Philadelphia City Council 2017 Stated Meetings of Philadelphia City Council, 23 Feb 2017

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From YouTube: Councilwomen Gym, Bass on Remarks By PA State Senator Eichelberger 2-23-2017

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From the Stated Meeting of Philadelphia City Council held Thursday, February 23, 2017:

Councilwoman Helen Gym (At Large) and Councilwoman Cindy Bass (8th District) react to remarks made by Pennsylvania State Senator John Eichelberger (PA 30th District) about inner city school students earlier in the week at a town hall.

A

She recognizes Councilwoman Kim, yes,.

B

Thank you. Council president, though I want to be cautious about how we talk about Harrisburg. I did want to point out serious concerns about our senator eichelberger commentary that were made last week at a town hall regarding primarily students of color all across the Commonwealth, which certainly implied that these students in the Commonwealth are not deserving of the fully funded and fully staffed schools that all students deserve. I feel that it is personally imperative that the Senate leadership rebuke and reject senator aiko burgers comments.

B

They certainly show a level of concern, especially when state funding and of public schools, and in particular, higher education and I, specifically want to point out Pennsylvania struggle around hbcus, and it's responsible funding of them is so closely correlated to race that if we have a sitting state senator who is the chair of the Education Committee, making highly controversial racialized remarks about students of color and implying that they do not have a right or should be accessing the fullest extent of all their educational opportunities.

B

We are going to have a serious problem with the state, and it is my personal feeling that Senator eichelberger should step down as chair of the edges, Senate Education Committee, in order to earn the fullest confidence of our state legislature to uphold the highest standards that we've got to ensure that we can approach this issue of responsible funding for our children and for our schools without the taint of racism and bias around those decisions. Thank you Thank.

A

You Councilwoman she recognizes customer base Thank.

C

You, mr. president, I want to first start by echoing councilman gims comments about that were made, particularly toward students in urban school districts, and you know just anyone who would make those sorts of comments is really unfit to serve. I know that as councilman jim started out, we have to be careful about. You know how we phrase things we won't want to.

C

You know, have an issue with Harrisburg who we want to work with, but where you have someone who is willing to make a statement like this about young people and young people of color, primarily again I just joined with Senator Vincent Hughes, who I know it's all over this manner, and who is you know again declaring that this particular senator is really unfit to serve in this capacity?.