surrounding community. It is not regained. The Office of Emergency Services' new emphasis on children is commendable. The new coordinator of children's programs and the emphasis on improving the programs supporting children are important and critical at this very vulnerable time in too many of our children's lives. 2368 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 The new Administration has proposed a bold plan to heighten awareness in response to children's needs. We urge this Council to underscore that emphasis by not conducting business as usual. We urge you to ask in every arena, what will this budget action mean to the children and families of this City? How can we help to make sure that babies are born healthier, that they get the health care and protection and support they need when they need it? How can we help to get to scale in quality after-school programs and child care opportunities, in family support, abuse and neglect prevention? What would happen if before you voted on any budgetary item, you asked, what will it mean to kids and families? And then answer the question, whether it's about stadiums or SEPTA or tokens or libraries or hospitals or schools or streets, by voting to make sure there's a priority for kids and families. When this Council and this Administration ask and answer the impact on children question, you would then have created a budget economically sound and filled with hope for the future. Thank you. )
Thank you, Madam Chair. Shelly, it seems that every year we go through this process and some of us here in Council do listen and then we propose certain recommendations. And the aspect of making health care more accessible by, one, keeping the centers open later and on Saturdays. And it seems that it is such a rational recommendation, such a common-sense recommendation. Because if we are going to make it available to -- and now that with welfare to work legislation in place, people that are going to work really are not there to go during the morning and they cannot miss work because if you miss work in those programs you don't go back the next day. So that it makes sense, and I don't understand why we are not following up. And I hope that the new Commissioner of the Health Department when he or she comes in would look at 2370 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 this recommendation and begin implementing a plan that goes towards that, but we need to help to be able to mobilize the people to be able to get that plan off the ground. Once again, I thank you for your agenda because it becomes our agenda here in Council.
Let me echo the sentiments of my colleague Angel Ortiz with regards to us to doing more for kids, and you have been at least hearing the dialogue around school tokens and what the City can do better. Answer for me two things: Who do you believe the stakeholders should be at the table? And what proposed solutions need to be talked through and worked through with those stakeholders?
I think clearly this 2371 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 Council and its chosen leadership on this issue and a member of the Administration and SEPTA and some representation from the State. I see that SEPTA is proposed down for a $2.8 million increase in this budget. We have discussed over the last several months a proposal that would have SEPTA just not charge the School District for transfers which would safe the City and the School District $2.3 million. It seems to me that there's a lot of -- there should be a lot of give so that our kids can get to school without the kind of burden that so many of them have to face. Councilman DiCicco held meetings last year and held a hearing about this and heard there were so many students who we were encouraging to stay in school but who had to confront very hard issues in their family about what they could do, because $9 a week per child is just too much. We can at least begin by cutting the high cost by not either not charging the School District for transfers which would make it $5.50 instead of $9 a week, and then we can turn to the State and say, "You should support with TANF dollars that you have that are excess at least the amount of 2372 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 children whose families are cycling off welfare should be then supported." But we've got to take first step here.
Do you think an opportunity exists and we may need seize the moment with regards to the tobacco settlement and registering where we view some of those dollars can be targeted?
Well, I would like to believe that the tobacco settlement would be used to help a lot more children. But this state, unlike some others, has chosen to only use the tobacco dollars for specific health care, and we think health care is good, but it doesn't -- it's not broadly -- the State is not currently broadly interpreting health care.
One final follow-up, we heard clearly from SEPTA that, and I quote, "Someone has to pay for it." So given that and given the pilot program currently in place at University of Pennsylvania, what's your thinking behind that program as a considered option?
Well, I think if SEPTA provides a 5 percent discount to the University of 2373 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 Pennsylvania students, then Philadelphia schools, public and parochial, should get a percent 4 discount. That should be the basic minimum. 5 (Applause.)
That $750,000, that is a beginning. That would lower the costs right away.
My colleague, Angel, we're on the same page. Thank you very much.
Kim Nicholas and Susan Gobreski Pennsylvania Clean Air Council, you're next. (Pennsylvania Clean Air Council witnesses come forward.)
Welcome. Would you identify yourselves for the record and begin your testimony. Thank you.
Good afternoon, Council. My name is Vivian Van Story, President of Community Land Corporation. I'm here on behalf of the Recycle Alliance of Philadelphia. 2374 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 The chronic neglect of North Philadelphia communities by all levels of government has resulted in blighted deteriorated communities that suffer from health and safety issues because of these recycling and -- because of this recycling and education of the communities are essential components to improving the quality of life. We asking the support of the City Council and all its politicians to establish an effort of a variety of programs that will overcome these problems. We trust that the problems will be implemented with a deliberate speed. Thank you for your attention in allowing Community Land Trust Corporation to testify. Thank you. (Applause.)
