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Description
From the Stated Meeting of Philadelphia City Council held Thursday, February 7, 2019:
Councilman Bill Greenlee (At Large) makes floor remarks before the vote on Bill No. 180888A.
Read the bill: http://bit.ly/2Sy13XO
A
She
recognizes
Calvin
Greenlee,
Thank
You.
Mr.
president,
I
asked
everyone
to
bear
with
me
a
little
bit
I'm
under
the
weather
here,
but
I
didn't
take
any
medication
just
for
the
road
for
the
record
I.
Just
you
heard
from
dr.
Brennan
from
University
of
Pennsylvania's
sawed
off
today
and
I
just
want
to
read
in
a
commentary
he
put
just
in
the
very
beginning,
the
few
first
couple
of
sentences
to
start
off
where
we're
kind
of
coming
from
on
this
dr.
A
So
you
know,
and
Councilwoman
bass
and
I
introduced
this
bill
and
I
know.
There's
some
question
is
administration
bill?
Is
that
whose
bill
is
it
well?
I?
Think
we're
proud
to
say
it's
our
bill
and
it's
our
bill
because
it's
the
right
thing
to
do.
Excuse
me
and
all
we're
asking
is
that
doctors
read
I,
mean
I'm.
A
Sorry,
pharmaceutical,
reps
register
after
the
fact
given
their
information,
so
we
can
stay
ahead
of
the
problem
and
that's
the
whole
idea
behind
this
bill
to
stay
ahead
of
the
problem
and
bar
any
kind
of
enticement
to
the
doctor,
and
that
is
for
controlled
substances
and
what
they
call
psychoactive
medications,
things
that
can
become
addictive
and
it
seemed
to
me
and
I
said
I
know.
I
said
this
in
December
it
seemed
to
me
like
a
no-brainer.
Why
would
you?
Why?
A
Would
you
even
want
the
question
that
the
medicine
you're
getting
is
for
the
right
reasons
and
not
because
of
some
enticement
and
I'm
not
saying
every
doctor
prescribes
over
prescribes
the
hope
people
get
addicted,
I'm,
not
saying
that,
but
the
results
are
the
results.
The
studies
are,
the
studies
and
a
hundred
people
are
dying
a
month,
but
you
know,
as
I
said
before
the
Councilwoman
and
I.
We
just
wanted
to
deal
with
the
facts.
We
just
wanted
to
show
the
and
try
to
get
the
right
thing
done.
A
The
Councilwoman,
as
the
chair
of
the
Public
Health
Committee,
twice
continued
to
hearing
so
that
we
could
try
to
work
something
out.
We
held
the
bill
in
December
from
the
full
council
to
try
to
work
something
out
and
I
know
you.
That
was
at
your
request
also,
but
we
found
out
pretty
soon
we
were
being
played
that
wasn't
an
honest
discussion
at
the
first
meeting
fauna
and
some
of
their
some
others
came
in.
They
didn't
provide
any
written
amendments.
Any
any
change,
basically
just
tried
to
talk
us
out
of
doing
it.
A
When
we,
when
that
was
clear,
then
they
went
the
opposite
direction.
They
came
in
with
all
kind
of
amendments,
most
of
which
either
would
make
the
bill
pointless
or
just
had
nothing
to
do
with
the
bill,
and
we
made
a
pledge
at
that
moment.
Look
we
will
keep
working
with
you,
but
this
bill
should
go
forward
and
we'll
work
on
reasonable
amendments,
and
last
week
we
put
in
reasonable
amendments.
We
cut
the
medications
down
to
only
15%
of
the
drugs
that
are
out
there
being
prescribed
15%
the
most
dangerous
drugs.
A
You
know
we
and
we
took
out
any
references
and
concerned
that
this
could
affect
conventions,
but
apparently
that
wasn't
enough-
and
you
know
farmer
to
me
my
humble
opinion,
but
I'll
stick
to
it-
they
knew
they
couldn't
win
on
their
own,
so
they
pulled
all
the
people
in
other
people
and
maybe
didn't
even
need
to
be
in
this
ibx
the
for
the
convention
center
to
visitors,
people
all
that
because
they
thought
well.
Maybe
that
could
stop
this
bill
because
that's
all
they
wanted
to
do
they
won.
They
went
into
an
honest
discussion.
A
They
just
wanted
to
kill
this
bill
and
and
show
that
show
who
got
the
power
in
this
city
and
well,
we
weren't
gonna,
go
with
that.
We
were
gonna,
keep
fighting
for
this
bill
and
I,
don't
know
where
it's
gonna
go
today.
A
lot
of
members
are
beat
wits
in
between
I
just
hope.
They
think
about
a
little
bit
more
and
I'm
gonna
keep
repeating
a
hundred
people
a
month
died
from
overdoses,
real
people
and
speaking
of
real
people.
A
Just
today,
friend
of
mine,
said
her
cousin,
mother,
four
children
went
in
for
knee
surgery,
Gatto
described
now,
she's
somewhere
in
Kensington,
I,
don't
even
know
where
the
hell
she
is
and
they
think
the
next
time
they'll
see
her
is
in
a
cemetery.
