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From YouTube: Committee on Finance 11-01-2017
Description
The Committee on Finance of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, November 1, 2017, at 10:00 AM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following items:
160111 An Ordinance amending Chapter 12-2800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Administrative Adjudication of Parking Violations," to establish an amnesty program for fines, fees and penalties on parking violations; all under certain terms and conditions.
170717 An Ordinance amending Chapter 19-4200 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "New Sustainable Businesses," to expand the tax relief offered to such businesses, and to make technical corrections, all under certain terms and conditions.
170878 An Ordinance authorizing and approving the execution and delivery of a Service Agreement between the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority relating to the financing of a home repair program for City homeowners; approving the issuance by such Authority of bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (including reimbursement obligations related to lines or letters of credit) in one or more series to finance or refinance such program and authorizing and approving the obligation of the City to pay in full when due the Service Fee and other amounts payable under the Service Agreement; authorizing certain City officers to take certain actions required to issue such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness; covenanting that the City will make necessary appropriations in each of the City's fiscal years to provide for, and will make timely payments of, the Service Fee and other amounts due under the Service Agreement; and authorizing City officials to take other necessary or appropriate actions to effectuate the purposes of this Ordinance; all under certain terms and conditions.
Committee on Finance
Chair: Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (3rd District)
Vice Chair: Councilman Bobby Henon (6th District)
A
Good
morning,
let
me
thank
everyone
for
coming,
we'll
call
to
order
the
Committee
on
Finance.
We
have
three
bills.
We
were
planning
to
hear
bill
numbers,
one,
seven,
zero,
seven,
one,
seven
sustainable
business
with
Councilwoman
Sanchez,
who
will
call
one
for
remarks
before
we
begin
and
the
revenue
commissioner.
A
First
deputy
revenue,
commissioner
Marisa
Waxman,
can
sit
at
the
table
and
then
bill
number
one:
seven,
seven,
zero,
eight,
seven,
eight,
an
amendment
to
the
home
loan
program
by
Councilwoman,
Cheryl,
Parker
and
council
president
Darrell
Clarke.
Before
we
do
those
many
of
you
know,
we
would
do
two
here
today.
Bill
number
one:
six,
zero
one,
one
one
which
is
my
bill
with
regard
to
parking
amnesty
now
we
try
to
get
word
out.
I
understand.
There
are
many
people,
people
who
were
here
on
that
bill.
A
Would
you
stand
now
I
want
committee
I
want
you
to
hear
how
much
we
need
this
bill.
All
these
people
came,
I
went
on
radio,
said
notices
out,
told
people
had
the
mayor
sent
notices
out.
They
did
not
get
it
and
all
of
these
people
here
and
you
see
one
of
them
instead
of
the
Guardian
Civic
League.
She
promised
me
she'd
be
here.
These
are
people
who
know
we
have
real
problems
with
our
parking
authority
and
they
need
some
help.
A
The
majority
of
people
here
for
who
are
here
for
those
who
cannot
see
it,
who
are
home
or
in
their
offices,
are
people
with
regard
to
the
parking
bill.
Then
I
called
the
mayor's
office
when
they
started
coming
to
my
office
this
morning
and
I
said
you
either
send
somebody
up
to
have
is
to
help
all
of
these
people
with
their
issues
or
we'll
be
forced
to.
After
this
have
this
airing.
We
cannot
disrespect
people
who
already
feel
victimized
we're
somewhat.
A
One
of
these
people
had
bills
traffic
issues
going
back
to
1996
in
the
amount
of
$10,000
and
whose
car
was
taken.
We
want
this
straightened
out
today.
We
want
these
issues
straightened
out
today,
so
we
have
asked
the
mayor
to
send
somebody
here
to
help
everybody
here
with
track.
It's
thick
issues
the
this
day
and
we
are
waiting
for
them
to
send
somebody
up
to
make
sure
all
of
you
are
satisfied
with
the
answer.
A
Announcer
members
of
the
committee
will
still
have
the
earring
I've
been
getting
so
many
calls,
and
so
much
information
even
from
the
inside
that
I
said,
let
me
hold
off
the
hearing
and
have
all
the
information
possible
that's
available
to
try
to
help
everybody
citywide.
We
have
so
much
information
coming
in
that
I
thought
it
would
be
better
because
because
of
course,
the
administration
doesn't
want
to
let
it
go.
A
We
need
you
to
send
somebody
up
to
help
all
of
these
people
who
are
here
this
morning.
If
you
don't
send
somebody
up,
then,
before
we
leave
we'll
be
forced
to
maybe
we'll
have
this
hearing
anyway,
we
will
begin
it
so
that
we
force
help
for
all
the
individuals
here
today
who
need
help.
I've
had
people
who
tell
me
I
live
in
certain
neighborhood
with
my
girlfriend.
They
don't
come
in
my
neighborhood,
but
when
I
hang
out
at
West
Philly,
you
know
close
to
52nd
and
market
I,
see
them
toast
stickers.
All
the
time.
A
There's
so
many
nightmares.
I
know
our
Park
near
Penn's
Landing
for
an
affair.
This
summer
did
not
snis.
My
city,
car
I
had
to
signs
in
the
window,
did
not
see
a
no
parking
here
to
corner
but
got
out
and
put
got
those
machines
and
got
a
ticket
put
it
in
the
window.
I
was
only
there
about
15
minutes.
When
I
came
back,
not
only
did
I
have
a
ticket
on
the
car
which
I
understood
because
I
wasn't
supposed
to
be
there,
but
they
would
give
my
hat
a
big
orange
toe
sign.
A
You
know,
I,
don't
know
any
elected
official
I
met
with
the
state
rep
today,
who
said
he
was
on
crack.
Had
just
moved,
he
was
one
minute
and
how
he
went
and
and
got
a
ticket
I
mean
people
in
our
city
feel
harassed
by
the
parking
authority.
And
that's
not
right.
You
know,
collecting
money
is
one
thing
having
the
public
feel
harassed
by
the
parking
authority
is
another
and
picking
on
certain
neighborhoods
and
certain
people
is
still
another.
A
So
we
are
serious
about
this,
so
administration
we're
waiting
for
you
to
send
someone
up
right
now,
and
certainly
let
me
know
when
you
are
here
so
that
I
know
so
these
folks
I'm
going
to
call
on
you
again,
I'll
start
another
here.
Another
bill
and
I'm
gonna
call
on
you
again
to
make
sure
that
all
of
you
are
satisfied.
Okay
and
thank
you
so
much
God
in
civic
league.
We
thank
you.
A
B
Civic
League
I
stood
outside
the
park
Mathari
yesterday
for
two
hours.
How
many
of
y'all
saw
me
out
there?
They
told
me
I
couldn't
stand
out
there.
They
then
came
back
and
told
me
I
couldn't
give
out
paraphernalia
that
doesn't
with
the
guard
inside.
He
don't
know
the
difference
between
paper
and
paraffin
airy.
That
shows
me
a
problem
right
there.
Then
they
said
I
needed
to
stay
in
25
feet
away.
I
told
him
call
the
police
lock
me
up.
B
None
of
these
people
knew
about
this
hearing
today,
other
than
me,
giving
out
the
paperwork
for
two
hours
from
8:15
to
10,
eight
to
10:45
yesterday
outside
the
parking
authority.
So
whoever
gave
out
information
about
this
hearing
it
did
not
get
to
the
people
of
Germantown
North
Philly,
West,
Philly,
South,
West
Philly.
It
did
not
get
to
the
people
that
needed
your
constituents
did
not
get
the
information.
I
stood
out
there.
It's
a
problem
with
the
parking
authority.
B
A
You
thank
you,
miss
Palau,
thank
you
for
being
out
there.
We
appreciate
you
being
here
taking
that
time.
Yes,
and
we
appreciate
everybody
who's
here.
People
have
to
pay
for
parking.
People
have
to
pay
for
car
fare,
it's
not
easy
to
it's,
not
even
easy
to
get
around
and
that
lousy.
This
just
nut
street
thing.
I
agreed
to
do.
That
was
a
mistake.
G
F
G
F
I
have
a
sign
that
reads:
the
Philadelphia
Parking
Authority
is
a
disgrace
to
the
business
profession
and
it
needs
to
change
the
reason.
I
start
picking
the
parking.
