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From YouTube: Committee on Appropriations 3-8-2021
Description
The Committee on Appropriations of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Monday, March 8, 2021, at 1:00 PM, in a remote manner using Microsoft® Teams to hear testimony on the following item:
210160 An Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021 from the General Fund, the Council to the General Fund, the Managing Director.
B
B
B
Thank
you.
Thank
you
good
good
afternoon.
All
thank
you
to
the
council
members.
The
quorum
of
the
committee
is
present
and
this
hearing
will
be
called
to
order.
This
is
the
public
hearing
of
the
committee
on
appropriations
regarding
bill
number
210160
david,
our
clerk.
Will
you
please
read
the
title
of
the
bill.
B
Additionally,
prior
to
recognizing
members
for
questions
or
committees
that
they
have
for
witnesses,
I
will
know
for
the
record
that
at
this
time
the
chat
feature
will
be
available
on
microsoft
teams
to
allow
members
to
signify
what
that
they
wish
to
be
recognized
in
order
to
comply
with
the
sunshine
act.
That
chat
feature
must
only
be
used
for
this
purpose.
B
Before
I
call
on
the
first
panel,
I
want
to
recognize
I'll
recognize,
councilmember
thomas
who's,
a
member
of
the
committee,
and
asked
him
to
recognize
his
colleague
council
member
catherine
gilmore
richardson,
who
is
also
a
co-sponsor
of
this
bill
so
yeah.
When
I
recognize
you
and
then
we'll
call
the
panel.
C
Good
afternoon,
madam
chair
and
thank
you
to
everybody
on
the
committee
for
being
here
today
and
thank
you
to
the
entire
team,
as
it
relates
to
our
colleagues
and
council
for
considering
this
bill
as
an
option.
I
would
definitely
want
to
start
by
acknowledging
my
colleague
who
is
here
today,
council
member
catherine
gilmore
richardson,
who
is
the
co-chair
of
the
disadvantaged
communities
task
force
and
for
those
who
don't
know.
C
This
word
comes
out
of
the
disadvantaged
communities
task
force
council
president
charged
us
to
listen
to
citizens
all
across
the
city
of
philadelphia,
whether
it
relates
to
their
geographical
region
or
a
particular
profession,
and
through
that
work
we
were
really
challenged
by
a
lot
of
different
industries.
But
none
like
the
arts
and
culture
community,
and
so
through
the
disadvantaged
communities
task
force.
C
Although
it's
been
great,
we
want
to
do
even
more
as
it
relates
to
supporting
projects,
initiatives
and
helping
the
recovery
of
the
arts
and
culture
community.
So
thank
you,
madam
chair.
I
appreciate
the
opportunity
for
comments.
I
know
my
colleague,
councilmember
catherine
gilmore
richardson
has
been
with
me
in
the
midst
of
this
work.
I
know
she
might
want
to
make
some
comments
as
well,
but
I
appreciate
the
opportunity
to
make
a
few
opening
remarks.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
D
Yes,
thank
you
so
much
madam
chair,
and
to
my
colleagues
on
the
appropriations
committee.
I'm
thankful
to
join
you
this
afternoon
as
you
deliberate
on
the
legislation
that
was
co-introduced
by
councilmember,
thomas
and
myself,
in
support
of
the
arts
and
culture
community
in
philadelphia,
but
particularly
the
small
arts
and
culture
organizations
and
individual
proprietors
who
are
working
in
the
arts
and
culture.
D
I
would
be
remiss
if
I
did
not
mention
all
the
years
of
working
with
the
arts
and
culture
community
when
I
was
a
staffer
for
former
council
member
blondel,
reynolds
brown,
who
did
a
lot
of
work
with
the
arts
and
culture
community
and
we
were
able
to.
As
councillor
thomas
stated,
I
hear
from
a
number
of
those
organizations,
but
particularly
the
smaller
ones,
during
our
in-depth
discussions
with
the
disadvantaged
communities
task
force,
and
I
remember
that
specific
session
with
the
arts
and
culture
community
task
force.
D
We
were
on
for
several
hours
and
as
a
result
of
that
initial
meeting
and
subsequent
meetings,
the
development
of
the
arts
and
culture
task
force,
which
is
really
part
of
the
emphasis
of
why
we're
here
today.
So
I
just
employ
my
colleagues
to
understand
that
the
arts
and
culture
community
has
been
decimated
by
this
pandemic,
as
in
all
other
sectors
across
our
city,
and
they
need
our
help
and
support.
