►
From YouTube: Committee on Finance 2-12-2019
Description
The Committee on Finance of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, at 1:00 PM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following item:
181103 An Ordinance amending Chapter 19 3900 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Tax Exemptions for Longtime Owner Occupants of Residential Properties,” to revise the standards for eligibility and the benefit determination, under certain terms and conditions.
Committee on Finance
Chair: Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (3rd District)
Vice Chair: Councilman Bobby Henon (6th District)
A
A
We
thank
her
for
recessing
for
this
short
hearing
and
we
will
try
to
move
expeditiously
and
quickly
so
that
she
may
go
back
to
her
hearing
to
her
left
counsel
on
the
blond,
our
rentals
Brown
to
my
right,
councilman
Moore
councilman
bill
Greenlee.
Thank
you
for
giving
us
a
quorum.
Councilman,
DOM
and
Councilman
I
was
around
somewhere
as
well.
So
thank
you
very
much.
B
C
Afternoon,
chairwoman,
Blackwell
and
members
of
the
Committee
on
Finance
I
am
revenue
commissioner
and
chief
collections
officer,
Frank
Breslin.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
today
on
bill
number
181
1:03
the
bill
amends
chapter
19
3,900
of
the
Philadelphia
Code
entitled
tax
exemptions
for
longtime
owner
occupants
of
residential
properties.
It
reduces
the
amount
of
assessment
increase
necessary
for
a
property
to
be
eligible
for
the
program,
changes
the
rule
for
treatment
of
equitable
owners
and
changes,
the
timing
of
receipts
of
benefits
and
deadlines
for
tax
year
2019.
C
Tax
bill
each
month,
even
if
it
doesn't
cover
the
total,
do
we
expect
later
this
week,
Council
will
grant
senior
citizens
more
time
to
apply
for
the
senior
citizen
tax
freeze
program
to
lock
their
bills
in
at
2018
levels,
for
as
long
as
they
live
in
their
homes
and
with
a
change
in
state
law.
Increasing
the
income
limits
for
that
program,
even
more
seniors,
can
take
advantage.
C
So
far,
in
fiscal
year,
2019
revenue
representatives
have
attended
a
hundred
and
fourteen
community
events
published
over
a
dozen
social
media
posts,
performed
door-to-door
co-hosted,
pop-up
events
with
council
members
to
enroll
homeowners
on
the
spot,
held
workshops
and
trainings
and
distributed
informational
materials
to
hundreds
of
registered
community
organizations,
while
the
administration
that
shares
the
sponsors
core
objectives
to
help
homeowners,
who
can't
afford
an
increase
in
real
estate
taxes
on
their
home
and
supports
amendments
to
the
bill
that
maintain
access
to
the
program
for
equitable
owners.
The
administration
does
not
support
bill.
C
181
1:03
due
to
the
inequities
that
it
will
create
and
the
cost
to
the
city
and
school
district
for
those
that
are
eligible
now,
who
would
become
eligible
loop,
is
a
tremendous
benefit.
It
locks
in
their
assessment
upon
entering
the
program
at
a
fixed
amount,
equal
to
or
less
than
their
market
value
that
year,
if
tax
rates
stay
the
same,
their
bill
will
never
go
up
and
when
tax
rates
have
changed
historically,
the
percentage
increase
has
typically
been
in
the
single
digits
as
the
market
value
of
their
home
grows
over
time.
C
The
value
of
the
benefit
grows
when
loop
was
created.
It
was
against
the
backdrop
of
the
actual
value
initiative,
the
first
citywide
reassessment
in
decades
and
more
than
a
hundred
and
forty
thousand
residential
properties
tripled
in
value
with
the
introduct
introduction
of
the
homestead
and
a
dramatic
reduction
in
raised.
70
percent
of
residential
bills
stayed
the
same
or
went
down
for
the
other
30%
loop
provided
relief
to
a
subset
of
those
whose
bills
went
up
property
owners
with
incomes
that
were
up
to
a
hundred
and
fifty
percent
of
area
median
income.