A
start
is
because
I
owned
a
1992
Corvette
that
was
not
boot
eligible
that
the
parking
authority
came
in
and
told
my
car
and
went
back
to
the
year
of
1975
said
I
owed
him
$9,000
forty-two
years
ago.
So
upon
that
I
went
down
to
traffic
court
and
I
was
with
the
traffic
court
and
I
told
them.
F
I
said
well,
look
I'm
on
Social,
Security
I
get
about
$600
a
month,
and
that's
my
only
income
that
I
have
right.
Now
they
gave
me
a
payment
plan
of
$5,000
down
and
$400
a
month
as
I.
Would
that
twice
so
from
there?
I
came
to
a
call,
City,
Council
and
I
said
well,
somebody
got
to
be
able
to
do
something
about
this
parking
authority.
F
So
what
happened
when
I
called
I
talked
to
a
gentleman
he
said:
I
had
another
vehicle
that
had
three
tickets,
because
the
three
tickets
you
can
get
tows
I
was
on
a
payment
plan.
So
when
I
told
the
gentleman
what
happened
to
me,
he
said
well,
the
only
thing
I
can
tell
you.
If
you
have
another
vehicle,
you
better
get
that
out
your
name,
because
the
parking
authority
can
come
and
tow
that
as
well.
F
So
then
I
said
well:
I
don't
have
$9,000,
which
the
Corvette
was
a
classic
and
the
Corvette
was
worth
about
$20,000
to
get
to
the
meat
of
it.
The
parking
authority
you've
charged
me
$35
a
day
for
stores
for
a
month
and
they
wind
up
selling
my
Corvette.
So
when
I
called
him
up,
I
said
well,
how
much
did
you
sell?
My
Corvette
for
the
Corvette
was
I
mean
that
was
my
pet.
They
sold
that
car
for
$2,400
and
I'm
saying
no
way
in
the
world.
F
I
have
no
no
legitimate
nothing
to
back
this
up,
but
there's
nobody
in
their
right
mind
is
going
to
sell
a
Corvette
and
mint
condition
for
$2,400.
You
understand,
and
so
I
said,
the
only
recourse
I
could
have
was
go
down
to
the
parking
authority
and
picking
them
so
doing
that
I
managed
I
had
a
I
was
getting
signatures.
I
got
about
200
signatures
here,
the
people
that
was
pouring
in
that
parking
authority
and
I'm
not.
F
Is
that
not
a
racial
issue,
but
the
majority
of
those
people
95%,
the
ones
that
I
saw
coming
in
was
people
of
color.
Not
only
that
they're
women
that
I've
seen
that
people
was
sitting
there
and
it
was
stressed
out
crying
because
their
parking
authority
had
booted
their
car
so
their
vehicle
they
couldn't
get
to
work.
They
couldn't
take
their
babies
to
the
babysitter.
It's
a
disgrace.
Man
and
I'm,
not
against.
F
If
I
pay
your
ticket
we're
going
back
42
years
on
me,
one
guy
I
even
seen
is
he
went
to
the
bank
because
he
had
two
cars.
His
wife
have
to
go
to
work,
the
parking
authority
threatened
to.
In
other
words,
if
you
have
anything
under
your
name,
they
can
tow
it
because
they
was
threatened
to
take
his
car.
His
wife
called
he
went
to
the
bank,
took
out
a
ten
thousand
dollar
loan.
F
I
saw
this
and
went
in
and
gave
the
parking
authority
$6,000
cash
and
made
a
pate
and
made
a
payment
of
Ramon's
appear
another
two
thousand.
Now,
if
you're
gonna
make
a
payment
plan,
as
they
did
me,
how
are
you
going
to
make
me
a
give
me
a
payment
plan
for
five
thousand
dollars
down
and
four
hundred
dollars
a
month
on
a
$600
month,
income
I
said
I
couldn't
pay
that
if
you
just
if
you
talk,
we
gonna
give
me
$200
just
$200
a
month.
F
If
you
will
get
somebody
that
payment
panting,
a
payment
plan
to
me
making
$600
should
be
based
on
my
income,
but
that
was
there
was
totally
extortion
to
take
my
vehicle.
That
was
not
boot
eligible
and
tell
me,
go
go
back
42
years
to
1975
and
tell
me
to
give
you
$9,000,
you're
gonna
sell
my
car,
which
they
did
and
everybody
that
came
by
I.
Was
there
just
taking
these
numbers
and
let
you
know
I'm
here
but
I'm
here,
to
represent
about
250
other
people
that
sign
this
petition.
F
A
A
The
director
of
the
Bureau
of
administrative
adjudication
at
the
parking
authority,
this
gentleman
will
meet
you
across
the
hall
in
the
caucus
room
and
we'll
try
to
work
this
out,
including
yours,
so
I
will
come
back
as
soon
as
we
hear
these
two
bills.
We'll
come
back.
So
we're
saying
our
mayor's
office
and
mr.
Connors
that
we
want
to
make
sure
you
hear
us.
Mr.
A
A
B
Rochelle
bail
out,
we
understood
that
there
was
going
to
be
a
hearing
today
on
a
bill.
You
put
you,
you
submit
it
yeah.
You
can
hear
from
the
people
in
reference
to
what
they're
going
through.
We
don't
want
to
talk
to
an
administrator.
They
ain't
gonna,
do
nothing
but
give
us
lip
service
there's
a
bill.
Then
people
are
here
to
express
how
they
feel
what
they're
going
through,
so
that
this
bill
can
be
voted
out
of
committee
and
on
the
floor.
B
We
don't
want
to
hear
for
what
they're
gonna
give
us
what
they're
giving
them
down
at
the
parking
authority.
Unless
he
could
come
in
here
today
and
say
we're
going
to
put
an
amnesty
bill
all
tickets
over
three
years,
we're
going
to
be
out.
We
don't
want
to
talk
to
them.
We
don't
want
to
go
back
and
forth
with
them
about
this.
We
understood-
and
this
is
what
I
understood
and
what
everybody
else
understood-
those
250
signatures
and
when
I
bring
back
mine
that
I
got
it's
a
lot
more
than
that.
B
There's
gonna
be
one
more
thing
here:
they're
going
up
and
down
people's
houses
running
all
the
tags,
putting
boots
and
no
sooner
than
they
put
that
boot
on
15
minutes
later
de
tournay
cars
unless
they're
gonna
stop
that
nonsense.
Until
their
hearing
is
met,
we
gonna
have
a
problem
up
here:
City
Council,
because
that's
what
they
doing
every
single
day
they
have
joined
town
they're
in
North,
Philly
they're
in
East
Mountain,
everyday
West
Mountain.
B
A
A
H
You,
madam
chair,
thank
you.
Your
due
diligence
on
this
PP
a
matter
I
want
to
thank
you
and
the
members
of
the
Finance
Committee
in
2006
I
introduced
a
package
of
tax
incentives
to
promote
the
growth
of
sustainable
businesses,
particularly
small
businesses,
in
order
to
establish
Philadelphia
as
the
be
capital
of
the
world
benefits.
H
Corporations
are
extremely
important,
tend
to
be
promoted,
promote
women,
owned
businesses,
home-based
businesses
and
provide
living
wage
jobs,
be
corpse,
are
certified
by
the
mayor's
office
of
sustainability
because
they
invest
in
triple
bottom
line:
people,
planet
and
profit
for
the
benefit
of
our
city.
They
provide
the
family,
sustaining
jobs,
they
ensure
opportunities
to
women
and
minorities
at
executive
positions,
and
they
give
back
to
the
Philadelphia
community.
The
sustainable
jumpstart
tax
credit
exempts
new
sustainable
businesses
from
income
and
receipts
tax
liability
for
up
to
three
years.
H
The
amendment
I
am
introducing
gives
the
Department
of
Revenue
the
discretion
to
grant
some
or
all
of
the
credit
to
businesses
that
fall
and
meet
the
credits,
employment
requirements
in
the
event
of
unforeseen
circumstances,
I
want
to
particularly
thank
Frank
Breslin
and
Marisa
Waxman
from
the
of
revenue
for
ensuring
this
program
operates
as
a
powerful
incentive
for
businesses
that
do
good
by
our
city.
I'm
happy
to
answer
any
questions
for
my
colleagues
and
I.
Ask
for
your
support.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
Thank
you.
I
E
A
J
E
Good
morning,
Councilwoman
Blackwell
and
members
of
the
committee
on
finance,
my
name
is
Frank
Breslin
I'm
revenue,
commissioner
I'm
here
today
to
present
testimony
in
support
of
the
bill.