D
And
with
this
legislation
we
are
hoping
to
help
the
small
arts
and
culture
organizations
those
individual
proprietors,
the
ones
who
are
typically
not
supported
with
the
other
grant
opportunities
because
of
their
revenue
amounts.
We
want
to
help
those
individuals
who
have
not
been
helped
in
the
past.
We
want
to
do
all
we
can
for
them
and
hope
to
be
able
to
do
more
for
the
arts
and
culture
community
as
we
move
forward,
and
even
particularly
in
this
year's
budget
process.
So
I
implore
you
colleagues
to
vote
in
favor
of
this
legislation.
D
I
will
be
joining
you
and
listening
on
the
hearing
today
and
I
thank
you
so
much.
Madam
chair
and
last,
I
want
to
thank
our
council
president
and
the
leadership
team,
the
vision
around
the
new
formal
budget,
which
has
enabled
us
to
do
more
than
we
thought
we
could
originally
so.
Thank
you
very
much
and
thank
you,
madam
chair.
B
Thank
you
before
we
begin
to
hear
testimony
from
the
witnesses
we
have
here
for
today,
everyone
has
been
invited
to
attend.
The
meeting
to
testify
should
be
aware
that
this
is
a
public
hearing
and
it
is
being
recorded
because
the
hearing
is
public
participants
and
viewers
have
no
reasonable
expectation
of
privacy.
B
By
continuing
to
be
on
the
meeting,
you
are
contending
to
be
recorded
additionally
prior
to
recognizing
the
the
the
folks
we
spoke
about.
The
chat
feature
should
only
be
used
for
this,
so
david.
Will
you
please
call
the
first
panel
to
testify
this
afternoon
on
build
number
210160
kelly
lee
good
afternoon.
You
are
connected
before
you
proceed.
I
just
want
to
thank
kelly
lee.
I
know
that
this
has
been
a
tough
year
for
everyone.
B
It's
always
particularly
hard
after
coming
through
a
budget
cycle
where
we
saw
a
lot
of
money,
move
away
from
the
arts
and
culture
community
as
council
member
gilmore.
Richardson
alluded
to
this
council
has
been
extremely
committed
to
the
arts
and
culture
work
in
part
because
of
the
work
of
bladder
reynolds
brown,
who
came
and
was
very
active.
Many
of
the
members
participate,
as
I
have
in
the
past,
on
the
cultural
fun
board.
B
E
Great
thank
you
good
afternoon,
chairperson
kiana
sanchez
and
members
of
the
committee.
I
am
kelly
lee
the
chief
cultural
officer
for
the
city
of
philadelphia
and
a
director
of
the
arts
of
the
office
of
arts,
culture
and
the
creative
economy.
I
want
to
thank
you
for
providing
me
with
this
opportunity
to
testify
regarding
bill
number
210
160,
which
would
authorize
the
transfer
of
1.3
million
dollars
in
funds
to
the
managing
director's
office
for
arts
and
culture.
E
B
Again,
thank
you
kelly
lee,
for
all
your
work.
Philadelphia
is
rich
and
many
major
institutions,
but
the
work
of
the
disadvantages
task
force
has
really
demonstrated
that
there
is
a
sector,
a
creative
sector,
that
we
want
to
encourage
in
their
innovation
and
their
transformation
as
they
move
through
this
difficult
time.
C
Yes,
good
afternoon,
I
just
want
to
take
a
moment
just
to
say
thank
you
to
kelly,
just
because
I
had
the
opportunity
to
meet
kelly
when
I
was
sworn
in
last
year
and
her
advocacy
for
the
arts
and
culture
community.
Her
passion
is
one
that
is
essentially
unmatched
and
in
the
midst
of
us
working
with
the
arts
and
culture
task
force,
she
has
been
extremely
responsive.
C
We
all
know
that,
but
when
this
crisis
presented
itself
as
it
released
the
coronavirus
it
flipped
everything
upside
down-
and
I
think
we
have
to
put
ourselves
in
a
position
where
not
only
are
we
restoring
some
things
that
happen
in
the
past,
but
we're
innovative
and
as
it
relates
to
how
we
think
who
we
support,
what
we're
doing
and
and
how
we
put
ourselves
in
a
position
to
advocate
for
the
entire
arts
and
culture
community,
and
I
think
kelly,
has
that
vision
as
well
too.
So
no
questions
for
kelly.
C
I
just
wanted
to
say
thank
you
let
her
know.