C
Ninety
one
thousand
eight
hundred
dollars
for
a
single
person
this
year
and
whose
properties
had
been
owner-occupied
for
at
least
ten
years
and
had
never
received
a
tax
abatement.
Today,
homeowners
with
luke
pay
on
average,
four
hundred
and
fifty
eight
dollars
less
than
homeowners
with
homestead
last
year.
The
gap
was
three
hundred
dollars
over
time.
This
difference
will
continue
to
grow.
If
the
cap
on
the
total
program
cost
is
raised.
With
this
expansion
of
lieu
again,
a
select
group
of
homeowners
will
receive
a
deep
discount.
C
Households
with
very
different
abilities
to
pay
and
home
values
may
pay
the
same
amount
in
equality,
reduces
people's
confidence
in
the
tax
system
that
lack
of
concept
confidence
can
translate
into
reduced
trust
in
government
and
willingness
to
pay.
Last
year
we
achieved
the
highest
collection
rate
for
real
estate
taxes
on
record
at
ninety
six
point.
C
One
percent
and
this
success
touted
in
a
report
released
by
pew
last
week,
was
enabled
by
the
robust
safety
net
and
effective
collection
tools
made
possible
by
this
Council,
with
more
Philadelphians
than
ever
able
to
afford
and
willing
to
pay
their
property
tax
bills.
We
have
concerns
about
programs
that
could
undermine
people's
faith
in
the
fairness
of
the
bill
they
receive.
The
administration
has
additional
concerns
about
specific
provisions
in
the
bill.
C
The
requirement
that
new
applicants
must
pay
2019
in
full
and
not
receive
the
discount
until
the
following
year
is
concerning
people
who
truly
don't
have
the
means
to
pay
will
be
denied
access
to
the
program,
while
those
that
can
afford
their
new-hire
tax
bill
will
be
the
only
ones
to
receive
a
break
further.
The
expansion
of
the
twenty
million
dollar
cap
to
30
million
dollars
will
put
financial
resources
away
from
the
city
and
School
District
to
a
relatively
small
share
of
homeowners.
C
We
would
hope
that
the
revenue
Commissioner
would
be
granted
discretion
to
provide
relief
in
tax
year
2019
when
warranted.
We
look
forward
to
continuing
these
conversations
and
working
with
City
Council
to
develop
an
alternative
approach
to
help
all
Philadelphian
homeowners
who
want
to
pay
their
property
tax
bill,
but
don't
have
the
means
to
do
so.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
and
I'm
happy
to
answer
any
questions.
Thank.
E
D
Since
I've
been
here
has
improved
dramatically
as
far
as
collection
and
and
working
with
Council.
We
really
appreciate
the
efforts
that
is
going
in
there.
You
know
everybody
says
everybody
should
pay
their
fair
share
and
then
revenue
is
making
sure
people
do
that.
So
we
much
appreciate
it.
On
the
other
note,
this
a
lot
of
these
safeguards
that
are
put
in
place
by
Council,
but
it's
not
because
of
revenue,
but
because
of
how
the
assessments
have
been
put
in
place.
D
That's
astronomical,
so
we
have
a
challenge
with
OPA
to
be
able
to
say
all
right.
Those
values
of
those
properties
went
up
40
percent
in
one
year
either.
One
thing
the
program
is
great,
because
that
means
they're
in
gentrified
areas
and
those
properties.
Actually
they
go
up
40%
a
year
which
I
don't
believe
they
did,
but
the
other.
The
other
issue
is
that
when
you
have
those
gigantic
increases,
these
folks
cannot
afford
to
pay.
D
So
council
is
then
forced
to
look
at
safeguards
to
be
able
to
put
things
in
place
to
try
to
help
our
long-term
residents
to
help
all
residents
of
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
and
it's
been
brought
to
our
attention.
We
tried
and
looked
at
capping
assessments
that
they
couldn't
go
up
more
than
10
15
20
%
a
year
and.