Hi, I'm Claudia Crane. I'm with this group because we're concerned about the same issue. I'm scheduled to speak a little later probably, but I'll be quick. My name is Claudia Crane. I'm a member of the Recycling Advisory Committee and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee as a representative of Philadelphians for recycling. Also, in the '80s and early '90s I ran 2375 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 a partnership with the City in PhilaPride (ph) to do a highly successful community recycling program in my neighborhood. I fear for the future of recycling in Philadelphia, particularly curbside recycling. With the abrupt departure of the City's recycling coordinator, the lack of an appointed Streets Commissioner, I fear that recycling may become a bit of a stepchild in Mayor Street's Administration. Joan Bitori (ph), the City's most recent recycling coordinator did great job. Denied the funds by the City for education promotion for the weekly pilot areas, she raised her own funds when recycling rates increased in those areas, an average of percent in the first 17 7 months. That seven months' data is how we got 18 so far on weekly collection. Until we get an 19 appointed, not acting, Streets Commissioner and 20 Recycling Coordinator, those who clearly champion 21 recycling as the best way to handle our City's 22 waste or any waste, I fear that the promising data 23 from the first seven months of the weekly 24 recycling pilot will be disregarded. I think I understand the attitude that 2376 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 believe is afoot in certain sectors of the City Administration. I believe it goes something like this: It's cheaper to pick up and dispose of waste as trash. Why bother with recycling? We've got other more pressing problems competing for attention. That attitude is wrong for many reasons, but I'll only mention two and I won't even bother getting into the environmental reasons. I could go on and on and on about that. But the two reasons are this: The first one is, the genie's out of the bottle. Whether the Administration likes it or not, recycling is here to stay. Citizens like it and they want it weekly. Can you imagine the cry that would arise if the Administration decided to stop recycling collection tomorrow? Secondly, recycling costs can effectively compete with the cost of trash collection disposal. Figures in the first seven months of the weekly pilot in Center City area particular are promising. But to show real cost effectiveness, we have to expand weekly recycling citywide and promote it so citizens know what to do and when to do it. 2377 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 At the Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting yesterday, we were told that the money for continuing the weekly pilots as they are now is in the Fiscal Year 2001 budget. I was also told that in June the Streets Department will be evaluating the weekly collection pilot with eye toward possible expansion in Fiscal Year 2002. This is fairly good news, but plans, just plans, to continue weekly pilots as they are now and plans to evaluate for expansion guarantee nothing. It's a critical time, time to push harder and make it better. City Council must see to it that the weekly recycling continues, thrives, and expands with properly appointed recycling champions at the head of the recycling office in the Streets Department. In the recycling office the appointee must receive a salary commensurate with recycling coordinators in other major cities and have a well-defined budget to spend and the authority to spend it. Right now City Council, especially in the absence of an appointed recycling coordinator, must demand regular reports about the progress of weekly collection, including education promotion 2378 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 efforts using the reporting framework so well defined and developed by Joan Bitori.
Assurances that I get from the meeting that the money for continuing pilot is, quote/unquote, in the budget, is not enough. City Council should know where the money is for the recycling program, you know, where it is buried in the Streets Department budget, how much is allocated for each line item including education and promotion, and should track Streets Department's spending on the recycling program to see to it that the money allocated is actually spent. Thank you very much. )
Good afternoon Madam Vice Chair and Members of City Council. My name is Kimberly Nicholas, I'm a policy analyst at Clean Air Council here in Philadelphia. Clean Air Council was founded in 1967 as a citizen-based nonprofit to address pollution in the Delaware Valley. The council works through a combination public education, community advocacy, and oversight of government enforcement 2379 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 of clean clear air laws. There is participation in the City of Philadelphia's Recycling Economic Development Consortium, the Recycling Advisory Committee, and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. The council has worked over past years to 7 monitor and advise the City on plans to ensure 8 implementation of environmentally and fiscally 9 sound waste reduction and management policy. 10 I'm also here on behalf of the 11 Recycling Alliance of Philadelphia, a coalition of 12 neighborhood and environmental groups working to 13 improve recycling in our City. The alliance believes that there are four goals that must be achieved for recycling in Philadelphia to be a success: Hiring a full-time professional coordinator for the Philadelphia Recycling Office, expanding weekly recycling to cover all of Philadelphia's neighborhoods, developing an effective and comprehensive plan to meet the City's waste reduction and recycling goals that includes an educational focus, and implementing institutional recycling for businesses, city-owned and operated premises, the airport, the sports complex in South Philadelphia, and schools. 5 pounds of waste per day, much of which is thrown away. But there really is no away. This waste has to go somewhere, and its disposal causes tremendous problems for society. Throwing away may means that waste accumulates in rapidly filling landfills leaching toxic chemicals and releasing the greenhouse gas methane. Alternately, it may be incinerated and release large quantities of dangerous pollutants into our air. Much of what is now thrown away, including paper, cans, bottles, plastic, and yard and food waste can and should be recycled. Recycling saves energy and natural resources, creates jobs, and reduces pollution. Many major cities have adopted a curbside weekly recycling collection program. Weekly recycling collection is a municipal service that all Philadelphians deserve. The pilot program to test weekly recycling has been tremendously successful. When weekly recycling is offered, recycling rates increase substantially. Weekly collection is one critical component to make our recycling program succeed 2381 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 in Philadelphia, but the City also needs a long-term recycling plan as a guideline to reduce wastes and increase household and commercial recycling efforts to meet the rate targets set by the City and State law. City Ordinance 1251A established mandatory recycling in Philadelphia in 1987 and set the goal of recycling 50 percent of waste by 1991. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania passed Act 101 in 1988 which set the goal at percent by 1997, 12 increasing to 35 percent in the year 2002. 5. The strong strategic 17 plan that will help the City to determine how to 18 increase its rates to meet its targets. 19 Philadelphia cannot sustain an 20 increased recycling rate without an educated group 21 of recyclers. Residents need to know exactly 22 what, when, and how to recycle their wastes. The 23 also need to be informed about the reasons to 24 recycle and the benefits of doing so. The City 25 needs a sustained, comprehensive, fully-funded 2382 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 education plan to ensure a successful recycling program. Residents need ongoing education to make recycling a convenient habit. Education must include media broadcasts, neighborhood level information campaigns and curricula directed at school students.
Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education has developed a lesson plan for elementary school students for the recycling office of the City of Philadelphia. This colorful, interactive plan to teach kids how and why to recycle is an example of education that must be supported to make recycling a success. In conclusion, Clean Air Council respectfully urges City Council to support a budget that funds a full-time recycling coordinator, supports an expansion of weekly recycling to cover all of Philadelphia, makes a long-term strategic recycling plan, including education, a top priority, and implements institutional recycling. Recycling is a municipal service that residents demand and deserve. The City must ensure that the tools are in place to make a successful recycling program in Philadelphia a reality. 2383 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 Thank you very much for your time. I'll be glad to answer any questions. )
Good afternoon, Council President Verna, Vice President Blackwell, and others Members of Council. I'm sorry to be redundant but it is a message that bears repeating. I'm here today to talk to you about recycling being right, it being smart and it working. I work with Clean Water Action which is a grassroots environmental organization with about 5,000 members here in Philadelphia. Clean Water Action a founding member of the recycling Alliance, which has brought together environmental groups, neighborhood community and civic organizations across the City to support recycling. I am also a resident of Philadelphia. I am a homeowner and I am a mother. I'm here today to ask for your support of our City's recycling program which is now at a crossroads. Two years ago I sat here and we spoke at the abysmal residential recycling rate of 6.5 percent, the need for weekly recycling to improve 2384 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 this rate, the need for a coordinator and educational efforts and the need for a strategic plan to improve recycling in the commercial, residential, and municipal sectors. And today I'm here again to talk to you about the need for citywide weekly recycling, a coordinator, expanded educational efforts by the Streets Department, and a need for a plan that outlines strategies to improve recycling throughout the City. However, in the past two years, much has changed. The City searched for and hired a recycling coordinator Joan Bitori with a professional background in recycling and a clear commitment to improve the recycling rate.
Excuse me one moment. We need your name for the record.
I'm sorry. Susan Gobreski, G-O-B-R-E-S-K-I, and it's written here as well.
Joan Bitori had a professional background. She implemented a weekly pilot program. She teamed with area educators to develop educational programs for schools and 2385 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 worked actively to increase visibility and accessibility of the City's program. Also as Committee Members of Council remember, prior to Ms. Bitori's arrival, the City had lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for its program from State 101 grants, a fact that Councilmembers commented on at the time. Miss Bitori made sure to apply and obtain the full measure available grants. Unfortunately, Ms. Bitori has resigned and the position is now filled in staff in an acting capacity with resumes that are not as impressive as that of Ms. Bitori. The weekly collection pilot was stunningly successful. The results were thrilling, showing increases of to 32 percent 17 on average and over 50 percent increases in some 18 cases. 9 percent, which 21 is a 37 percent improvement in the City average. 75 percent. What 25 this means is that where there is weekly 2386 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 recycling, the rate is 55 percent greater than in places without weekly collection. This is the simple answer to the question of whether or not the program worked, which the Streets Department testified that it needed a year to figure out. The weekly pilot proves what advocate and experts have been saying. When provided with the opportunity and appropriate information, people will participate diversion increase. This is not to say that there are not costs. The recycling costs some money as it currently run. However, experts say that recycling can become cost-competitive when diversion rates of 15 percent are reached. The question is not are you 16 spending money for this program. For sure, we 17 spend money on programs all the time. We spend 18 money to treat our sewage and take our trash away 19 and attract business and tourists and provide 20 children with the opportunity to read and play 21 where live. The question is, what are you 22 spending your money on, is it smart, is it right, 23 are the people running the program committed to 24 making the program work and giving the taxpayers 25 full measure for their dollar? 2387 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 Weekly recycling is smart. Greater diversion will reduce our reliance on costly landfills and incinerators. Recycling creates jobs and promotes economic development. Weekly recycling promotes neighborhoods and provides communities with service and everybody knows that support for all of our neighborhoods is smart. It is one of the benchmarks of smart urban policy. Weekly recycling is right. In addition to being expensive, landfills and incinerators cause pollution that goes into all of our water and air, and these facilities are disproportionately sited in low-income and minority communities. Weekly recycling also saves valuable natural resources. We need weekly recycling right now. We need strong leadership. We need to search for and hire a new coordinator with the will to make recycling work right away. An effective recycling program, as I surely do not need to remind you, is the expressed will of Council. We need a coordinator with the ability and the support to pull together an active educational program, work with innovators and regional leaders to ensure good commercial 2388 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 participation and attract business with an interest in recycling and get full participation in municipal facilities. We need to include at least some funding for some expansion of weekly recycling in the coming fiscal year. We need City Council to send a strong message to the Streets Department. Tell them that you know weekly recycling is right, it's smart, and it works. Ask the Streets Department what their plan is to expand weekly recycling citywide this year and tell them to tell you and your constituents when weekly recycling is coming to your district.