1
7
0,
7,
1
7,
with
anticipated
amendments.
This
bill
was
introduced
by
Councilwoman,
who
known
as
Sanchez,
to
expand
the
new
sustainable
business
tax
credit
to
include
three
years
of
tax
relief
for
the
net
profits
tax.
In
addition
to
the
business
income
and
receipts
tax
to
more
easily
market.
The
program
it
will
be
popularly
referred
to
as
the
sustainable
jumpstart
Tax
Credit.
E
This
program
originally
introduced
by
councilmembers
Winona,
Sanchez
and
Reynolds
Brown
exempted
new
sustainable
businesses
from
business
income
and
receipts
tax
liabilities
for
up
to
three
years,
providing
that
the
business
employs
at
least
two
non
relatives
who
work
in
the
city
at
least
60%
of
the
time
within
12
months,
through
the
businesses
18
month
anniversary,
with
the
changes
proposed
in
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero,
seven
one.
Seven.
These
businesses
will
also
receive
the
same
benefit
with
respect
to
the
net
profits
tax.
E
The
expected
amendments
supported
by
the
administration
would
give
the
discretion
to
grant
some
or
all
the
credit
to
businesses
that
fail
to
meet
the
employment
requirements
due
to
reasons
beyond
their
control,
such
as
natural
disasters,
acts
of
terrorism,
unforeseen
industry
trends
or
a
loss
of
a
major
supplier
or
market.
This
is
consistent
with
other
tax
credit
programs,
such
as
the
job
creation,
tax
credit,
the
administration,
including
the
Department
of
Revenue,
and
the
Office
of
Sustainability,
look
forward
to
the
implementation
of
the
changes
in
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero,
seven,
one,
seven!
H
Thank
you
good
morning,
good
morning,
I
was
very
very
pleased
and
I'm
always
excited
to
support
any
initiatives
that
remotely
speaks
to
growing
a
more
sustainable
planet
and
the
record
should
reflect
that
be
Corpse.
Emphasize
a
sustainable
environmental
and
public
benefit,
with
an
eye
toward
the
triple
bottom
line
of
people,
planet
and
profit.
H
Moreover,
and
for
me
a
greater
importance
is
the
fact
that
it
also
allows
another
opportunity
for
women
and
minority-owned
businesses
to
grow
sustainable
charitable
organizations.
With
that
said,
can
you
speak
to
the
the
the
the
love
of
success
we've
had
already
because
of
the
B
Corp,
we're
from
where,
where
we
were
prior
to
be
corpse
and
and
those
who
have
taken
advantage
of
this
new
tax
credit
instead
of
right.
E
Now
this
became
effective,
January
of
17
for
the
Burt
for
the
business
income
and
receipts
tax.
So
at
this
point
no
businesses
have
taken
advantage
of
it
because
they'll
it'll
take
until
they
file
their
2017
tax
returns,
which
will
happen
early
next
year
and
then
we'll
see
the
the
extent
of
utilization
of
this
time.
So.
H
E
Point
we
certainly
should
have
an
idea
of
the
of
the
number
of
applicants,
as
was
mentioned
in
my
testimony,
the
application
they
the
application
process
takes
place
through
the
Office
of
Sustainability.
Then
once
approved,
the
approved
applicants
come
over
to
the
Department
of
Revenue,
so
we
should
know
that
we
definitely
should
have
some
indication
early
next
year.
So.
E
E
We
we
go
out
and
we
talk
to
tax
professionals,
we'll
start
that
this
time
of
the
year
we
start
in
the
fall,
and
we
go
out
in
preparation
for
tax
season
to
make
sure
that
tax
professionals
know
about
all
of
our
credits
and
especially
new
credits,
so
that
they
can
take
advantage
and
that'll
be
a
part
of
it
and
we'll
include
it
in
all
of
our
communications
about
tax
credits.
Okay,.
H
F
My
name
is
Lewis
Williams
I
like
to
comment
on
small
businesses
to
my
understanding,
I,
don't
know
if
I'm
100
percent,
correct
or
not,
but
banks
have
a
lot
of
money
to
to
loan
for
businesses
and
in
small
businesses.
It
would
also
having
someone
that's
experienced
in
in
taxes
and
as
far
as
how
to
set
up
businesses.
Why
isn't
it
banks?
F
A
A
Thank
you
very
much.
Your
comment,
mr.
Williams,
as
part
of
the
record
and
certainly
I'm
sure
they
will
see
it
as
well,
anyone
else
who's,
interested
and
and
hearing
it
or
dealing
with
it
with
this
bill.
Thank
you
all
right.
Our
next
bill
is
bill.
Number
one,
seven,
zero,
eight,
seven,
eight
and
we
will
call
on.
J
J
17:08
seven
eight
an
ordinance
authorizing
and
approving
the
execution
and
delivery
of
a
service
agreement
between
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
the
Philadelphia
Redevelopment
Authority,
relating
to
the
financing
of
home
repair
program
for
city,
home
owners,
approving
the
issuance
by
such
authority
of
bonds,
notes
and
other
evidences
of
indebtedness,
including
reimbursement
obligations
related
to
lines
or
letters
of
credit
in
one
or
more
series
to
finance
or
refinance
such
program
and
authorizing
and
improving
the
obligation
of
the
city
to
pay
in
full.
When
do
the
service
fee?
J
A
K
You,
madam
chair
I,
just
wanted
to
provide
some
background
information
for
those
who
may
not
be
familiar
with
this
bill.
Last
year,
the
leadership
and
advocacy
of
our
council
president
Darrell
Clarke.
This
City
Council
passed
a
small
increase
in
the
realty
transfer
tax
that
will
allow
us
to
issue
100
million
dollars
in
bonds.
For
the
record,
the
increase
was
0.1%.
K
60
million
of
that
100
million
went
to
eliminating
the
massive
backlog
of
about
8,000
people
for
our
income,
based
grant
repair
programs
be
SRP
basic
systems,
repair,
adaptive
modification
and
weatherization
assistance,
and
we've
started
to
reduce
that
backlog.
So
huge
thanks
to
the
efficiency
of
PhD
C,
the
remain
of
40
million
of
the
100
million
was
earmarked
for
home
repair
for
a
home
repair
loan
program
and
this
bill
essentially
formalizes
an
agreement
between
the
city
and
the
Redevelopment
Authority
to
oversee
the
loan
program.
K
The
loan
program
would
mean
those
folks
who
do
not
qualify
for
the
grant
programs
because
they
literally
make-
and
you
all
ever
heard
me
say
this
a
thousand
times
not
because
they're
rich,
but
because
they
usually
make
a
nickel
over
the
income
eligibility
guidelines
or
because
they
don't
have
credit
scores
that
are
as
high
as
the
700-800
to
have
access
to
an
affordable
loan
product
in
a
footed
record,
I
emphasize
alone,
because
these
funds
will
be
repaid
so
that
this
program
can
be
sustainable.
It
must
be
a
revolving
fund
or
we
will
have
failed.
K
Council,
president
Clark
I've
been
joshing
him
lately
because
he
always
says
that
the
best
way
to
increase,
affordable
housing
in
the
city
is
by
maintaining
our
existing
housing
stock
and
nothing
could
be
any
more
truthful
before
folks
get
nervous
who
are
who
are
watching,
and
they
think
that
the
city
will
be
acting
as
a
fiduciary.
Let
me
just
you
know,
put
those
fears
to
rest.
K
What
we
are
proposing
is
that
the
city
will
not
be
the
lender,
but
that
will
come
from
a
financial
partner
institutions
and
the
Philadelphia
Redevelopment
Authority
will
be
responsible
for
monitoring
the
activity
and
making
sure
the
program
runs
as
intended,
so
that
home
owners
will
not
be
in
default.
We're
still
working
out
the
details.
What
the
credit
score
will
be,
but
I
am
confident
that
this
initiative
will
save
the
city
money
in
the
long
run,
we're
going
to
have
less
blight.
K
We're
gonna
have
fewer
people
going
into
the
shelter
system,
an
emergency
housing
which
our
chairwoman,
Jamie
Blackwell,
has
been
a
strong
advocate
for,
and
hopefully
fewer
home
owners
going
into
foreclosure
from
second
mortgages
and
or
reverse
mortgages.
