WEEKLY REPORT – PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THE RENAMING OF TANEY STREET AND OTHER BILLS THIS WEEK

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Four bills and resolutions from the November 14 final passage calendar were approved. The most notable bills and resolutions approved unanimously by Council was:

• Bill #240931 that will change the name of Taney Street to LeCount Street throughout Philadelphia.

Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District) and Councilmembers Curtis Jones, Jr. (4th District) and Jeffery Young, Jr. (5th District) introduced the bill on October 17.

The Taney Streets - located in Johnson, Jones, and Young's districts - stretches for more than 30 blocks from South Philadelphia to North Philadelphia and ends in the Allegheny West neighborhood.

After nearly five years of passionate advocacy by the Rename Taney Street Coalition and extensive community debate, the renaming would replace the name of U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, infamous for the 1857 Dred Scott decision that denied citizenship to African Americans, with Caroline LeCount, a Philadelphia civil rights pioneer and educator.

Justice Taney family members Joy Taney and her father, Peter Taney, testifying in support of the renaming of the street.

The renaming to LeCount Street honors Ms. LeCount, the first Black woman to pass Philadelphia's teaching exam and a trailblazing principal in the late 19th century. LeCount, a champion of civil rights, worked alongside her partner Octavius Catto in the fight for desegregation and equality in education and public services. Renaming the street in her honor would highlight her enduring legacy and contribution to the fight for civil rights.

The new signage on the streets could be posted sometime in 2025. Mayor Cherelle Parker is expected to sign the legislation into law.

The other resolutions and bills that were approved on final passage on Nov. 14 were #241034 (introduced by Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, 6th District), #241035 (introduced by Councilmember Kendra Brooks, Minority Leader) and #240004 (introduced by Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, At-Large, on behalf of Council President Johnson).

FIRST COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON PROPOSED SIXERS ARENA WERE HELD THIS WEEK; HEARINGS TO RESUME ON NOVEMBER 19-21

City Council's Committee of the Whole, which made up of all 17 members of Council and is chaired by Council President Johnson, held its first hearings this week on the proposed 76 Place area in Center City.

Officials from Mayor Parker's administration testified during the first day of hearings and the officials were asked tough questions by Councilmembers. Parker administration officials touted a $50 Million Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) they negotiated with the Sixers along with an economic opportunity plan to ensure minority- and women-owned participation in construction of the arena.

Lawmakers raised concerns to both the Parker Administration and Sixers officials about potential costs to SEPTA, which would have to make physical changes to Jefferson Station and run extra regional rail line service needed to support the arena.

Lawmakers raised concerns to both the Parker Administration and Sixers officials about potential costs to SEPTA, which would have to make physical changes to Jefferson Station and run extra regional rail line service needed to support the arena.

The second day of hearings was testimony from Philadelphia Sixers leadership. Under intense questioning from Councilmembers, Sixers leaders said they were unwilling to move on the $50 million CBA accompanying their proposed Center City arena, despite calls from lawmakers that the amount is not enough to offset the project's negative impacts. The CBA dollars would be paid out over 30 years. Councilmembers suggested that the final CBA should be as high at $300 Million.

The Sixers also said they are willing to pay for physical changes to Jefferson Station needed for the arena, but would not fund the transit system's daily operations, beyond support that is already provided by other Philadelphia professional sports teams.

The planned $1.3 Billion arena would seat 18,500 spectators and occupy a section of the current Fashion District mall in an area bounded by Market, Filbert, 10th and 11th streets above SEPTA's Jefferson Station.

Philadelphia City Councilmember Mark Squilla (1st District), whose District includes the proposed site of the arena, introduced 13 pieces of legislation (Bills #240963, #240964, #240965, #240966, #240967, #240968, #240969, #240970, #240971, #240972, #240973 and Resolutions #240999 and #241000) on October 24 to start the process. Visit here for arena legislation.

Sixers Arena hearings will reconvene on Tuesday, Nov. 19, with the first public comment session scheduled for that afternoon, beginning at 1:30 p.m. For a complete list of hearings dates and how to testify and give public comment, visit Council's Sixers Arena Information Center.

COUNCILMEMBER ISAIAH THOMAS INTRODUCES BILL TO ELIMINATE CITY'S RESIGN-TO-RUN RULE

Majority Whip Isaiah Thomas (At-Large) introduced Bill #241056 and Resolution #241070 this week proposing an amendment to the City Charter to remove the requirement that city employees must resign their positions to run for public office.

The proposed measure would amend the charter to enable city employees (ranging from civil servants, appointed officers, and elected officials) to run for offices at the city, state and federal level regardless of their employment status with the City of Philadelphia.

If the legislation is reported out of the Council's Committee on Law and Government favorably and passed by Council, it would need to be either approved or vetoed by Mayor Parker. If approved by the mayor, the question would need to be approved via ballot measure by Philadelphia voters. If passed, the proposal would be implemented upon passage and following the certification of the election.

The earliest such a ballot question could be up for a public vote would be sometime in 2025.

Pennsylvania is among the 45 states that do not have a resign-to-run provision, and Philadelphia is the lone municipality in the Commonwealth with one on the books. Thomas believes this limits the ability of Philadelphians from being changemakers on a state and national level, especially compared to counterparts from other parts of the Commonwealth.

It's the third time in the last 20 years that a Councilmember has tried to eliminate the "resign-to-run" rule. Philadelphia voters in 2007 and 2014 have rejected repealing it. The resign-to-run rule has been law since 1951, when the current Home Rule Charter was put into effect. The rule does not apply to City of Philadelphia officials who are running for reelection.

COUNCILMEMBERS BEING THEIR ANNUAL TURKEY DRIVES FOR THANKSGIVING

City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) is hosting her 5th Annual Turkey Drive on Saturday, November 23.

She will be giving away FREE turkeys at her district office at 606 S. 52nd Street from 10 AM until they run out. First come, first served.

For more information, contact Gauthier's office at 215-686-0459.

THE NEXT COUNCIL SESSION WILL BE ON NOVEMBER 21

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time at Philadelphia City Council Chambers, Room 400 (Fourth Floor), Philadelphia City Hall. Tune in by watching Xfinity Channel 64 and Fios Channel 40 if you have cable TV in Philadelphia, stream online at www.PHLCouncil.com/watch or listen to WURD Radio (900 AM/96.1 FM) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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