I wanted to thank all three speakers for appearing here because what we need is a total rebirth of interest and activity on behalf of recycling. There was a time when the City of Philadelphia ranked first among 2389 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 all major cities in the United States on the recycling rate. Today, we rank nearly at the very bottom, and it is no accident because there has never been an official City policy that favored recycling. The original recycling program was developed by community groups who organized tremendous support throughout the City, got it enacted, and it has been fought ever since its inception by the Streets Department. The Streets Department has always regarded it as a toy, as a waste of money that could be better used for other purposes. The position of the Streets Department has been consistent over the years. And we depended, all of us, the community thought that there was good faith on the part of Streets Department and of the City administrations. It's not just the Streets Department alone that's to blame. Their culture never accepted it, but the mayors of the City in all these terms also accepted the notion that we ought not to spend money. Most of the money that's been spent on recycling has not been City money; it has come through grants. City has invested very, very little. Everybody knew you didn't have to be a 2390 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 recycling expert to know that when you cut down from weekly recycling, which the City began as a policy, and substituted for it biweekly coverage, you didn't have to be any kind of an expert to know that the rate was going to drop sharply, and it did. And still the City didn't believe it so for years been going on biweekly rates and then slowly said "Let's have a pilot program to see whether or not weekly recycling is better than biweekly." They didn't need that kind. That was a stalling tactic by the Streets Department to not spend any City money or as little as they possibly could. I note from your presence here today and your vigorous presentation that you intend to awaken the people of Philadelphia.
So the notion that recycling is in everybody's interest from every point of view, from an environmental point of view, from a clean water, from a clean air point of view, from a taxpayers' point of view, from every viewpoint we're stronger and a better city 2391 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 and a smarter city and a healthier city and maybe even a world-class city in considerations that are importance as the people who live here. So I hope this means that there's going to be a very active lively citizen program throughout the whole City to say "Remember the people who live here. They are entitled to clean air and clean water and to help save the environment." Thank you so much for being here today.
Thank you. I am of the mind-set that Philadelphia will never regain its status as No. 1 if we don't begin to think carefully about how we can change the mind-set or cultivate the mind-set of young people in the schools. So to that end, I am interested in hearing more about the Schuylkill center for environmental education, how old the program is based on your own criteria, is it working, have you come up with some way of measuring impact, and what clusters are participating? 2392 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005
Actually, Miss Bitori did -- they did run the first training session in January, I believe.
This past January. The program is developed and ruled out for activists, teachers, and members of the City and some of the members of the Streets Department went to the training. It was late, like the last week in January or so.
Actually, it's my understanding that it's a voluntary sign-up program.
And that they can call the Streets Department and they will be referred to and hooked up with a trainer who will arrange to go out and do it. Kim and I are both attended the training and are available for schools to 2393 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 call.
I'm not sure in what way it will be funded. It was funded in the sense that the recycling coordinator helped develop the program, but other than that, we got a packet of materials and we went to an afternoon training session. We're good to go. I mean, you should have 'em call us.
Could you make sure that through the Chair you sends us packet that your referring to, the packet of materials for the --
You'd like to see the curriculum itself for the recycling program?
Thank you very 2394 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 much. Thank you, ladies. Mr. Rick Butler. (Rick Butler comes forward.)
Yes, good afternoon, Madam Chairperson Blackwell and President Anna Verna as well as other Councilmembers and concerned citizens of Philadelphia. My name is Rick Butler. I'm chairperson of the Dogtown Civic Association.
Say that again. I'm sorry. And talk directly into the mike.
My name is Rick Butler. I'm the Chairperson of the Dogtown Civic Association which is located in Germantown. We also are affiliated with Men United Against Violence Network as well as the Chestnut Hill Breaking Bread Association. I'm here on behalf of behalf of Pleasant Street Playground located in Germantown which I grew up in. We're here -- I have some information to read and to give out to all the Councilpersons. We're here on behalf -- I'm here on 2395 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 behalf of Pleasant Street playground for need of improvement of the center itself. I'd like to read to you some of the concerns of the neighbors. The number-one concern with Pleasant at this time is lack of staffing. In October 1999 the assistant recreation center leader ceased to work at the playground, leaving the Leader II to run the playground, two school gyms, the after-school program, and basketball teams alone. As the spring progresses, there will be more activities, including baseball league, public swimming pool, summer camp, basketball league, summer jazz programs, tennis drill teams, football, for starters. The Leader II was told that no one would be hired to replace the ARL until at least July, but in the reality will not occur until August or September. Apparently on paper it states that Pleasant Playground has an ARL, but if that is the case, then someone needs to rewrite the paper. This workload for this one Recreation center person is unacceptable. The second major issue is a new building. Pleasant Street has been passed over many times for an acceptable facility, while other 2396 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 recreation centers which are newer and in better shape being replaced before ours. Pleasant Recreation Center is built in such a way that our traffic must go over the baseball field to get the to building. This includes deliver and maintenance trucks. The consequence is that the baseball is full of ruts and is completely a mess. Nevertheless, Pleasant sponsors four Phillies baseball leagues for ages 8 to 18, youth football, after-school sports activities, track, drill team, adult and senior football, all of which use the field which at this point is in a dangerous condition. The facility has no indoor bathroom except for the staff bathroom, and the staff bathroom, you have to turn the light on by standing on the toilet which is dangerous because the toilet was not until recently screwed in so that when you stood on it, it would almost tip over. Since the oil deliver truck has to deliver over the ball field to make deliveries, when ther is snow or mud, the truck can't get there. Therefore, the past winter the playground 2397 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 went for three weeks without heat. The heating system cannot be changed with the building where it sits. The building itself has no storage, is old and dilapidated, it is located in a remote and dark spot, is not set up activities in a proper way, but nonetheless, there is an after-school program, sports and cultural programs which are being attempted as much as possible. Anyone is welcome to make a tour of the premises with the recreation supervisor, Beverly Rolfsmeyer. Her phone number is listed here also. These are many of the concerns. I guess many other playgrounds are like this or recreation centers and we are trying to work as a community group and organizations to help, but we just can't do it all ourselves. And we would like support for the next budget or, like we have stated, we'd like for Councilpeople to tour the facility to see what conditions that we have talked about they're in.