So,
while
the
witnesses
are
going
to
lay
out
more
intricate
details,
I
wanted
to
provide
a
big-picture
view
and
before
they
get
out
of
here
and
I
know,
they're
listening
I
need
to
say
this
for
the
record,
because
without
these
staff
people
we
would
not
be
here
today:
herb
Wetzel,
Mike,
Koontz,
Jame,
Mumford,
matchstick,
Rachel
meadows,
Greg
Heller.
K
A
A
L
:
and
with
me
this
morning
is
Greg
Heller
executive
director
of
the
Philadelphia
Redevelopment
Authority
I'm,
here
to
testify
on
behalf
of
Bill
number
one:
seven,
zero.
Eight.
Seventy
build
number
one:
seven,
zero.
Eight.
Seventy
would
authorized
the
city
to
enter
into
a
service
agreement
with
the
Philadelphia
Redevelopment
Authority
to
finance
the
city's
home
loan
program.
The
bill
also
approves
the
issuance
by
PRA
of
bonds
or
notes
in
one
or
more
series.
L
The
bonds
shall
be
issued
and
amount
up
to
forty
million
dollars
outstanding,
plus
related
cost
of
issuance
credit
enhancements
and
discount.
The
bonds
will
be
secured
by
the
city's
obligation
under
the
service
agreement
to
budget
in
appropriate
annually
amounts
necessary
to
pay
the
service
fee,
which
will
be
sufficient
to
pay
debt
service
on
the
outstanding
bonds.
M
Morning,
Councilwoman
Blackwell
members
of
the
Finance
Committee
I'm
Greg
Heller
I'm,
the
director
of
the
Philadelphia
Redevelopment
Authority
and
I'm,
here
to
speak
in
support
of
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero,
eight,
seven,
eight,
which
is
entitled
service
agreement
between
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
the
Philadelphia
Redevelopment
Authority,
relating
to
the
financing
of
a
home
repair
program
for
city
homeowners.
The
Redevelopment
Authority
is
honored
to
be
part
of
this
important
program
that
will
provide
accessible
and
affordable
home
repair
loans
to
low
moderate
and
middle-income
Philadelphia.
Homeowners.
M
Philadelphia
has
a
high
rate
of
homeownership
about
52%,
which
is
far
above
most
of
our
pure
cities.
We
also
have
an
aging
housing
stock
with,
and
half
of
our
house
is
built
before
1950.
It
is
critical
that
homeowners
have
the
resources
to
keep
up
their
properties
and
to
stay
in
their
homes.
However,
research
shows
that
Philadelphians
are
denied
home
repair
loans
at
a
significantly
higher
rate
than
the
national
average.
M
Through
this
home
loan
repair
program,
we
seek
to
expand
the
pool
of
Philadelphia
homeowners
who
qualify
for
home
repair
loans
while
ensuring
that
those
homeowners
can
afford
the
loans
and
have
the
support
they
need
to
succeed.
In
partnership
with
the
city,
the
Redevelopment
Authority
has,
in
the
past
administered
an
array
of
financial
products
and
programs
to
expand
access
and
opportunity
for
all
philadelphians.
M
The
key
characteristics
of
this
new
program
include
one
create
a
flexible
financial
product
that
is
accessible
and
affordable
enough
to
expand
opportunity,
while
also
ensuring
that
we
only
make
loans
to
those
who
can
afford
them
to
build
a
public-private
partnership
that
allows
financial
institutions
to
expand
the
eligibility
of
borrowers,
but
where
the
city
stays
behind
the
scenes
and
facilitates
a
conventional
relationship
between
borrowers
and
private
lenders.
Three
support
homeowners
through
program
intermediaries,
who
will
provide
hands-on
technical
assistance
throughout
the
process,
including
financial
counseling
I,
should
add.
M
In
this
way,
the
program
will
have
the
secondary
goal
of
creating
opportunities
for
a
diverse
array
of
small
contractors
to
grow
their
businesses
and
create
jobs
for
evaluate
the
program
from
beginning
to
end
and
set
up
a
feedback
process
where
we
can
adjust
the
program
over
time,
5
Connect
compensation
to
the
evaluation
process,
so
that
the
investment
of
public
funds
is
contingent
on
the
level
of
successful
outcomes
and,
finally,
six
structure
the
program
so
that
it
can
st.
its
sustain
itself
for
as
long
as
possible.
M
Our
goal
is
for
this
program
to
support
the
needs
of
Philadelphia
homeowners
for
many
years.
We
believe
this
program
will
greatly
expand
access
to
capital
and
access
to
opportunity
for
homeowners
across
our
city.
We
applaud
city
council
council
president
Clark
Councilwoman
Cheryl
Parker
for
spearheading
this
initiative,
and
we
look
forward
to
partnering
with
you
to
ensure
its
success.
I
respectfully
request
favorable
consideration
of
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero,
eight
seven,
eight
and
we'd
like
to
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
here
today.
I'd
be
happy
to
answer
any
questions
you
have
at
this
time.
A
N
N
Certainly
you
know
thank
you
to
you
all
for
your
work
and
you
know
for
there
being
a
working
group
to
work
through
all
the
nuances
of
something
like
this,
which
is
so
very
important.
A
few
months
ago,
I
had
the
honor
of
visiting
one
of
our
seniors
in
Germantown,
along
with
the
council
president,
and
actually
we
got
coverage
on
CBS
three
actually
came
out
and
did
a
story
on
this
particular
senior.
N
Who
was
able
to
get
a
stair
lift
into
her
home,
which
probably
cost
somewhere
between
I
think
nine
and
twelve
thousand
dollars
what
she
never
would
have
been
able
to
afford,
and
so
I
remember
her
saying
and
she
was
in
her
80s
I
believe
but
I
remember
her
saying
that
this
gave
her
a
new
lease
on
life.
This
gave
her,
you
know
opportunity
and
she
just
felt
revived
and
that
she
could,
you
know,
stay
in
her
home.
She
did
not
have
to
leave,
and
that
is
just
critically
important.
You
know
a
lot
of
folk
times.
N
We
assume
that
when
folks,
you
know
when
they
retire,
you
know
if
they've
done
their
planning
right,
then
you
know
all
they
have
to
worry
about
is
your
their
utilities.
The
house
has
paid
off,
but
a
lot
of
times
house
becomes
a
bit
of
an
issue
because
there's
deferred
maintenance
and
because
of
that
deferred
maintenance,
you
become
utility,
poor
and
so
there's
a
whole
lot
of
issues
that
go
into
this
assistance,
but
is
greatly
needed
and
I
just
really
wanted
to
say.
N
F
Hello,
Lewis
Williams.
My
question
is
regarding
to
real
estate
I
owned
a
property
in
University
City
is
a
two-story
property
but
I'm
finding
out
that
the
property,
even
though,
is
a
two-story
I'm
finding
out
that
their
property
is
zoned
for
six
storeys,
so
I'm,
seeing
a
lot
of
developers
coming
in
buying
these
properties
for
two
stories,
taking
them
up
six
storeys.
So
now
you
don't
took
a
property
that
may
be
worth
250,000
300,000
now
have
you
taken
that
property
up
to
maybe
a
million
and
a
half
or
two
million
dollar
property?
So
what
I'm?
F
A
A
F
A
M
Sure
so
my
understanding
is
the
the
question
is:
if
there's
a
property,
that's
currently
two
storeys,
but
it's
zoned
for
a
higher
F
AR.
How
that
affects
the
value
of
the
property,
so
I
would
say,
assuming
the
property
has
no
other
encumbrances
and
it
really
can
be
developed
as
of
right
at
a
higher
F
AR.
That's
just
a
private
real
estate
decision.
M
A
A
A
K
You,
madam
chair
mr.
Heller
I,
want
you
to.
If
you
will
talk
about
the
the
importance
of
sustainability
relative
to
this
process
and
the
development
of
the
product.
There
are
many
programs
out
there
that
we've
heard
of-
and
you
know,
we've
been,
you
know,
studying
the
pros
and
cons
of
these
sort
of
programs
across
the
country,
but
usually
what
has
happened
as
the
word
when
the
well
runs
dry?
That
is
the
pot
of
funds
that
are
allocated
for
the
program
runs
out
in
a
year.
K
M
Councilman,
that's
a
good
question,
so
one
of
the
main
considerations
of
this
program
is
how
we
can
use
this
public
funding
efficiently
in
a
way
that
we
can
service
a
significant,
significant
number
of
properties
over
a
large
number
of
years.