F
D
It's
unconstitutional
because
the
uniformity
clause,
we
wouldn't
be
able
to
do
things,
but
when
we
can't
put
those
protections
in
place
and
OPA
is
allowed
to
go
in
there
and
increase
these
assessments
astronomically,
you
know
council
sort
of
left
with
trying
to
be
reactionary
and
instead
of
being
proactive
and
maybe
capping
it,
we
have
to
react
to
these
large
increases
when
we
see
them
and
try
to
come
up
with
additional
safeguards
now
I
know
that's
not
revenues
problem.
Your
problem
is:
how
do
you
maintain
the
stuff
we
put
it
in
place?
D
How
do
we,
then,
if
once
we
reach
our
cat?
How
do
we
then
disseminate
the
rest
of
that
value
through
all
the
people
that
are
in
the
loop
program?
I
really
much
appreciate
people
being
able
be
able
to
migrate
from
the
loop
program
if
they're
eligible
for
the
senior
freeze
this
year,
I
believe
in
the
loop
program
increased
in
value,
even
though
there's
less
people
in
it,
then
we're
in
it
before,
but
I
think
this
year
would
increase
the
subsidy
over
7
million
dollars
because
of
the
assessment
increases
just
on
those
1,500
people.
D
D
These
things
into
play
and
I
know
it
makes
it
for
the
administration
to
then
be
able
to
monitor
and
then
say
we're
losing
money,
the
city's
losing
some
money,
the
school
districts
losing
some
money,
but
because
of
the
position
we're
being
put
in
by
OPA
and
the
inaccuracy
of
assessments,
it's
kind
of
hard
for
us
not
to
do
something
about
it.
And
do
you
see
that
a
way
of
any
way
that
we
could
cap
assessments
at
a
certain
rate?
So
they
would
never
have
these
large
assessments?
C
I,
don't
know
you
know,
I've
heard
that
that
may
not
be
legal,
but
it's
a
little
out
of
my
purview.
I
mean
I.
Think
back
to
your
comments.
One
of
our
main
concerns
is
that
we're
talking
about
people
with
the
inability
to
pay
and
this
bill
would
allow
people
who
can't
afford
to
pay
the
2019
to
get
into
the
program
because
they
have
to
pay
up
front,
but
those
that
cannot
would
not
be
able
to
get
into
the
program
and
we're
concerned
with
the
inequalities
that
that
will
create
well.
D
Maybe
we
could
work
with
you
on
that.
You
know,
as
this
bill
comes
out,
I
mean
that
maybe
there's
a
Nupur
way
to
get
into
a
payment
plan
to
be
so
you're
still
in
compliant.
So
if
you
get
into
a
new
plan
and
become
compliant
and
then
therefore,
even
though
you
couldn't
pay
the
whole
amount,
you're,
not
you're,
not
thrown
out
of
the
program,
that's
something
I,
think
counsel
and
administration
can
work
together
to
to
come
up
with
a
plan
to
do
that,
but
we
wouldn't
be
having
these
problems.
D
G
G
D
If
you
notice,
if
you
were
in
loop
and
I,
know
I
think
it
was
about
70
people
who
appealed,
even
though
they
were
in
loop
if
you're
a
loop,
and
you
know
that
your
assessment
you're
gonna,
pay
the
same
value
that
year
before
before
there
was
assessment,
change.
You're,
not
gonna,
go
appeal,
it
right.
So
all
those
people's
assessments
that
went
up,
40
percent
they're,
saying
well
I'm,
still
paying
my
same
tax
value,
so
I'm
not
going
to
appeal
and
and
go
through
that
aggravating
trial
to
deal
with
that.
D
So
our
numbers
are
going
to
be
inflated
in
the
books
to
say
that
all
these
people
are
using
using
up
the
cap
dollars
in
our
loop
program,
because
they're
never
going
to
appeal
these
large
assessments.
That
may
not
even
be
accurate.