Thank you, Mr. Butler. Councilman Ortiz, do you have 2398 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 questions?
Since the gentleman has come down, I wonder if we have somebody from the Recreation Department that can address these problems. It seems that this is a problem toe take place on by the Recreation Department and he might get his answer here before leaves for home this afternoon.
Is there anyone here from Recreation? (Mr. Carapucci comes forward.)
We have an acting director who will speak with us.
Thank you. Good afternoon. Please identify yourself for the record.
Bill Carapucci, I'm the Acting Commissioner of the Recreation Department.
Mr. Butler, would you please give Mr. Carapucci a copy of Mr. Butler's testimony. He's here about Mt. Pleasant 2399 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 Park or Recreation Center.
Playground. Do you have any information about that, Mr. Carapucci?
Well, off the top of my head, I couldn't answer all of these questions right now, but I will get back to him within a day.
Thank you very much. Mr. Butler, he will get back to you, the Acting Director of Recreation.
Lauren Bornfriend. (Lauren Bornfriend comes forward.) 2400 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005
Executive Director, Friends of Fairmount Park. Welcome.
Hold on one moment please. Her mike is not on. All right, thank you.
My name is Lauren Bornfriend, and I'm the Executive Director of Friends of Philadelphia Parks. And I'd actually like to indicate that on your schedule it says Friends of Fairmount Park.
Thank you. We'll note it, and the correction will be made. Again, this is Friends of Philadelphia Parks.
For all of those who have listing, it's listed incorrectly. Thank you.
I am here today to 2401 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 request increases to the operating budgets of the Fairmount Park Commission and the Department of Recreation. There are numerous ways in which increased budgets will ensure better care and maintenance of our parks and recreation centers. Today I will focus on a few. As you know, Fairmount Park --
Excuse me. Would you pull the mike a closer. You're hard to hear. Thank you.
As you know Fairmount Park is the recipient of the largest grant ever given to a park in the United States by a private foundation. The Natural Lands Restoration and Environmental Education Program, NLREEP, is a national model and people around the country are paying attention to its successes. Among the many achievements of this program is the enlistment OF thousands of new volunteers to do essential preservation work in our natural areas. The energy and momentum of these children and adults must be sustained. The Friends strongly urge Council to increase the budget of Fairmount Park to ensure that all of the 2402 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 remarkable work made possible by this private funding will continue. There are currently Fairmount Park 5 rangers. One hundred fifty are needed to 6 adequately service the park. The rangers are a 7 positive, powerful, and effective presence in our 8 parks. They are the eyes and ears of the police 9 department. They provide outreach and education 10 to our children in the parks through their school 11 programs and serve as models to our teenagers of a 12 potential career path. Yet their future survival 13 is tenuous. We ask you to support safety and 14 education in the parks that weave throughout 15 Philadelphia by preserving and expanding the 16 Ranger Corps. 17 In 1999, the Department of Recreation 18 hired 31 Seasonal Maintenance Attendants, SMAs, 19 who for the first time were assigned to specific 20 parks for 20 hours per week to do basic trash 21 pickup and removal and preparation for department 22 mowing crews. Although the SMAs did make an 23 impact, in order to be truly efficient, the 24 department needs to recruit, hire, and train greater number of permanent part-time attendants 2403 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 at a higher wage to do basic maintenance and greening. Funds allocated to maintain the required number of stable, permanent, and skilled positions will have an enormous impact on the morale and appearance of our neighborhoods. There are thousands of folks in Philadelphia with visions and dreams of what our parks and City can be. They work tirelessly day after day to revitalize the parks near their homes and workplace, the parks they drive and walk through and the parks where they take visitors from out of town. In the face of often daunting challenges, they continue to turn their neighbors around and to improve the quality of life for their families and schools. They bring economic vitality to businesses, historic sites, tourism, and cultural programming. They create beauty and serenity in our urban environment. Throughout the year see individuals and families in our parks strolling, power-walking, painting, cycling, pushing strollers and wheelchairs, picnicking, bird-watching, taking pictures, running; the list goes on and on. I have been privileged to share the 2404 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 amazement of people on hikes with historian and architect Bob Thomas as they discover the hidden treasures of Fairmount Park. I have also been blessed with the friendship of folks in small and large neighborhood parks overseen by both the Department of Recreation and Fairmount Park. These people continuously bring me back to what is important. What they all have in common is persistent dedication and the pride and passion that causes them to glow when they show off a new trash can or drainage pipe, a drug-free tot lot, a mosaic column made by neighborhood children or newly planted seedlings in their park. They could not feel more joyous about a home they owned or built themselves. The Friends of Philadelphia Parks ask our City government not to abandon these citizens. We ask City Council and Mayor Street to partner with us to preserve Philadelphia's extraordinary resources. Please allocate funds to fight blight and to provide improved care and maintenance in our parks.