I
appreciate
her
and
I'm
looking
forward
to
working
with
her,
not
just
on
this
initiative,
but
more
initiatives
moving
forward
to
really
support
the
arts
and
culture
community.
Thank
you.
I
appreciate
it
madam
chair
and,
like
council
member
gilmore
richardson
said
I
did
want
to
say
thank
you
to
my
colleagues
as
well
too,
and
not
just
ask
them
to
vote
for
this,
but
just
the
intention
as
it
relates
to
investing
in
disadvantaged
communities.
It's
very
much
appreciated.
C
D
B
B
F
F
I
would
like
to
thank
council
members,
thomas
and
gilmore
richardson,
along
with
council
president
daryl
clark
for
their
leadership
regarding
the
spill
and
I'm
here
to
testify
in
support
of
today's
arts.
Transfer
ordinance,
arts
and
culture
is
essential
to
the
city
of
philadelphia
and
our
shared
humanity.
F
Without
immediate
support
for
our
sector,
the
city
of
philadelphia
will
not
fully
recover
from
the
clovic
19
pandemic
and
full-time
jobs,
and
thousands
more
roles
occupied
by
gig
workers
across
our
city
will
be
permanently
impacted.
That
is
why
they
illuminate
the
arts.
Grant
is
absolutely
critical
for
the
city
of
philadelphia.
F
F
In
addition,
lack
of
arts
funding
also
disproportionately
affects
community
organizations
that
facilitate
equitable
access
to
the
arts,
many
of
which
serve
our
young
people,
improvised
communities,
black
communities
and
people
of
color
city-wide.
These
are
the
organizations
who
annually
operate
with
a
budget
of
less
than
150
000.
F
B
G
Hello,
I'm
barbara
stillsley,
the
executive
director
of
the
philadelphia
cultural
fund.
Thank
you
for
this
opportunity
to
speak
briefly
about
the
importance
of
this
infusion
of
funds
to
philadelphia's
art
sector,
which
continues
to
be
devastated
by
coven
19,
and
many
thanks
to
the
council
members
for
recognizing
the
urgency
of
this
moment.
G
It's
encouraging
to
see
these
emergency
funds
coming
to
philadelphia's,
artists
and
arts
organizations,
it's
very
important
to
the
city
as
the
city
recovers.
We
understand
that
the
recovery
will
take
some
time
and
the
philadelphia
cultural
fund
is
hopeful
that
by
the
city
taking
this
action,
it
recognizes
that
the
arts
are
critical
to
the
city's
recovery.
G
It's
important
that
the
city
sees
the
philadelphia
cultural
fund
as
a
vital
and
highly
regarded
partner
in
supporting
the
city's
arts
community,
and
it's
so
very
important
that
the
city's
support
of
the
arts
continue
beyond
this
moment
and
be
reflected
in
the
cultural
funds
fiscal
year.
22
allocation
and
beyond
the
philadelphia
cultural
fund
stands
with
the
city
in
its
commitment
to
the
arts
now
and
into
the
future.
H
You're
on
muse,
muted,
okay,
we
should
have
figured
that
out
a
year
in
good
afternoon
chairwoman,
quinnona
sanchez
and
other
members
of
the
appropriations
committee.
My
name
is
nicole
allen,
white,
I'm
the
director
of
government
and
external
affairs
and
interim
deputy
director
of
diversity,
equity
inclusion
and
access
for
the
philadelphia
museum
of
art.
H
I
also
serve
on
the
board
of
the
philadelphia
cultural
fund
on
behalf
of
the
museum
I'm
here,
to
offer
testimony
in
support
of
bill
number
210160,
which
would
provide
grant
funds
for
individual
artists
and
small
arts
organizations.
The
cultural
sector
is
critical
to
the
fabric
of
our
city.
The
sector
improves
the
quality
of
life,
for
our
residents,
serves
as
an
invaluable
educational
resource
for
our
young
people
and
attracts
millions
of
visitors
to
the
city
every
year,
while
the
philadelphia
museum
of
art
is
the
city's
iconic
landmark
and
one
of
its
crown
jewels.
H
It
is
the
entirety
of
the
cultural
ecosystem,
supported
by
individual
artists,
large
and
small
non-profits
and
creative
for-profit
businesses
that
benefit
philadelphia
and
philadelphians.
The
kobit
19
pandemic
has
been
devastating
to
the
city's
arts
and
culture
sector.
Individual
artists
and
small
organizations
have
borne
the
brunt
of
this
devastation.