So
can
the
city
appeal
this
and
say
these
OPA
numbers
I
mean
to
go
up
for
those
1500
properties
to
go
up.
40
percent.
Can
we
appeal
it
to
try
to
protect
and
lower
our
cap,
so
it
doesn't
hurt
our
budget
in
the
future
I.
We.
D
We
need
to
protect
ourselves
and
those
folks
I
mean
if
the
cities
will
be
the
one
losing
app
on
the
dollars
in
the
school
district
will
be
on
losing
out
on
the
dollars.
So
we
need
to
be
able
to
go
in
and
say
these
assessments
are
wrong.
We
could
go
in
and
appeal
them
and
there's
no
way
that
those
1500
houses
all
of
them
went
up
on
average
40%
or
over
40%.
A
C
I
I
C
Well,
I
think
you
know,
I
would
say
that
the
concern
I
have
is
that
this
really
creates
inequities,
and
you
know
what
the
downstream
you
know
down
years
ramifications.
They
only
get
greater
right
as
the
difference
between
what
people
are
paying
increases,
so
we'll
kind
of
get
back
to
a
situation
where
you
have
similar
properties
on
a
block
people
in
similar
situations
and
and
very
different
tax
bills,
and
you
know,
as
I
said
in
my
testimony,
that
part
of
that
inequality
starts
to
erode
confidence
in
the
system.
So
that's
the
concern
and.
C
So
the
qualify
you
had
to
be
in
the
property
for
more
than
ten
years.
It
has
to
be
your
residence
and
you
have
to
be
at
or
below
a
hundred
and
fifty
percent
of
area,
median
income
and
then
once
you're
in
the
program.
As
long
as
your
income
stays
the
same
your
as
long
as
you
reside
there,
you
have
loop
and
how.
C
D
C
You
for
that
I
missed
one
of
the
you
know
most
important
elements
at
that
time.
Your
your
property
value,
the
original
loop
provision
was
three
hundred
percent,
so
your
assessment
had
to
triple-
and
under
this
proposed
it
would
be
a
hundred
and
fifty
percent.
So
again,
there's
some
in
I
think
it
creates
some
inequities
there,
where
now
it's
a
much
lower
standard
to
get
into
loop
and
locks
you
in
at
a
lower
percentage
of
your
assessed
value
compared
to
people
that
were
originally
in
loop.
C
So
you,
you
know
I,
think
you're,
starting
to
get
categories
of.
You
have
people
that
may
not
have
been
qualified
for
loop
because
they
were
in
a
house
for
nine
and
a
half
years,
not
ten
years
so,
but
those
at
ten
years
got
in
and
because
their
property
tripled
and
they
locked
in
at
that
level,
now
you're
going
to
have
people
getting
in
at
a
hundred
and
fifty
percent,
so
a
much
lower
standard
and
they're
in
forever.
Originally
it
was
ten
years
so
kind
of
the
inequities
kind
of
got
smooth
with
time.
C
After
ten
years
everybody
was
back.
On
the
same,
you
know
the
same
playing
field,
but
now
it
goes
on
forever.
So
you
start
to
get
people
that
were
very
close
to
qualifying
for
loop,
whether
that
was
based
on
income
or
years
of
residency,
but
didn't
get
in.
You
have
people
that
did
get
in
under
the
300%
now
you're
gonna
have
people
that
are
getting
in
under
the
hundred
and
fifty
person.
C
It's
a
little
difficult
to
compare
the
two,
because
the
provisions
are
very,
very
different,
but
OPA
you
know
is
a
tremendous
program
and
I
talked
about
our
collection
rate
at
ninety
six
point.
One
percent
on
part
of
the
reason
for
that
I
think
is
we.
You
know:
we've
been
talking
about
people
paying
their
fair
share
and
that
allows
people
to
become
compliant
and
pay
a
bill
that
they
can
afford.
So
right.
I
I
I
I
C
We
would
exceed
the
cap,
then
we
would
have
to
prorate
everyone's
relief.