As our open space and neighborhoods thrive, so will the education, pride, fellowship, 2405 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 and health of our City and region. Please increase the operating budgets of the Department of Recreation and the Fairmount Park Commission. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Are there any questions? (No questions.)
Certainly. Sally Kennedy, Greater Germantown Recreation Network. (Sally Kennedy comes forward.)
Good afternoon, City Council President and Members of City Council. Thank you for this opportunity to testify regarding Mayor John Street's budget for fiscal year 2001. I particular wish to focus on those parts that pertain to recreation in the City of Philadelphia. 2406 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 My name is Sally Kennedy and I'm Convener of the Greater Germantown Recreation Network, which for those of you who are new to City Council is cosponsored by the Germantown Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends and Advisory Council representatives from some of the centers and playgrounds of Recreation Districts 3 and 4. The network's mission to promote peace and eliminate violence in the Greater Germantown area by advocating for the children and recreation centers and playgrounds of Greater Germantown and in collaboration with other civic groups and government entities by working to develop an effective citywide recreation system. The intent is to provide children and youth with supervision, nurturance, and opportunities for growth and socialization in a safe, supervised, and attractive environment during times when they are not at home or in school. First, I would hike to congratulate you for the City Council's resolution to support a moratorium on executions in Pennsylvania. It is said that the justice system in this country is in chaos. I would like to suggest that the chaos 2407 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 starts much earlier in our schools, in our communities, and in our homes. I am pleased to support a mayor who has made neighborhood revitalization and children starting with public education and after-school programs major priorities. I have found it edifying to attend Mayor Street's budget presentation and two of his community meetings, including one on public education. I listen to the budget testimony of Acting Recreation Commissioner William Carapucci. Over the past year I have visited of the 29 13 centers and playgrounds located in Recreation 14 District and and currently the Network's 15 office is located in the Waterview Recreation 16 Center. The Network actively supported Martin 17 Luther King Day activities in Districts 3 an 4, 18 and last September with 320 volunteers from Bryn 19 Mawr College organized a day of service in three 20 centers. So we have learned something about 21 recreation in this City. 22 The Mayor is encouraging us to set higher standards for our children and for ourselves with regard to the public education system. I commend him. He points out that if we 2408 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 do so, we will certainly run out of money and perhaps very soon, but we should insist on quality nevertheless. His strategy is that the State has a responsibility to provide more funding for education in Philadelphia and that in the end the State cannot afford to let the whole system stop in a major urban setting, especially one that has housed the Republican National Convention. I don't believe that the State has same responsibility for the recreation system, but I urge us to have the same high standards for recreation, nevertheless. The Recreation Department is expected to be a partner through its after-school programs in the achieving of the City's educational goals. Mr. Carapucci's budget asks for a little over $612 million to expand the after-school program. Why expand the after-school program from 130 centers to 150 until we are sure that the program we already have is effective, especially in the communities that need it the most? There are some very dedicated people working in these programs, but there are also many programs which start and stop all during the year. Check out whether the average monthly attendance 2409 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 of 3,190 happens on a consistent basis. Community people are hired at $8 hour and you hope for a person with a high school diploma who will stick with it.
There are many troubled youngsters in our communities, and because the programs are understaffed with people with limited qualifications, there is a tendency to exclude these children. 5 million for 130 centers to cover a slight increase in pay for community workers -- people pay more than $10 an hour to have their houses cleaned -- plus $20 an hour to hire a person in each center program asking for higher qualifications and relevant experience, plus $50 per center for additional supplies. 5 million increase for the after-school program alone. That is intended to serve ages 5 through 14. Councilwoman Donna Reed-Miller asked Mr. Carapucci what about programs for teenagers? We echo her question. There is a lot of advertising now for people to become mentors. Why not a program developing and paying teenagers a stipend, especially in low 2410 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 income neighborhoods, to become mentors? There is evidence that needy children who are taught to nurture become nurtured in the process. Councilman Kenney urges us not to shortchange centers and hard-working blue collar neighborhoods who volunteer for their children. His point is well taken. However, I urge him to join in developing a strategy not to shortchange those children whose neighborhoods and families are not so well organized. Right now all centers and playgrounds are understaffed. Back in the '80s I'm told there was much more staff a lot of dynamic programing. Two and a half program staff members in an A center in a rough neighborhood just doesn't cut it. Staff ends up baby-sitting the building instead of being free to organize the number of programs that building could handle if there were more staff. There are designated 45 A centers, 73 B centers, 31 C playgrounds, and 41 playgrounds without buildings or staff except perhaps in summer, if I have counted correctly. Some may need to be re-designated. Councilman Nutter is correct, Venice Island certainly should qualify for a B designation. There is a lot going 2411 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 on that small island that compares with other B centers with large empty ball fields. You need more staff for youth programs, more staff to handle a variety of programs at the same time, and more staff to be able to promote more volunteer involvement and more senior citizens programs. I figure that to add one and a half more staff to A centers, one to B centers, and a half a staff member to C playgrounds, plus something more for training and supplies, you would need to increase the program budget by 5 million. I will leave the discussion of capital an maintenance to others except to say that Councilman Nutter's questions regarding the coordination between the sub-units of the maintenance division of Recreation Department are right on. The length of time spent to proceed with construction and reconstruction of Lonnie Young since the State funding was first mentioned in October 1997 is disgraceful. We appreciate Councilwoman Miller's recent efforts to move this project along. We commend Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown for calling for hearings on recreation maintenance and capital expenditures. 2412 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 Please be sure to look at what is or is not happening with the Waterview Recreation Center with regard to capital and preventive maintenance. One important action to support the Recreation Department's maintenance division would be to get the City to pay its bills on time. When a subcontractor does not get its payments in a reasonable matter, it simply stops working until it does, thereby messing up the scheduling of others dependent upon subcontractor first completing its work. I observed this phenomenon myself at Waterview. Other areas that need attention and additional funding include the preparation, protection, and oversight the swimming pools. You can see that what I'm seeking is probably a budget increase of at least $7 million.