H
Funding
such
as
the
proposed
grants
created
by
this
transfer
ordinance
are
a
lifeline
to
ensuring
that
people
and
organizations
that
help
drive
the
sector
are
able
to
contribute
to
the
recovery.
However,
this
must
not
be
the
only
financial
assistance
to
the
city
to
the
sector.
I
hope
it's
only
the
beginning.
H
This
spring,
the
art
museum,
will
unveil
the
long-awaited
results
of
the
core
project,
which
includes
two
new
gallery
spaces,
one
for
the
display
of
early
american
art
and
the
other
for
modern
and
contemporary
art.
The
inaugural
presentations
in
both
galleries,
center
on
philadelphia
as
an
artistic
capital
of
the
country
in
the
world.
The
early
american
galleries
will
highlight
philadelphia's
historical
role
as
a
center
for
artistic
commerce
by
indigenous
african
and
european
makers
and
artisans
in
pre-colonial
and
colonial
times.
H
The
contemporary
galleries
will
open
with
the
exhibition
new
grit
art
in
philly,
now
featuring
the
work
of
25
individual
artists,
whose
life
and
or
work
is
deeply
connected
to
philadelphia.
These
exhibitions
speak
to
the
city's
past
and
present.
What
remains
uncertain
is
the
future
if
there
are
not
significant
investments
made
in
the
sector
to
ensure
that
it
will
continue
to
thrive,
post-pandemic
the
museum
applauds
city
council
and
specifically
councilman
thomas
and
councilwoman
gilmore
richardson
for
champion
championing
the
importance
of
this
sector
to
the
economic
and
social
well-being
of
the
city.
H
I
Thank
you
very
much
for
the
opportunity
to
testify.
Today
I
am
priscilla
loose
interim
president
and
ceo
of
the
greater
philadelphia
cultural
alliance.
I
offer
the
support
of
the
greater
philadelphia
cultural
alliance
for
ordinance
number
210
160,
creating
the
illuminate
the
arts
grants,
as
proposed
by
councilwoman
gilmore
richardson
and
councilman
thomas.
I
These
emergency
funds,
which
respond
to
the
immense
financial
need
of
the
arts
and
culture
community
due
to
covet
19,
could
not
come
at
a
more
crucial
moment.
Next
week.
The
cultural
alliance
will
preview
for
city
council
new
data
showing
the
growing
financial
crisis
within
our
sector
one
year
into
the
pandemic.
I
I
This
is
an
important
first
step,
but
it
cannot
be
the
last
as
additional
cares
funding
is
made
available.
We
look
forward
to
working
closely
with
council
to
ensure
that
arts
and
culture,
which
fear
tourism,
restaurants
and
tax
revenue
and
is
so
integral
to
education
and
the
workforce
is
part
of
the
long-term
recovery
plan
for
philadelphia.
I
B
Thank
you
so
much
and
thank
you
for
your
partnership
and
the
significant
data
collection
that
you
gather
and
help
us.
As
you
know,
as
we
really
have
uplifted
the
sector
and
again,
I
know
that
there
was
a
lot
of
pivoting
during
covid.
I
don't.
I
want
to
assure
this
particular
sector
in
particular,
and
I
know
I've
had
many
conversations
with
holly
and
others.
You
know
this
budget
has
to
look
different.
It
has
to
feel
different
if
this
sector
is
going
to
survive
and
help
us
in
this
recovery.
B
So
we're
well
aware
of
it,
and-
and
I
know
there
was
a
lot
of
things
that
happened.
You
know
sorry,
it
took
us
this
long
to
get
here.
You
know
this
budget
will
be
different
and
we'll
we
can
have
those
conversations
earlier.
The
work
with
the
disadvantaged
committee
committee
and
council
members,
thomas
and
gilmore
richardson-
you
guys-
have
really
gained
some
really
strong
allies
in
this,
and
I
hope
that
as
we
progress
through
the
budget
that
you
will
see
that
we
understand
the
value
of
this.
So
so
very
much.
B
C
You
know
we
have
been
struggling
in
the
last
year
or
so
being
in
the
house
and
there's
nothing
like
being
able
to
gather,
in
the
name
of
of
arts
and
the
arts
community
to
put
people
in
a
position
where
they
can
have
some
level
of
entertainment
as
well
as
some
level
of
relief.
I
think
that
that
will
help
us
with
a
lot
of
the
ills
that
we
see
currently
in
our
municipality,
and
I
appreciate
everybody
here.