That's
just
one
example:
I'm
gonna
give
a
couple
more
as
we
go
on
and
I'm
sorry
I'm,
taking
a
lot
of
time
and
maybe
you're
lucky,
because
my
voice
might
give
out
before
I'm
finished.
A
But
this
is
important
because
we're
talking
about
people
we're
talking
about
people
and
we're
talking
about
reality
here,
that's
the
reality
out
there.
People
are
dying
and
would
all
due
respect
to
our
friends
in
the
hospitality
industry.
I
just
have
a
real
concern
with
a
couple
of
things.
They
said
in
a
letter
because,
first
of
all,
they
they
keep
talking
and
see.
This
is
what
you
do
when
you
try
to
oppose
a
bill.
I
know
it.
We've
been
around
a
little
bit.
A
Now
how
many
times
and
I
think
we've
gone
a
record
number
of
time
saying
this
is
about
just
about
Opio.
It's
the
fact.
It's
more
about
other
addictive
drugs
that
are
coming
up.
If
we
limited
this
bill
to
opioids
I,
think
it's
the
equivalent
of
saying
we
put
a
smoke
detector
in
the
building
after
it
caught
fire
because
the
opioids
are
out
there.
This
bill
will
not
stop
most
of
that.
A
In
fact,
the
opioid
use
is
already
going
down
a
little
bit
because
they've
been
out
there
so
long
we're
trying
to
get
the
the
next
and
the
next
line
of
addiction
taken
care
of,
and
she
it
is
also
written
in
this
letter
that
this
bill,
although
right-minded,
is
false,
promising
I,
don't
know
what
that
means.
We
never
said
it
was
a
solution
to
the
whole
problem.
We
said
we
would
sit
down
and
talk
about
other
things,
but
we
didn't
false
promise.
A
Anything
we
didn't
say
it
was
a
total
solution,
but
we
said
it
will
have
an
effect
and
experts
say
it
will
have
an
effect
and
I
think
they
know
a
little
bit
more
than
in
order
to
respect
the
visitors.
People
do
you
know,
and
then
they
said
they
will
work
to
enact
real
change.
Well,
this
is
real
change.
This
is
a
start.
A
It's
not
it's
not
the
end,
but
it's
a
start
and
but
what
we
keep
hearing
is
or
will
sit
well
study
will
do
a
committee
will
do
this
and
I
just
remember:
councilman
Jones
a
statement
about
paralysis
by
analysis.
That
means
nothing
gets
done
for
a
long
time
and
may
I
repeat
a
hundred
people
die
a
month
now
these
people,
you
know
Julie
and
John,
and
all
the
good
people
they
have
their
own
lenses
and
I
understand
that
they
got
worried
about
what
they
say.
A
First
of
all,
I
don't
see
why
this
bill,
because
again
we
took
at
any
reference
to
conventions.
This
bill,
they
shouldn't
even
be
in
this
anymore.
This
is
over
as
far
as
they're
concerned.
We
took
care
of
their
problem,
but
the
reason
they're
still
in
it
is
the
pharmaceutical
industry
is
threatening
that,
just
because
we
have
the
audacity
in
this
city
to
put
some
regulations
and
against
them
that
they
might
not
come
here
anymore
and
they
could
ruin
our
economy.
A
That's
the
kind
of
people
were
dealing
with
we're
going
to
get
held
hostage
by
those
folks.
But
again
these
folks
have
their.
You
know.
Julie
and
John
have
their
their
lenses,
but
don't
our
lens
have
to
be
a
lot
wider?
Doesn't
it
have
to
include
a
whole
lot
of
people?
And
again,
let
me
give
me
an
example.
Somebody
should
include
public
health
committee
had
a
hearing
back
in
December
up
in
Kensington
and
I'll,
be
honest
with
you.
A
After
about
two
hours,
I,
just
getting
tired
and
hungry
and
I
was
trying
to
figure
out
how
to
lean
out
the
door
a
little
bit.
But
then
a
young
man
stood
up
about
13
years
old,
lived
in
either
probably
councilman,
Sanchez's
or
counseling
as
well
as
district,
and
you
know
they
intersect
up
there
and
he
said
that
he's
lucky
because
he
gets
a
chance.
A
He
gets
a
ride
to
school
every
day,
but
as
he's
riding
some
of
his
classmates
or
stepping
over
and
around
addicts
laying
on
the
sidewalk
needle
stuck
out
of
their
neck,
and
he
just
says
you
know.
Why
is
that
right?
What
are
you
guys?
What
can
you
guys
do
about
so
what
I
would
say
to
all
of
the
members
here?
You
know
we
just
don't
have
to
answer
to
our
friends
here
in
the
in
the
industry.
We
have
to
answer
the
kids
like
that
he
can't
afford
lobbyists.
A
A
Now
again,
when
there's
a
bill
when
you're
trying
to
kill
bill,
you
do
the
whole
end-of-the-world
theory.
We've
heard
it
so
many
times
world's
going
to
end
people
aren't
going
to
come
to
the
city,
we're
gonna
fall
fallen
as
a
great
abyss
and
that's
the
kind
of
things
we're
kind
of
hearing
out
of
this,
and
you
know
I
always
think
back
to
Councilwoman,
tasco
and
I
think
it
was
during
paid
sick
leave.