I know that is a joke, but not a very funny joke. 5 million added to the budget probably to come from more than 4 million that Mayor Street says he plans to allocate for after-school programs. For the 2413 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 remaining Recreation Department programs, if you cannot see your way to adding the full amount needed, please try to add at least 3 or $4 million to support the rest of the Recreation Department's program responsibilities. Thank you.
Hold on would you, please. Miss Kennedy, hold on. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown wanted to address your statement.
You need to be assured that Members of Council, first of all, are very supportive and excited about the tremendous increase with regards to after-school programs and already there is an understanding that this has to be some collective thinking with regards to developing standards to ensure quality after-school programs, and so we need to say that for the record that we're working forward to 2414 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 working with you to be a part of that dialogue.
Miss Jennie Borgerhoff, Victim Services Agencies. (Witnesses come forward.)
I see you have a lot of support here this afternoon.
Please identify yourself for the record and begin your testimony.
My name is Jane Borgerhoff, B-O-R-G-E-R-H-O-F-F. I'm director of Center City Crime Victim Services. Good afternoon Members of City Council. I'm here on behalf of a network of City-funded Victim Services Agencies, a 2415 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 network of neighborhood-based agencies and specialized citywide agencies to see provide support to victims of violence in the City of Philadelphia. At this time, I'd like to ask the members of the agencies who are a part of this Class 250 grant to stand and read the name of your agency.
We heard North Central, Center City, Northeast, East Division, West Southwest Victims Services, and Women Against Abuse and Action Alliance for Senior Citizens for whose who could not hear. Thank you all very much for coming. It's an excellent agency, excellent, all of you.
Our goal as a network is to provide healing support to those who have suffered from a trauma of violence and to work toward creating neighborhoods where all our neighbors, your constituents, can live and work together in peace. I'd like now to introduce Jackie Kemp who will address you -- I'm sorry. I'm going to be introducing Chalynn Harris who will speak first on her experience as a victim and her experience 2416 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 with Victim Services.
Thank you. Would you identify yourself for the record? Spell your name for us, please.
Good afternoon. My name is Chalynn Harris and I was a victim of crime. I would just like to take a brief moment to tell you about the services that help me become a survivor. I was referred by Carol Park Community Council in my neighborhood to West Southwest Victim Services who referred me to Women Against Abuse who both stuck by me through my trial. Then I was given guidance through Women Against Rape. I am now receiving counseling with women in transition. I just wanted everyone to know you don't choose to be a victim, but if you are chosen, these services help you and your family get through it. I would just like to say that as a victim all of these services mentioned have, are, and will mean a lot to people like myself. Thank you.
Thank you. 2417 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 (Applause.)
Good afternoon. My name is Jacqueline Kemp and I'm the Executive Director of Northwest Victim Services. As a lifelong Philadelphian, I can only wish Chalynn that my experience was as good as yours. As a victim of an assault in 1992, I was left feeling empty and angry. If I knew then about what was available to me in terms of support and information, my encounter with the criminal justice system would have been more favorable. And this is why I am working now to try to make sure that that happens. We all know that crime is an unfortunate reality. However, we all stand as a solution which embodies diversity at its best. Our agencies are different. We serve differing communities, but we're in the heart of these communities every day reaching people when they need it most. We also are helping people who have been affected by various crime types, from automobile thefts to homicides every day, and we know that there's a lot of crime in our community. So we do however, although diverse, we share a common goal, and that is helping people to regain 2418 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 a sense of normalcy in their lives and we are working for the victims' interest. We also want to make sure that people know that victims have rights and services that are mandated to them by law, and we believe that this is an education awareness process that must continue and be expanded. People do have a right to things like crime victims compensation, which all of these agencies before you are helping to make sure that people who have had serious injuries as a result of crime be made whole financially through this crime victims compensation. We also are on site every day of the preliminary hearings, which is many times the first encounter that crime victims have with the criminal justice system. Many people have a lot of questions and concerns, and these agencies before you are the ones that are there to help them through that process. We also make sure that people know they have a right to impact statements so that the judges know the impact of the crime on the individuals and how it has affected their lives. 2419 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 Restitution in another effort to be made whole financially as a result of the devastation of the crime. And also, to be accompanied to court, to know that the victim does not have to be alone as travel through the criminal justice process. So these are the kind of things that these agencies that are before you are doing on a daily basis. Our work is very important, but we know that we don't and cannot do it alone. We're in touch with each other on a daily basis. We also work very closely with the police department. They have victim assistance officers in each district of the police department that also work with us to serve victims of crime. The DA's Office has a victim witness unit that we work with very closely, probation and parole, the juvenile justice system, together we're a web of service that can help crime victims through the trauma. So it's important to know that we do collaborate and that we are together on this thing of trying to help crime victims get better. We are advancing for crime victims who are unable to make those well-placed calls. We kind of know who to call within a system at a time when many victims 2420 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 are unable to pick up the phone because either for emotional reasons or physical. So we connect victims with where they need to be. We help our community have a broader, more improved view of agencies like the police department and the DA's Office, which sometimes, you know, has a challenge in having the best perception in our communities. So by knowing that the victims are served through these institutions, that helps people to have a better perception of the organizations.