C
I
also
wanted
to
just
put
a
plug
in
for
our
recovery
week
for
the
arts
and
culture
community.
That
is
something
that
we
really
want
to
make
sure
it
happens
sometime
this
summer.
We
have
tentative
dates,
nothing
etched
in
stone,
but
we
want
to
talk
to
the
health
department
and
we
want
all
these
partners
here
to
help
us
figure
out.
What
do
we
do
to
assure
that
the
arts
and
culture
community
recovers
in
a
strong
and
equitable
and
in
ineffective
way?
So
thank
you,
madam
chair.
C
I
appreciate
you
giving
me
this
opportunity,
but,
most
importantly,
thank
you
to
every
one
of
those
panelists
who
took
the
time
to
testify
in
favor
of
this
bill.
Today
and
I
look
forward
to
working
with
each
of
you
moving
forward,
so
we
can
continue
to
do
the
great
work
that
the
city
of
philadelphia
needs.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
D
We
are
doing
all
that
you
can
to
a
very
robust
dialogue
and
conversation
to
figure
out
exactly
what
more
we
can
do
moving
forward.
But
I
just
wanted
to
thank
each
and
every
one
of
you
for
your
testimony
and
especially
kelly.
We
look
forward
to
working
with
your
office
and
the
office
of
arts,
culture
and
the
creative
economy
around
this
first
step,
because
we
know
it'll
be
important
as
we
continue
to
build
trust
in
the
arts
and
culture
community.
So
kelly.
D
B
Thank
you
councilmember.
It
is
not
lost
on
me.
This
group
of
women
leading
this
conversation
gotta.
Do
it
I'm
sorry,
it's
too
easy.
Thank
you,
nicole.
Thank
you
elijah.
All
of
you
is
there.
Anyone
else
here
to
testify
on
bill
number
two
one:
zero
one:
six:
zero,
whose
name
hasn't
been
called
seeing:
none,
there's!
No
other
members
of
this
committee
have
any
questions.
We
are
going
to
conclude
our
public
hearing
and
go
into
our
public
meeting
there
being
no
further
questions
from
members
and
no
other
witnesses
testify.
B
If
there's
no
one
else
here
present
who
they
might
fail
to
call
on
this
bill
hearing
none.
I
want
to
thank
all
the
panel
witnesses
for
their
participation
today.
We
value
your
opinions.
Now
we
invite
all
panel
witnesses
who
come
to
testify
to
disconnect
from
the
meeting
as
we
go
into
our
public
meeting.
We
will
pause
a
couple
of
minutes
to
allow
you
all
to
disconnect
briefly.
Thank
you
all,
ladies.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
B
This
concludes
the
public
hearing
of
the
committee.
We
will
now
go
into
our
public
meeting
to
consider
the
actions
on
the
bills
before
this
committee.
Once
again,
I
want
to
thank
my
council
colleagues
for
joining
us
this
afternoon
and
helping
us
get
through
this
public
meeting.
The
public
meeting
will
now
convene
eric.
Will
you
please
call
the
role
old
to
take
attendance?
A
A
B
Thank
you
all
so
much
against
the
council.
Colleagues,
as
this
bill
moves
forward.
This
is
part
of
our
new
normal
budget
and
all
of
you
have
been
an
instrumental
part
and
getting
us
to
this
place
where
we
could
do
this
work.
So
I
want
to
thank
you
all
so
with
that.
The
chair
recognizes
council
member
johnson
for
a
motion
on
bill
number
210160.
A
B
The
chair
knows
that
for
the
record
that
council
member
o'neill
second
the
motion-
or
was
it
thomas-
I'm
sorry,
I
remember
it
has
been
moved
improperly.
Second,
that
bill
number
two
one:
zero
one:
six
zero
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
further
move
that
the
rules
accounts
will
be
suspended
to
permit
first
reading
of
this
bill
at
our
next
session.
A
Yeah,
madam
chit,
just
as
we
conclude
the
meeting
and
wrap
up,
I
just
want
to
acknowledge
the
hard
work
of
council
members,
isaiah,
thomas
and
councilwoman
catherine
gilmore
richardson,
and
they
put
a
lot
of
hard
work
in
hosting
their
virtual
disadvantaged
communities,
hearings
all
throughout
the
city
of
florida
office.
So
I
watched
them
doing
their
hard
work
in
the
middle
of
a
pandemic.
I
just
wanted
to
publicly
acknowledge
them
for
their
hard
work
and
dedication
around
this
issue.