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From YouTube: Council President Clarke: Use Land Bank as a Tool to Promote Equitable, Balanced Growth 1-26-2017
Description
From the Stated Meeting of Philadelphia City Council held Thursday, January 26, 2017:
Stating that it was something he had never done before during his time as Council President, Darrell Clarke (5th District), stepped off the speaker's podium and took a desk on the floor to comment on the progress of the Philly Land Bank.
For more on Clarke's concerns about the Land Bank, read his op-ed on the Land Bank here: http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20170123_Clarke__Time_for_moratorium_on_sales_of_vacant__tax-delinquent_land.html?mobi=true
A
A
A
This
is
a
very
important
issue
to
me,
which
is
why
I'm
here,
which
I
rarely
do
I,
don't
think
I've
ever
done
and
I
want
to
make
sure
that
it's
an
understanding
of
the
concerns
that
have
been
raised
by
not
only
myself
with
a
number
of
members.
A
number
of
advocate
that
the
reality
is
is
that
there
was
a
significant
effort
put
in
creating
the
land
bank.
Mr.
leader,
a
lot
of
people
did
a
lot
of
good
work.
One
of
the
members
just
left
representative
Jordan
Harris,
was
a
state
rep.
A
If
they
decide
not
to
adhere
or
is
simply
ignore,
the
request
of
the
land
bank
and
the
council
members,
then
it
doesn't
matter
because
those
same
people
will
ignore
and
not
adhere
to
the
recommendation
that
were
made
by
those
same
council
members.
So
my
issue
is
not
so
much
around
the
strategies,
but
it
is
around
the
notion
that
people
within
the
government
can
ultimately
make
the
final
decision
on
how
we
proceed
as
it
relates
to
developing
our
communities
and
a
fair
and
equitable
way.
So
my
concern
is
one.
A
Obviously
we
have
to
make
sure
that
the
data
is
correct,
but
number
two.
We
have
to
have
a
commitment
to
participate
and
participate
in
earnest,
not
simply
say
at
a
people
that
we're
okay,
but
at
the
end
of
the
days,
because
we
have
the
ability
to
proceed
without
any
sign
off
or
without
any
check
and
balance
from
the
City
Council
of
Philadelphia
we're
just
going
to
sell.
A
So
that's
my
most
significant
issue
and
I
must
tell
you
that
if
we
we're
looking
at
going
beyond
simply
having
a
public
hearing
on
this
process
in
this
conversation,
you
know
I
was
on
a
radio
a
couple
of
days
and
people
were
amazed
that
there
was
no.
There
was
no
check
and
balance
mr.
leader
as
it
relates
to
councillors
ability
to
have
influence,
as
it
relates
to
the
sheriff
sales
or
property.
A
So
we
need
to
have
within
this
structure
of
government
a
commitment
that
systemic
that
systemic
as
it
relates
to
our
needs
to
deal
with
the
citizens
of
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
subsequently
to
help
these
people
in
this
community.
So
I
wanted
to
say
that
that
that's
the
objective
and
hopefully
just
a
later-
we
can
get
back
on
the
same
page
and
we
can
move
forward
on
what
we
believe.
That,
ultimately
will
be
something
that's
good
for
all
the
citizens
of
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
So
with
that,
I
will
give
you
a
chair.