Conversely, although we know that crime is ever-prevalent, we are working to do outreach to the community and to heighten their awareness of services that are available, rights that they have a right to, but also how to not be a victim. So we're all engaged in crime prevention efforts that can proactively help people to not be a victim. So these are efforts that we urge your support for. Mayor Street had expressed his support for Victims Services at a recent South Philadelphia celebration. And we would ask that the charged-up Councilpersons who are committed to Victim Services to be in contact with District 2421 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 Attorney Lynne Abraham to support our first budgetary increase in several years to the Class 250 budget so that we can expand our reach to the community on services that are available to people who have a need to know. )
Good afternoon, Madam Chair, I'm Frank Cervone, I'm the director of the Support Center for Child Advocates. We provided to each Member of Council at their office a statement of need and we provided some additional copies to the Sergeant-at-Arms here for the reference of Members in Chambers. We need $557,000 to begin to meet the demand for our service, and we seek that support from you in the District Attorney's budget this year. We want to assure you that in seeking your support, we aggressively raise funds on our own. Our total budgets exceed this number by 10 or 20 times. We urge you recognize our contributions, more than 40,000 victims whom we serve, 23,000 hours in volunteer service, a combined return on your investment in excess of $2.2 million. I think we helped you take a hard 2422 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 look this year at how the sex crimes cases were being handled, but most of our work is not of that very high profile kind at all. Our work is much more with brave young women like Chalynn and Jackie, with the young girl Judy who we wrote about whom I worked with myself for the better part of the past week and to a successful jury verdict. We're helping the City citizens, really like the advertisement says, one person at a time. In the horrible police district courtrooms around the district, if you want a sense of justice in Philadelphia for our victims, go some early morning to Broad and Champlost. You'll find Victim Services agencies elbow-to-elbow with defendants and victims and prosecutors and defense counsel. Go to the Criminal Justice Center where it's crowded in the elevators for an hour each morning and the courtrooms wait. Go to Family Court where some of these kids are forced to stop in their lives. We're bursting at the seams of our capacity. We need your faith in our work, we need your increased support. We know that you like us; you've all demonstrated that well and we thank you. We ask you to continue to show your 2423 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 love for us in your dollars. Thank you.
No. I want to thank all of you for your help in the hearings that we had in City Council to really try to begin to deal with this situation. And I want to know from you, for the record, have we made progress in terms of how the police are handling the cases, organizing the situation, and what is the next step? I know that we talked about a centralized unit. And what to we need for us to begin putting those final pieces in the centralized unit into place? How do we need as a Council to proceed? And what progress has been made in terms of the handling of the cases of telling the individuals, the victims, what their rights are and not just shoving them 2424 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 off to the corner when cases become difficult?
Perhaps I could start to take that up and share with our colleagues as well. The police department was bold and courageous in sending its entire cadre of new recruits to the sex crimes, to the police special victims unit, 49 detectives to review old cases. I know my office has received at least one of those cases which was mishandle and now we hope will be handled better. When those cases get reopened, our agencies will be invited in, just as we are very often by law enforcement. So you'll see a positive face to the handling of those. We need a different structure --
Other than to say for the short term those 49 officers are, in a sense, a separate command. They're all under the captain, but under a separate subordinate command for their own efficiency sake. Each of the commissioners and District 2425 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 Attorney have commit to do a collocated investigative facility for sex crimes. Council needs to make its own commitment in that direction, and that commitment will surely come in the form of some dollars, commitment of some City dollars. Building a collocated facility would --
We'd like to find out what the recommendations in terms of dollars is and what would be needed for a facility of that type.
The Philadelphia Children's Alliance is in the process of creating a planning process to put a face on the center.
And to put some numbers. It will be cheaper than building a stadium. (Applause.)
Being a baseball fan, I like the stadium idea, but I got to tell you, a collocated facility is as important to us all.
I think this is more important to the citizens of Philadelphia.
Lastly, I think that we've seen a commitment in the several 2426 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 administrations at DHS, at the police, and in the District Attorney's Office to work together to collaborate in these cases to try to do better in these cases, and I'm impressed by that.
I think we were plan to go take a trip to see the facility in Brooklyn that has been put up as example. I'd like to be able to sit down and see if we can get a group of the Council Committee on Public Safety and maybe arrange to do this with Timoney, with the Police Commissioner.
From personal experience, I can tell you that the visit to Brooklyn was eye-opening for how the place should be built and how the folks might work together. So I'd encourage Councilmembers and their staff to join us on that tour. You'll learn a lot.
Maybe we should sit down and plan that as soon as possible.
We thank the victims for their courage and all of you for what you do. It's such a wonderful, wonderful work 2427 2/29/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 that you do, and we work very closely with your counterparts in West Philadelphia. Thank you all for your service.
Mike McCrea. Mike McCrea. After Mike McCrea, the Mural Arts will be next. (Mike McCrea comes forward.)
Thank you. I appreciate you getting me a little earlier. I tried to get down here early enough today to let my younger members speak here first.
All right. Identify yourself for the record and your young, quote/unquote, member as well.