Okay,
so
you
know
which
would
be.
We've
never
had
to
do
it.
That
would
be
a
big,
a
big
project
for
the
department
to
take
on
and
then
also
we
would
have
to
figure
out
how
that
happens.
Do
people
get
a
supplemental
bill
later
in
the
year
for
the
amount
of
loop
that
basically
has
to
be
pull
back?
Okay,.
J
I
just
had
one
question
to
mr.
de
bois
and
I
was
listening
today
earlier
testimony,
so
we
can't
do
a
cat
because
of
uniformity
clause
so
just
based
upon
the
report
and
why
office
to
our
city
council,
to
the
report
of
the
property
assessments
over
the
last
two
years
several
years
and
also
the
administration
did
so
one.
Would
the
city
Lobby
our
legislature
from
the
Harrisburg
don't
focus
on
the
cat
between
now
and
this
next
administration
is.
J
So
would
you
advocate
cuz
kind
of
has
a
cat
well,
how
much
it's
asking,
though
I
think
one
of
my
colleagues
also
have
a
bill
on
how
and
shouldn't
matter,
B's,
Democrat
or
Republican
to
actually
consider
that
bill.
But
there
is
a
bill
that
focuses
on
the
cat
on
one
assessment.
So
that's
something
we.
J
For
discussion
and
the
other
part
is
counseling
school
talked
about
how
our
report
says:
here's
a
flaw
and
a
property
assessment
process
right.
So
there
is
a
flaw:
how
come
we
can't
just
freeze
all
assessments,
I
mean
if
we're
not
agreeing
with
how
we
wanna
forward
Lewton,
and
we
have
to
look
at
the
recommendations
from
the
administration
which
you
don't
agree
with.
How
come
the
process
just
can't
be
frozen
until
things
get
so.
K
D
And
thank
you
and
Rob
I'd
like
to
see
if
you
could
get
that
information
to
the
chair
to
see
if
we
could
and
appeal
these,
because
that
would
help
lower
those
assessments
and
therefore
we
would
then
be
below
2
cap
and
we
won't
be
losing
additional
dollars
or
trying
to
come
up
with
ways
to
having
to
increase
it.
I
think
if
we
could
do
that
and
work
together
on
this
and
figure
out
a
way.
Hopefully
that
also
help
with
uniformity
in
the
future.
I
It's
just
a
question
of
when
I
asked
would
it
be
feasible
to
when
you
increase
from
25
to
the
next
level,
wherever
that
gets
to,
could
we
provide
homeowners
who
qualify
with
either
an
interest-free
loan
that
goes
against
their
account
that
they
don't
have
to
pay
until
they
actually
sell
the
property
so
we're
helping
them
stay
in
the
home.
The
property
went
up
in
value
the
city's,
not
losing
its
core
of
taxes
and
we'll
get
paid
when
the
property
transfers
I.
C
Don't
know
about
a
loan,
but
I
would
say
we
can
look
back
to
the
deferral
program
which
essentially
accomplishes
that
which
it
when
your
property
value,
goes
above
a
certain
amount.
You
pay
the
lower
amount
and
basically
freeze
the
increase
until
the
time
that
you
sell
the
property
and
then
there's
an
interest
rate.
So
there
there
is.
There
is
something
within
the
law
that
basically
accomplishes
that
it
may
need
to
be
reviewed
and
updated
to
be
more
effective
because
it's
been
in
the
law
and
hasn't
been
very
well
utilized.
Okay,.
A
L
L
L
L
My
reason
why
I
behaved
that
background
to
you,
I,
was
born
and
raised
here
in
Philadelphia
I
went
to
all
the
schools,
Smith
school,
Barrett
and
south
of
a
few
high
school
and
from
there
was
drafted
into
the
military.
But
that's
not
why
I'm
here
I'm
here
because
of
the
increase
each
year.