So
we
are
looking
at
various
different
models
and
you
know,
depending
on
which
model
we
we
go
with.
You
know
that
we
think
that
this
program
could
potentially
go
for.
You
know
20
30
years,
but
it
all
depends
on
various
components
of
which
model
and
other
factors
and
rusev
funds.
K
I
appreciate
you
stating
that
foot
of
record,
because
we
want
to
give
credit
to
again
the
workgroup
all
of
those
who
have
been
involved
in
to
making
sure
that
the
issue
of
sustainability
was
the
foundation
of
developing
the
program
so
that
it
is
not
a
one-shot
deal.
Philadelphia's
developed
this
program,
40
Philadelphians
have
the
opportunity
to
take
advantage
of
it
and
then
poof,
all
of
a
sudden
is
gone
and
there's
no
more
funding
available.
So
thank
you
for
making
that
note
on
the
record.
I
appreciate
it
absolutely.
A
J
H
O
Name
is
Orlando
Acosta
I
wanted
to
speak
one
in
1708,
seventy
I.
Basically,
what
just
wanted
to
integrate
that
my
mother,
my
mothers
and
their
neighbors
was
having
issues
about
their
Iran,
their
drive
for
their
drive
through
lots,
where
the
trash
trucks
was
coming
through
the
neighborhood
and
different
things
of
that
sort.
So
I
just
wanted
to
ask
Councilwoman
Parker.
O
Does
that
also
cover
that
that
type
of
situation
where
the
drive
throughs
were
being
damaged
because
the
city
trash
trucks
was
coming
through
the
neighborhoods
and
different
things
like
that,
because
I
do
know
that
you
wrote
in
my
letter
and
that's
my
mother's
neighborhood.
So
basically,
when
I
found
out
was
talking
to
the
neighbors,
then
I
was
you
know,
constantly
always
working
with
them
and
they
were
like
very,
very,
like
literally
upset,
so
I
told
them
that
I
was
going
to
basically
find
out
if
that
basically
covered.
O
O
It
needs
to
be
easy
process
for
them
to
be
a
part
of
this
being
able
to
not
only
fix
houses
but
be
able
to
purchase
their
house
from
HUD
different
things
like
that
now
I
know
the
city
doesn't
give
funds
for
her,
but
if
they
can
work
along
with
her
around
this
whole
development
program
around
what
they're
talking
about
with
you
know,
private
homeowners.
You
know
the
conversation
also
needs
to
be
brought
in
about
herding
and
bringing
bringing
sustainability
to
be
able
to
purchase,
because
we
have
a
whole
lot
of
people
that
rent.
K
Me,
let
me
respond
to
you
and
I.
Want
you
to
know,
I
appreciate
your
comment
for
the
listener
audience.
I
want
you
to
know.
I
did
not
pay
this
gentleman
to
ask
that
question
about
driveways
emotional,
but
since
he
didn't
catch
the
waterblock
councilman
squirrel.
You
know
I'm
happy
about
that.
Finally,
you
are
absolutely
right.
K
So
if
you've
told
your
mother
and
those
who
live
in
the
community
where
they
get
their
trash
picked
up
in
the
driveway
and
they've
seen
the
the
actual
driveway
erode
row
for
the
year
and
then
the
city
comes
out
to
give
you
an
assessment,
and
you
learn
that
when
you
purchase
your
house,
no
one
specifically
told
you
on
the
deed
that
the
driveway
area
behind
your
house
is
heard
any
possibilities.
Nevertheless,
this
product
will
be
a
tool
that
individuals
who
need
to
get
their
driveways
were
paved.
K
They
can
have
the
ability
to
have
access
to
capital
and
aside
from
capital,
because
we're
going
to
offer
an
amendment
to
this
bill
today.
Another
challenge
has
been
homeowners,
getting
access
to
a
contractor.
Who
is
reputable
so
not
where
you're
going
to
put
down
75%
of
the
money,
and
then
it
comes
time
but
to
come
back
and
do
the
work
and
they've
disappeared,
and
you
just
don't
know
what's
happening
so
that
is
sort
of
over
the
overall
sort
of
process
and
instruction
of
what
we
wanted
to
do.
K
Provide
access
to
capital
in
a
way
that
homeowners
wouldn't
be
gouged
and
to
make
sure
that
those
who
have
less
than
perfect
credit
have
access
to
the
capital
and
make
those
repairs.
The
other
issues
that
you
mentioned
relative
to
the
maintenance
of
affordable
housing
and
the
actual
ownership
relative
to
PHS
I'll
be
more
than
happy
to
talk
with
you
afterwards,
and
we
have
some
members
of
our
technical
staff
over
here.
I
see
janae
sitting
there.
We
can
talk
about
that.
Okay
afterwards,
but
I
really
do
appreciate
your
comment
about
the
area
challenge
right.
O
They
knew
nothing
about
the
bill
and
I
feel
that
that's
really
a
shame,
because
only
because
I
come
down
here
on
a
regular
basis
without
able
to
go
back
and
tell
them
where
this
bill
was
coming
up,
but
they,
but
not
enough
people
knew
about
it
and
that
that
gonna
only
cover
this
bill.
But
anything
that
goes
on
in
this
chamber.
A
lot
of
people
in
these
neighborhoods
don't
know
what
bills
are
being
done
and
every
time
I
talk
to
people
about
different
different
bills.
O
K
Closing
I
want
to
say
welcome.
Thank
you
so
very
much
for
your
comments
and
I.
We
were
just
say
in
here,
particularly
relative
to
this
home
preservation,
sort
of
project
or
home
repair,
a
product
that
we're
working
on
here
it
the
only
way
access
to
it
will
be
successful
as
if
our
housing,
counseling
agencies
and
those
who
are
in
the
neighborhoods
and
on
the
ground,
and
doing
the
work
on
a
daily
basis
that
they
are
helping
us
communicate.
A
P
A
P
Good
morning,
chairwoman,
Blackwell
and
members
of
the
Finance
Committee
thank
you.
I'm
Jill,
Roberts
executive
director
of
the
healthy
row
house
project
healthy
row
house
project
was
founded
in
2015
to
research
and
advocate
for
a
financial
and
service
delivery
model
that
would
make
resources
available
to
low
to
moderate
income
Philadelphians
or
living
in
deteriorating
homes.
Conditions
in
these
homes
are
making
people
sick,
especially
children,
with
asthma,
philadelphia's
hospitalization
rate
for
asthma
was
34
percent
higher
than
the
state
for
the
years
2009
through
2013
for
the
city
as
a
whole.
P
If
owners
can't
maintain
these
critically
needed,
affordable
homes,
they
won't
be
there
for
the
next
generation.
Since
2015,
we
have
researched
other
home
repair
programs
targeted
to
load
moderate-income
families
studied
housing
conditions
spoken
with
city
residents,
who
are
in
need
of
home,
repair
and
researched
areas
of
need.
In
the
city,
we
urged
financial
institutions
to
join
in
the
effort
and
heard
about
their
challenges
in
lending
to
low
to
moderate
income.
P
Homeowners
with
lower
credit
scores,
we
joined
with
healthcare
organizations
to
determine
how
to
ensure
people
with
health-related
home
repair
needs
are
directed
to
programs
that
can
assist
them.
We
gather
data
on
household
income
and
repair
needs,
and
it
says
how
many
home
loans
could
be
repaid
how
many
homes
could
be
repaired,
supported
by
the
council's
forty
million
dollar
bond.
P
We
have
learned
that
a
low-interest
loan
program,
like
the
one
that
bill
one
seven
zero
eight
seven
eight
supports,
is
an
essential
tool
to
help
homeowners,
maintain
their
homes
and
avoid
displacement.
Well,
not
all
homeowners
can
afford
a
monthly
payment
of
ninety
seven
dollars
for
a
ten
thousand
dollar
home
repair
alone.
Many
can
yet
Philadelphia
banks
lock
out
virtually
every
homeowner
with
a
credit
score
lower
than
six
sixty
that
single
credit
score
requirement,
locks
out
half
of
Philadelphians
seeking
a
home
improvement
loan
from
our
research.
P
Detroit
established
a
home
repair
loan
program
that
lends
to
homeowners
with
credit
scores
as
low
as
five
sixty
Detroit
has
five
hundred
and
seventy
loans
and
repayments
status.