A
Who
said
you
know
I,
don't
any
many
times,
I
heard
about
the
world
ending
and
Lord
here,
I
sit
and
the
world
hasn't
ended,
and
if
we
pass
this
barrel,
the
world
hasn't
ended,
but
it
ended
for
a
hundred
people
a
month
and
it
ended
for
their
families
or
at
least
a
part
of
their
families.
That's
who
we
should
worry
about
that.
She
should
have
the
priority
here
and
that's
what
this
vote
will
come
down
to
in
my
opinion
is
priority.
A
Now,
please
get
me
right,
I,
don't
think
any
of
the
17
of
us
don't
care
about
this
issue.
None
of
us
want
to
see
this
happen.
None
of
us
want
to
see
what's
happening
in
Kensington.
Nobody
wants
to
see
people
on
Chester
Street
with
their
dogs
lying
there.
Nobody
wants
to
see
people
dying,
but
are
we
gonna
do
something?
A
Even
though-
and
this
is
this
is
not
I'll-
be
the
first
one,
because
we've
been
reaping
real
here,
we've
been
telling
the
truth,
we're
not
saying
it's
a
solution,
I'll
keep
repeating
that,
but
it's
something
we
need
to
move
forward.
We
need
to
show
people
that
we're
doing
something
substantive,
and
this
is
substantive
and
if
it
saves
10
20,
30
%
of
those
people
and
I
think
it
could
isn't
that
worth
it.
A
Their
people
lives
and
all
we're
asking
the
pharmaceutical
reps
is
to
work
a
little
harder
worked,
a
little
harder
to
get
into
your
meetings,
don't
have
to
come
in
with
pizza
and
steaks
and
by
the
way
it
must
be
more
than
Pizza
and
steaks
because,
again
we're
hearing
from
these
high-priced
restaurants,
they're
gonna
lose
hundreds
of
thousands
of
dollars.
It's
not
about
pizza
and
steaks
and
ham,
sandwiches,
I,
guess,
I,
don't
know
what
it's
about.
It's
pretty,
it's
pretty
bad
when
the
opponents
can't
even
get
their
own
story
straight.
A
Have
we
been
straight
we've
been
saying,
that's
the
same
thing,
the
whole
time.
So
you
know
I
hate
to
put
people
on
the
spot,
it's
not
my
style,
but
after
while
you
gotta
make
a
decision,
you
got
a
show.
You
got
to
take
a
stand
on
what
it's
the
most
important
thing.
Some
people
gonna
be
upset
with
us.
I
understand
that
you
know,
but
there's
a
lot
of
people
there
that
we're
gonna
help
if
we
pass
this
bill,
I
truly
believe
it
and
maybe
there's
little
pieces,
and
it
doesn't
take
effect
for
180
days.
A
So
there's
little
pieces
that
maybe
we
can
we
can
work
in,
but
you
know
we
just
have
to
think.
Why
are
these
people
fighting
this
bill
so
hard?
Why
are
they
fighting
it
that
hard?
Just
because
they
can't
bring
up
sandwich
in
it's
got
to
be
more
gone
than
that
or
are
they
just
trying
to
bully
us?
Are
they
just
trying
to
show
that
they're
gonna
knock
down
anything
that
a
city
does
well,
you
know,
look
I,
wasn't
a
tough
guy,
but
I
hung
around
tough
guys.
I
was
smart
enough
to
do
that.
A
When
I
was
a
kid
and
I
know,
you
stand
up
to
bullies
and
we
got
to
stand
up
here
and
we
got
to
stand
up
for
people
we
got
staying
up
for
those
hungry
people
that
die
eat
you
and
their
families,
I'm,
sorry,
I'm,
getting
emotional
I'm.
Sorry,
one
last
thing:
there's
another
group
of
people:
it's
going
to
be
looking
at
us
at
what
we
do
did
that
and
they're
people
that
right
now
don't
know
who
we
are,
maybe
don't
even
know.
A
They're
gonna
get
the
proper
treatment.
They're
gonna
go
about
their
lives
again,
they
don't
know
who
we
are,
and
maybe,
in
two
years
we're
gonna
walk
by
that
person
on
the
street.
Again
they
don't
know
who
we
are.
We
don't
know
them,
but
we
did
something
for
we
did
something
for
them
and
we
owe
them.
We
owe
the
people
who
have.
We
owe
their
families
and
I'm.
You
know
I'm,
sorry
to
get
emotional
here,
but
this
is
important
and
we
got
to
make
a
choice.
A
We
got
to
make
a
choice
of
what
we're
where
we
are,
we're
not
trying
to
hurt
anybody.
I,
don't
think
we'll
hurt
businesses
here.
I
think
this
is
all
a
lot
of
hooey.
It's
the
same
thing
they
do
every
time
we
try
to
do
something
for
people.
Businesses
come
in
and
say
we're
gonna
end
we're
going
to
be
so
anti
business
and
we're
sending
the
wrong
message.