In
my
real
estate
taxes,
my
sister
is
100%
disabled
and
the
increase
in
my
real
estate
tax
each
and
every
year
puts
a
burden
on
me
in
my
financial
situation.
L
I'm
sorry
I
have
to
say
that
not
when
I
can
look
across
the
street
from
me
and
see,
a
brand-new
structure
goes
up
and
parties
and
everything
from
the
top
of
the
roof
to
the
bottom
cars
parked
everywhere,
where
I
can't
park
okay,
and
not
only
that
my
sister
can't
even
get
polls
to
park
our
car.
So
we
can
take
the
groceries
in.
L
That's
a
lot
of
food.
That's
not!
In
there.
My
last
sister's
surgery
was
three
months
ago.
They
took
a
bone
out
of
her
thigh
and
put
it
in
the
back
of
her
neck
she's
on
opiates,
believe
it
or
not,
because
legal
opiates,
okay,
but
no
one's
gonna,
hire
me
unless
you
guys
want
to
give
me
a
job.
Okay
right
now,
all
right
I
do
get
Social,
Security,
okay,
but
I
cannot
afford
it.
L
And-
and
this
hurts
me
because
I
fought
for
this
country-
okay,
I-
want
the
Vietnam
for
this
country,
not
only
that
I'll
work
with
the
race
riots
in
this
country.
In
this
city
we
had
race
riots,
the
whole
nine
yards
and
we
stayed
in
our
homes.
I
just
want
you
to
listen
to
someone
that
cares
about
Philadelphia.
L
It's
not
newbold
itself,
Philadelphia,
okay,
that's
the
way.
I
feel
it
hurts
me
to
my
heart.
Not
to
have
this
bill
not
passed.
I
will
do
everything
in
my
power.
I
will
vote
anyway.
You
have
to
meet
a
vote,
but
I
want
this
bill
passed
I
want
you
to
settle
my
real
estate
taxes
and
say:
okay,
you
can
die
10
to
15
years
from
now
and.
H
E
Good
afternoon,
I
want
to
thank
you
for
allowing
me
to
speak
to
you
today,
I'm
a
homeowner.
My
name
is
Linda
Gerald
and
I
am
60
I'm
a
68
year
old
homeowner
living
at
12:30,
North
30th
Street
here
in
Philadelphia
I,
am
here
today
to
speak
in
support
of
the
proposed
amendments
to
the
longtime
owner
occupy
program
or
loop,
I've
owned
my
home
since
2004
almost
15
years,
but
for
the
last
five
years
the
city
valued
my
house
at
forty
one
thousand
this
year
there
was
a
big
change
that
almost
knocked
me
off
my
feet.
E
The
C
value
my
house
at
a
hundred
and
two
thousand
without
repairs
or
anything
done
to
the
property,
that
is
an
increase
of
61
thousand.
More
than
double
to
old
value.
I
have
not
begun
to
make
any
repairs
yet
I've
done
anything.
To
increase
this
property
last
year,
praise
the
Lord
my
taxes
for
about
153
this
year.
That
would
be
over
eight
hundred
and
sixty
dollars.
E
My
tech,
my
tax
bill
would
be
more
than
five
times
higher
than
it
was
last
year.
I
cannot
afford
this
and,
like
I
said
I'm
68
years
old,
I'm,
retired
and
I'm
living
on
a
fixed
income.
I
cannot
afford
this
property
tax
increase,
but
because
my
property
value
doubled
instead
of
tripled.
My
lawyer
says
that
I
am
not
eligible
for
Luke
right
now.
E
My
lawyer
says
that
the
proposed
changes
makes
me
eligible
for
Luke
and
will
allow
the
value
of
my
house
to
be
capped
at
about
sixty
one
thousand,
which
would
limit
my
property
taxes
to
850.
For
this
six
dollar
difference
may
not
seem
like
much
at
first,
but
if
property
values
continue
to
go
up
which
I
live
in
brewery
town,
my
taxes
will
continue
to
rise
each
year,
I'm
here
to
help
not
only
myself
but
other
seniors
who
cannot
speak
for
themselves.