Two
owners
with
credit
scores
below
six
sixty
and
has
suffered
no
defaults.
Only
three
percent
were
eleven
of
those
loans
have
late
payments
of
90
days.
Detroit
has
shown
us
that
people
with
low
to
moderate
income
and
credit
scores
lower
than
660
can
repay
home
improvement
loans
with
the
right
wraparound
services
in
place
in
Philadelphia.
P
Thirty-One
thousand
four
hundred
forty-seven
homeowners
applied
for
home
improvement
loans
between
2012
and
2015,
62
percent
were
denied
compared
with
the
national
average
of
37
percent.
If
you
look
at
the
maps
I
hand
it
out,
you
will
see
colors,
ranging
from
pale
yellow
to
dark
brown,
lighter
colors
indicate
lower
numbers
of
applicants
and
denials.
These
maps
clearly
show
that
Philadelphians
want
loans
and
are
being
locked
out
from
getting
those
loans,
particularly
in
minority
communities.
Q
Good
morning
a
chairwoman
Blackwell
members
of
the
committee
and
other
members
of
City
Council,
I
am
andrew
fresh
cough
executive
director
of
philadelphia
local
initiative
support
corporation,
also
known
as
list.
I
would
like
to
present
testimony
regarding
bill
number
one:
seven,
oh,
eight,
seven,
eight,
which
would
authorize
page
to
seek
into
service
forty
million
dollars
in
bond
financing
for
home
repairs.
Q
Loan
programs
risk
supports
using
the
proceeds
from
these
bonds
for
home
repairs
and
to
maintain
safe,
decent
and
affordable
housing
in
all
ten
city
council
districts
list
thanks
councilmen
partner
and
council
president
clark
for
their
leadership
in
these
efforts.
Liske
is
a
leading
national
and
local
community
development
financial
institution
locally.
We've
invested
more
than
four
hundred
million
dollars
in
Philadelphia's
homes
and
neighborhoods
during
the
past
36
years
bill.
One
seven,
oh
eight.
Q
Seven
eight
aligns
with
lists
ongoing
support
of
unity
based
home
repair
programs,
including
the
home,
from
preservation
initiative
in
the
third
Council
District,
which
has
completed
more
than
200
home
repairs
in
West
Philadelphia
Philadelphia's
proposed
home
repair
loan
program
also
mirrors
a
similar
program.
That
list
has
helped
design
and
run
in
Detroit.
That
program
has
completed
more
than
300
repairs
and
has
600
more
underway.
I've
included
some
updated
information
about
the
Detroit
program.
With
copies
of
my
written
testimony
in
reviewing
Exhibit
A
of
the
bill,
there
are
several
observations
and
recommendations.
Q
I
would
like
to
share.
First
I
believe
that
it
is
essential
that
a
city
funded
home
repair
loan
program
makes
loans
to
homeowners
with
credit
scores
below
600.
The
Detroit
program
allows
for
credit
scores
as
low
as
560.
If
banks
and
other
private
lenders
will
not
lend
their
own
funds
to
borrowers
with
sub
600
credit
scores,
even
with
a
city
guarantee,
then
the
city
may
need
to
make
bond
proceeds
available
directly
for
loans.
Q
Second,
liske
is
pleased
to
see
that
bond
proceeds
could
be
used
for
credit,
counseling
and
program
related
services
for
homeowners.
Many
homeowners
do
not
have
do
you
have
credit
and
other
barriers
to
getting
home
repair
loans,
including
lack
of
knowledge
about
applying
for
loans
or
selecting
contractors.
Philadelphia
has
an
excellent
network
of
Housing
and
credit
counselors
and
they
should
be
paid
to
help
owners
qualify
for
repair
loans
through
the
program.
Q
Q
Third,
there
are
many
homeowners
who
will
not
qualify
for
home
repair
loans
and
who
may
not
be
eligible
for
basic
systems.
Repairs
list
works
with
CDC's
and
organizations
like
rebuilding,
Together
and
Habitat
for
Humanity,
who
have
the
expertise
and
systems
to
perform
repairs
for
these
homeowners.
If
a
portion
of
bond
proceeds
to
take
the
form
of
grants,
these
organizations
could
save
hundreds
of
Philadelphia
homes.
Q
Finally,
thousands
of
low
and
moderate-income
Philadelphians
live
in
unsafe
apartments
in
small
apartment
building
and
converted
houses.
Liske
is
pleased
to
see
that
bond
proceeds
could
be
used
for
loans
to
landlords
who
rent
to
low
and
moderate-income
tenants
in
one
to
four
unit.
Buildings
list
recommends
using
a
portion
of
bond
proceeds
for
a
demonstration
repair
loan
program
for
landlords
who
commit
to
maintaining
safe,
decent
and
affordable
housing
for
low
and
moderate
income.
Tenants.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
today.
A
A
R
Morning,
my
name
is
Emily
Lucas
I'm,
the
director
of
home
repair
at
Habitat
for
Humanity
Philadelphia,
habitat
Philadelphia,
bring
build
strength
and
stability
through
shelter
by
creating
opportunities
for
homeownership
and
affordable
home
repair.
Over
the
past
seven
years,
spurred
on
by
the
incredible
need
here
in
Philadelphia,
habitat
has
begun
to
focus
half
of
our
work
on
preserving
homes
for
lower
income
families
through
repair
work.
Our
extensive
critical
repair
services
range
from
major
systems,
structural
and
roofing
repairs
to
accessibility
and
health
and
safety
improvements.
R
Currently
we
provide
these
repair
services
for
about
90
households
a
year,
the
average
construction
cost
for
these
repair
projects
is
$13,000
and
the
average
household
income
for
families
served
is
39%
area
median
income
or
approximately
$26,000
for
a
family
of
two
habitat
repair
services
are
not
free.
Homeowners
repay
a
portion
of
the
total
construction
costs.
The
portion
is
determined
by
a
sliding
scale
based
on
household
income.
R
Additionally,
habitat
charges
no
interest
as
the
homeowner
pays
off
their
project
costs,
overtime,
habitats
model
and
process
are
very
similar
to
that
of
a
traditional
home
improvement
loan
and
application
process,
with
some
notable
adaptations
to
make
it
affordable
and
accessible
homeowners
complete
an
extensive
application
and
intake
process
that
includes
paying
an
application
fee
and
providing
vacation
verification
of
clear
title
to
their
home.
After
paying
a
$100
deposit
to
start
work,
monthly
payments
are
prorated
for
up
to
40
months.
R
The
average
repair
cost
for
the
homeowner
is
$24,000
$2,400,
with
an
average
monthly
repayment
of
$100
and
repayment
term
of
around
2
years,
due
to
their
low
income
and
low
credit
scores.
Our
average
homeowner
cannot
access
traditional
loan
products.
The
bulk
of
homeowners
in
our
program
have
a
credit
score
in
the
range
of
five.
Eighty
to
six
hundred
several
do
not
have
enough
credit
history
to
even
be
rated.
R
Despite
these
traditional
risk
factors,
we
estimate
that
80%
of
homeowners
are
current
on
project
repayments,
with
a
large
portion
of
the
remaining
20%
still
paying
off
their
loans,
but
missing
payments
here
and
there
or
paying
a
little
bit
less
per
month
than
their
original
term.
What
I
think
of
the
people
that
a
low
interest
loan
program
might
help
I?
Think
of
Miss
Deborah,
an
elderly
homeowner
in
North
Philadelphia
living
on
SSI
and
small
and
a
small
pension.
R
She
is
low
income,
but
no
at
low
income
enough
to
qualify
for
repairs
through
B
SRP
because
of
a
low
credit
score
and
low
income.
She
could
also
not
qualify
for
a
traditional
home
improvement
loan,
so
in
2001,
a
2011
when
her
furnace
broke
and
she
could
not
scrape
together
the
cash
to
have
it
replaced.
Miss
Deborah
resorted
to
sleeping
in
her
sister's
house
on
the
couch,
while
her
home
remained
vacant.
All
winter
I
also
think
about
the
Jacksons
grandparents
in
Germantown,
who
are
the
caretakers
for
their
two
children,
grandchildren.
One
who
has
special
needs.
R
Howeitat
did
critical
repair
work
in
their
home
in
2014
two
months
ago.
They
finished
paying
off
their
project,
cost
slow
and
steady
at
one
hundred
and
twelve
dollars
a
month.
They
paid
down
their
$4,000
bill
in
just
three
years.
Habitat
provides
a
strong
example
for
a
potential
low-interest
loan
program.
Our
experience
clearly
shows
that
even
households
with
very
low
income
have
the
appetite
and
ability
to
repay
borrowed
funds
for
critical
repair
work.
R
Each
month,
habitats,
repair
program
fields
around
300
calls
from
struggling
homeowners,
people
like
Miss
Debra
and
the
Jacksons
who
cannot
afford
to
repair
their
homes.
And/Or
cannot
access
traditional
home
improvement
loans
for
these
homeowners.
The
path
to
accessing,
affordable
repair
services
is
narrow.
A
citywide
low
interest
loan
product
would
widen
this
path,
allowing
more
philadelphians
to
access
the
capital
needed
to
improve
their
homes.
Additionally,
a
low
interest
loan
product
would
be
an
effective
complement
to
the
ramped
up,
BSR
grant
program
and
the
work
of
other
repair
providers
like
Habitat
for
Humanity.
G
Thank
you
to
the
members
of
council
present
for
this
hearing.
I
am
here
to
support
bill,
one
seven,
zero,
eight,
seven,
eight
authorizing
and
approving
the
executioners
livery
of
a
service
agreement
between
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
the
Philadelphia
Redevelopment
Authority,
as
it
relates
to
the
financing
of
a
home
repair
program
that
is
a
home
repair
loan
program
for
city
homeowners.
I
am
Thomas
flirty
assistant
director
for
planning
and
policy
at
the
Energy
coordinating
agency.
G
Rather
than
giving
the
full
written
testimony,
I
will
move
right
along
and
tell
you
one
more
story
about
these
homeowners
who
are
above
the
cutoff
and
need
programs
like
this
ECA
is
able
to
help
certain
homeowners
due
to
a
grant.
We
receive
regularly
from
the
WWE
Smith
Charitable
Trusts.
Their
portfolio
allows
us
to
repair,
replace
heaters
for
seniors,
who
are
above
the
cutoff
for
the
LIHEAP
crisis
program
and
the
heater
hotline.
G
G
Their
heater
broke
down
four
days
before
Christmas
in
2016
Alice
called
and
searched
around
for
help.
They
had
lost
their
only
child
six
years
ago
and
there
that
daughter
had
been
their
caretaker,
who
took
care
of
business
matters
for
the
household
Alice,
applied
to
the
heater
hotline
program.
Only
to
find
out
that
she
and
her
husband
were
over
income
and
ineligible
for
help.
She
began
to
lose
hope
and
Lehman
was
in
the
hospital,
and
the
hospital
said
he
could
not
be
released
to
go
home
until
the
heat
issues
were
addressed.
G
G
There's
also
the
matter
of
our
weatherization
program,
which
goes
up
to
200%
of
income,
while
repair
programs
stop
at
150,
so
there's
a
gap
there
where
home
repair
programs
which
could
prevent
our
intervening
to
help
homeowners
save
on
energy
bills.
Can't
access
grant
funding
to
repair
those
matters
again.
G
I
Currently,
most
lenders
have
minimum
credit,
score
requirements
and
a
640
to
660
range
for
home
improvement
loans,
although
many
have
targeted
plans,
payment
payment
plans
and
targeted
programs
for
low
and
moderate
income,
households,
whether
through
the
community,
Investment,
Act
or
otherwise,
that
support
credit
score
is
as
low
as
620.
We
all
know
that
credit
scores
are
used
by
lenders
to
predict
a
consumers
likelihood
of
paying
back
debt
compared
to
all
other
consumers.
I
More
specifically
is
the
likelihood
that
a
consumer
will
become
90
days
or
more
late
on
one
of
the
debts
identified
in
their
credit
file.
It's
basically
a
statement
of
risk
of
losses
for
the
lenders
based
on
past
performance
of
an
individual
consumer.
One
of
the
challenges
with
this
motto
is
that
a
credit
score
can
be
low
for
many
reasons.
Beyond
Jess
payment
of
debts,
a
low
credit
score
can
result
from
insufficient
traditional
credit.
History
accounts
not
opened
for
long
enough
time
or
the
lack
of
usage.
I
Therefore,
a
derogatory
credit,
which
is
a
term
that's
used
by
lenders,
is
not
the
only
reason
for
a
low
credit
score.
In
fact,
Fannie
Mae
permits
mortgage
lenders
to
accept
credit
scores
below
establish
thresholds
in
these
instances,
recognizing
that
the
credit-invisible
or
those
without
traditional
or
lengthy
credit
history
should
not
be
foreclosed
from
the
opportunity
to
build
wealth
through
homeownership
Philadelphia's.
I
Willingness
to
make
loans
available
to
homeowners
with
credit
scores
as
low
as
560
is
a
critical
recognition
that
credit
scores
should
not
alone
be
a
wall
that
prevents
homeowners
from
taking
out
loans
to
repair
their
homes.
Second,
based
on
our
years
of
experience,
lenders
use
of
higher
credit
threshold
has
the
under
ton
intended
consequence
of
disproportionately
excluding
communities
of
color
increase
in
credit
score
is
one
of
the
many
outcomes
we
use
to
determine
whether
we're
helping
clients
move
toward
financial
stability
among
clients.
We
saw
between
2015
and
October
1st
of
this
year.
I
The
initial
average
credit
score
of
Philadelphia
residents,
who
identified
as
black
or
african-americans
was
561
and
just
over
600
for
residents
who
identified
as
white
or
Caucasian.
Now,
on
average,
we
help
our
clients
achieve
an
increase
in
credit,
score
of
about
42
points
after
six
to
eight
months
of
providing
services,
and
there
are
other
outcomes,
but
this
is
the
one
that's
most
relevant
to
this
conversation.
I
So
even
with
these
significant
gains,
African
American
clients
on
an
average
would
still
be
27
points
under
a
minimum
credit
score
of
640,
while
white
or
Caucasian
clients
on
average
would
meet
the
minimum
credit
score
for
these
loans.
Now
there
are
myriad
reasons
for
these
disparities,
many
of
which
are
rooted
in
years
of
systemic
government
engineers,
social
and
economic
progress
designed
to
create
a
white
middle-class
and
to
create
general
generational
wealth
and
white
communities
coupled
with
state,
impose
discriminatory
policies
and
practices
that
inflict
the
tremendous
harm,
financial
and
otherwise
on
communes
of
color
a
harm.
I
Thank
you,
a
harm
that
has
and
will
reverberate
for
generations
and
is
most
profoundly
demonstrated
by
the
wolf
gap
that
currently
exists
between
and
among
African
American,
white
and
Latino
communities.
So
this
credit
score.
This
conversation,
though
about
credit
scores,
is
really
about
so
much
more.
It's
an
opportunity,
I'll
be
the
small
one
in
grand
scheme
of
things,
but
an
opportunity,
nonetheless,
to
seek
equity,
where
there's
been
inequality
and
to
seek
redress
when
there's
been
injury.
I
So
here
I
remind
you
of
the
testimony
of
Jill
Roberts
and
about
the
opportunities
low
program
we
create
in
underserved
communities
and
about
the
possibilities
for
families
to
preserve
their
most
valuable
asset.
As
spoken
by
Councilwoman
Cheryl
Parker
of
the
great
ninth
Council
District,
which
I'm
a
resident
and
the
ability
for
families
to
build
and
transmit
wealth
to
subsequent
generations,
many
for
the
first
time,
many
for
the
first
time
in
multiple
generations.
So
the
idea
of
helping
a
family
spur
and
build
economic
asset
and
economic
equity
also
creates
social
equity.
I
I
For
your
further
review
and
study,
but
I
submit
to
you
that
a
thoughtful
loan
program
that
combines
both
a
payment
guarantee
and
not
just
the
availability
of
financial
housing
council
counseling,
but
the
full
integration
of
these
services
are
a
risk.
Mitigating
measure
that
can
open
access
to
small
loans
to
homeowners
throughout
the
city,
but,
most
importantly
in
communities
of
color
without
risking
high
rates
of
default.
So
the
financial
empowerment
centers
are
built
on
a
model
called
the
super
vitamin
effect.
I
The
idea
that
by
integrating
financial
counseling
into
traditional
social
services,
delivered
like
food
and
security
like
benefits,
access
and
case
management.