Only
the
loop
rules
were
protecting
and
them
from
future
increases
in
our
home
values.
E
M
Good
evening
members,
the
Finance
Committee,
my
name
is
Monte
Wilson
I'm,
an
attorney
with
community
legal
services,
I
feel
like
I
should
just
say
what
else
do
you
need
to
know
and
shut
up,
but
I'll
step
in
I'll
step
in
as
the
technician?
Some
of
you
know
that
community
legal
services
has
been
working
to
help
homeowners
who
are
struggling
with
their
property
taxes
for
years
when
I
started
doing
this
in
2004,
the
big
issue
was
payment
plans
and
the
ability
to
be
delinquent
and
do
something
besides
face
a
foreclosure.
M
Was
there
a
system
in
place
to
help
people
pay
their
delinquent
taxes?
That's
how,
through
a
long
process,
we
came
up
with
the
OPA
program,
but
that
program
to
get
back
to
your
question.
Councilman
Dom
was
designed
to
help
people
who
were
struggling
with
delinquent
taxes.
Luke
looks
forward
and
says
what
do
I
do
about
this
year's
current
taxes,
next
year's
current
taxes.
So
it's
really
two
different
programs,
apples
and
oranges.
We
solved
that
problem
really
effectively
and
when
avi
kicked
in
in
2014,
the
loop
program
is
councilman.
M
Squealer
has
pointed
out
was
designed
to
help
people
who
got
hit
with
300%
sticker
shock
and
we're
suddenly
facing
an
enormous
six
times.
Five
times
increase
in
their
tax
bill
during
during
that
Avi
period.
I
think
councilman
Squealer
is
completely
correct.
It's
time
to
revisit
the
loop
program,
maybe
to
deal
with
a
slightly
different
problem.
The
problem
of
gentrification
and
I
actually
would
welcome
a
chance
to
sit
down
with
revenue
and
staff
of
City
Council.
M
If
you're
amenable
to
it
to
talk
about
how
we
modernize
the
loop
program
to
offer
people
the
protection
they
need
when
the
hit
isn't
three
hundred
percent
all
at
once,
as
you
heard
from
miss
Gerald
she's,
not
facing
a
300%
increase.
So
right
now,
today,
she's
not
eligible
for
the
program
but
she's
still
facing
a
bill.
That's
gonna
be
five
times
bigger
than
it
was
for
her
last
year.
We
have
to
decide
as
a
matter
of
policy.
Is
that
something
we
want
to
deal
with?
M
I
think
the
new
issue
for
homeowners
facing
property
tax
delinquencies
that's
coming
is
assessments.
I
heard
you
say
that
earlier
councilman
and
I
completely
agree
with
you
when
I
started.
It
was
payment
plans.
What
we've
seen
in
the
last
year
in
my
testimony
is
that
in
2017
we
saw
ansari
in
2018.
We
saw
430
people
who
came
in
seeking
our
advice
way
up
from
247
who
came
to
CLS
the
year
before.
Not
all
of
those
people
came
in
with
problems
with
their
incessant
s',
but
I
can
tell
you
anecdotally,
absolutely.
M
That
is
the
new
issue
that
is
coming
regularly
to
our
office
and
I
can
say
to
you
that
property
tax
problems
are
the
number
one
issue
that
comes
into
our
office.
At
CLS,
we
beat
out
welfare
issues,
we
made
out
employment
issues,
we
beat
out
believe
it
or
not
problems
with
people
seeking
representation
versus
DHS.
This
is
a
growing
issue.
Cls
completely
supports
the
bill
that
you've
proposed
and
I
think
opening
it
up
to
try
to
do
some
negotiation
to
modernize.
The
bill
is
an
excellent
idea.
M
Cls
has
also
proposed
three
ideas
that
we
would
like
to
see
introduced
into
the
bill,
because
I
think
this
bill
could
go
a
couple
steps
further
to
help.