By
integrating
these
things,
you
create
an
enhanced
infective
nough.
Some
of
the
services
I
see
the
marriage
of
the
loan
guarantee
and
housing
counseling
as
having
a
super
vitamin
effect
for
mitigating
the
risk
of
loss
for
lenders.
Homeowners
were
obtained.
I
Their
first
loan
with
significant
supports,
improve
their
credit
score
as
they
pay
it
back,
and
if
the
program
is
brought
to
scale,
you
can
prove
to
lenders
that
philadelphia's,
moderate
income
homeowners
are
more
than
just
a
credit
score.
They
are
a
viable
market.
So,
in
light
of
the
foregoing,
I
urged
that
council
passed
bills,
1708
78,
to
create
resources
for
a
long
program
that
will
connect
Philadelphia
homeowners
with
credit
scores
as
low
as
560,
yes,
562
the
capital
need
to
repair
and
further
invest
in
their
homes.
Thank
you.
C
You,
madam
chairwoman,
thank
you.
Everyone
here
for
your
testimony.
I
just
had
some
general
questions,
I'm,
not
sure
you
guys
can
answer
this
right
now.
I
just
want
to
put
them
in
the
record
and
my
concerns
or
questions
first,
so
I
think
it's
a
great
program.
I
think
preserving
our
housing
stock
is
far
better
for
us
than
to
start
building
brand
new
houses,
so
preserving
housing
stock
is
key
which
this
does.
My
questions
are
all
the
interest
rate
B,
which
we
don't
know
yet
well.
C
C
K
Well
not
just
wanted
to
know
point
of
information,
I
appreciate
all
the
councilman
Dom's
questions
and
as
I
stated
to
him,
we
are
in
the
process
of
still
designing
the
program
in
and
of
itself,
which
is
why
this
testimony
today
was
so
very
important.
The
terms
the
interest
rate
of
the
credit
scoring.
All
of
that
is
important,
and
we
will
make
sure
that
we
take
what
you've
recommended
into
consideration
councilman
and
actually
make
sure
we
check
with
you.
While
we're
in
this
one
is
all
I'm.
C
Happy
to
help
is
one
more
request
they
have,
which
you
will
love
somehow.
We
have
to
incorporate
their
AI
TC
qualifications
into
this
system,
because
the
ITC
has
found
money
and
many
people
who
need
these
loans
would
qualify
for
the
ITC,
because
these
are
working
people
who
are
working
and
we
still
have
left
100
million
dollars
in
Washington
for
40,000
phillipians,
who
qualifies
so
the
more
of
that
money
we
can
put
into
the
hands
of
Philadelphians
the
better.
Thank
you,
Thank
You
councilman,.
A
A
A
She
has
already
talked
about
her
amendments,
which
would
certainly
allow
the
Department
of
Revenue
to
grant
Summerall
of
credit
to
businesses
that
fail
to
meet
the
credits,
employment
requirement,
issues
like
terrorism,
natural
disasters
and
such
so
that
these
people
will
still
be
able
to
take
advantage
of
this
bill
and
Councilwoman
Parker
will
tell
us
what
the
I
just
wanted
to
make
sure
that
the
committee
and
the
public
was
aware
of
what
these
amendments
are
before
we
vote
on
them,
Council
on
the
park
or
your
amendment
again.
Thank.
K
A
D
A
Has
been
moved
and
properly
seconded
that
the
amendment
to
bill
number
one,
seven,
zero,
seven
one
seven
be
approved.
All
those
in
favor
of
the
motion
will
signify
by
saying
aye
aye
those
opposed
the
motion
carries
and
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero.
Seven
one
seven
has
been
amended.
The
chair
now
recognizes
Councilwoman
Parker
for
emotional
bill.
Oh
I'm,
sorry
I'm
telling
you
one
of
those
days.
I'm
Russian,
Russian,
Russian,.
A
F
A
Has
been
moved
and
properly
seconded
that
bill
number
one:
seven
zero,
seven
one,
seven
as
amended,
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
the
favorable
recommendation
and
further
move
that
the
rules
of
council
be
suspended.
So
it's
a
permit.
First,
reading
of
this
bill
at
the
next
session
of
council,
all
those
in
favor
will
say:
aye,
aye,
nay,
the
eyes
have
it,
and
the
motion
carries
in
bill
number
one:
seven:
zero,
seven,
one,
seven!
A
As
amended
bill,
we
reported
from
this
committee
with
the
favorable
recommendation
and
a
request
that
the
rules
of
council
be
suspended
so
as
to
permit
first
reading
at
our
next
session
of
council.
The
chair
now
recognizes
Councilwoman
Parker
for
a
motion
with
regard
to
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero,
eight,
seven,
eight.
K
A
Thank
you.
It
has
been
moved
and
properly
seconded
that
the
amendment
to
bill
number
one,
seven,
zero,
eight,
seven,
eight
eight
seven,
eight
be
approved.
All
those
in
favor
of
the
motion
was
signify
by
saying
aye.
Those
opposed
the
motion
carries
in
bill
number,
one:
seven,
zero,
eight
seven
eight
has
been
amended.
I
now
call
on
Councilwoman
Parker
again
for
a
motion
on
bill
number,
one:
seven,
zero,
eight,
seven,
eight
as
amended.
Thank.
A
It
has
been
moved
and
properly
seconded
that
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero,
eight
seven,
eight
as
amended,
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
the
favorable
recommendation
and
further
move
that
the
rules
of
council
be
suspended
so
as
to
permit
first
reading
of
this
bill
at
the
next
session
of
council.
All
those
in
favor
of
the
motion
will
signify
by
saying
aye
opposed
the
eyes.
Have
it
and
the
motion
carries
and
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero.
A
Eight
seven,
eight
as
amended,
will
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
the
favorable
recommendation
and
a
request
that
the
rules
of
council
be
suspended
so
as
to
permit
first
reading
at
our
next
session
of
council.
So
our
next
discussion
has
to
be
back.
Certainly
on
my
bill,
one
six,
zero
one,
one
one.
We
have
another
hearing
date
on
the
16th
at
1:00.
We
couldn't
do
it
next
week
because
of
election
next
week's
election.
We
connect
always
changes
our
schedule.
I've
asked
them
to
discuss
where
we
able
to
work
it
out.
A
We
have
asked
them
to
ask
the
park
authority
not
to
do
that.
Go
through
these
blocks
and
tow
whole
blocks.
Let
us
have
our
hearing,
then
we
can
have
a
full
discussion
and
our
hearing
will
be
on
the
16th
at
1:00
in
these
chambers.
So
we
need
to.
We
need
an
answer.
We
didn't
try
to
shut
you
down.
We
just
said:
don't
go
through
the
blocks
and
throw
blocks.
Let
us
have
our
hearing
on
the
sixteenth
that
one
and
go
from
there.
That's
not
too
much
to
ask.
Is
it.
A
A
While
we
are
waiting
for
their
response,
Councilwoman
Vesta
specimen
noticed
that
Jim
tae-young
fili
Records,
founder
and
executive
director
passed
away
the
age
of
87
and
so
I
remember
when
he
was
a
member
of
City
Council.
So
we're
very,
very,
very
sorry
to
hear
that
Jim
tae-young
passed,
we
didn't
even
know
he
was
sick.
So
we're
very,
very
very
sorry
to
hear
that
thanks
for
letting
us
know.
A
We
are
also
asking
the
parking
authority,
as
one
of
my
colleagues
has
requested,
to
tell
us
for
these
bills.
What's
principle
and
what's
just
interesting
penalty
for
the
for
a
lot
of
these
bills,
I
mean
to
have
a
bill
for
nine
or
ten
thousand,
so
how
much
of
that
is
the
bill
on
that?
Much
is
what's
been
tacked
on.
A
A
Okay,
there's
still
not
good,
it's
better
than
a
whole
block,
though
they
won't
do
block
towing.
Can
we
live
with
that
until
the
16th
at
116th
right
here
same
place,
I'll
charity,
hearing
it'll,
be
on
the
parking
authority
and
I'll
be
in
touch
with
everything
else
that
I
get
I.
Have
people
working
with
me
now
I'll
be
in
touch
with
Rochelle
about
what
we
want
to
talk
about.
Okay,
all
right,
I
hope
you
all
will
come
I.
Thank
you
and
I'm
sorry
about
this,
but
we're
dealing
with
it.