People
I
sent
the
bar
package
of
ideas
out
to
Councilman
Clark
councilman,
Squealer
and
councilman
Johnson
earlier
I
had
hoped
to
get
this
to
the
rest
of
you
before
the
hearing,
but
obviously
things
happen
quickly.
I've
left
copies
in
the
back
room
if
the
back
table
I
will
send
it
to
the
rest
of
you
before
the
end
of
the
day.
M
Our
three
ideas
basically
are
right
now
is
the
bill
is
currently
written.
You
still
have
to
have
a
50%
increase
in
one
year
to
enter
into
the
loop
program.
We
would
ask
to
continue
to
consider
a
five
year
look-back
period
so
that
if
someone
is
going
through
gentrification
over
time
and
has
a
50%
increase
over
a
period
of
five
years,
they
also
could
be
considered
eligible
for
loop.
M
Is
it
more
beneficial
for
me
to
take
the
homestead
exemption
or
to
take
a
loop,
and
the
fact
is
in
the
first
year,
it's
often
more
beneficial
to
take
the
homestead
exemption
and
pass
up
that
deadline
to
enter
into
loop,
but
in
the
second
year
and
a
third
year
as
your
assessments
continue
to
grow
up,
you
will
essentially
still
only
have
the
homestead
exemption
and
you
will
steadily
essentially
money
your
way
out
of
loop
and
lose
that
benefit.
What
that
means
is
over
time.
M
The
homestead
exemption
will
actually
be
worse,
for
you
than
the
loop
program
will
be.
We
need
to
do
something
in
our
proposal
was
to
take
the
calculation
that
you
have
to
subtract
the
homestead
exemption
before
you're
eligible
for
loop
out
of
the
statute.
The
last
one
is
a
simple
fix.
As
we
all
know,
this
was
originally
designed
to
help
people
who
were
hit
with
that
300%
sticker
shock
in
2014
because
of
Abyei.
Unfortunately,
there
are
still
homeowners,
no
offense,
miss
Gerald,
but
she's,
one
of
them
who
still
missed
that
deadline.
M
If
she
had
gotten
looped
back
in
2013,
she
wouldn't
be
here
today.
I
would
ask
counsel
to
extend
the
deadline
to
allow
seniors
to
retroactively
Lee
apply
for
the
2014
Luka
so
that
they
can
get
the
benefit
of
the
program
that
they
have
brought
up
to
go
with
Councilman
Dom's
point
about:
what's
the
cost
of
the
program,
I
think
that's
one
of
the
keys
here.
M
If
the
city
has
a
cap
on
it,
essentially,
if
we
know
the
amount
of
the
city's
liability,
then
these
changes
we
can
plan
for
the
future
on
what
they
will
cost
the
city.
This
isn't
just
well
we'll
find
out
what
it
costs
and
whether
it
costs
too
much.
You
will
be
able
to
hold
the
city
harmless
and
predict
the
amount
of
the
expenditure.
M
A
D
D
B
D
D
M
D
Right
that
would
be
great
and
also
what
one
of
your
suggestions
is
added
in
here
that
you'll
be
able
to
apply
to
February
17th
2021.
You
have
people
who
were
eligible
now
we're
eligible
in
2013.
They
can
now
reapply
now
it
won't
be
retroactive.
They
won't
come
from
this
point
forward.
They
will
be
in
loop,
they
wouldn't.
M
M
K
H
Name
is
Madeline
should
come
by
represent
the
north
of
Washington
Avenue
Coalition.
This
is
the
first
time
I'm
going
to
be
going
against
the
green
I
hate
to
do
it,
but
I
have
to
as
this
bill
is
written
right
now.
I
cannot
support
it
breaks
my
heart,
but
I
cannot
support
it.
This
bill
will
not
fix
the
problem
that
is
hurting
our
poor
people.
H
H
This
is
but
one
of
many
loops
you're
going
to
have
to
pass
if
this
system
is
not
fixed.
The
form
I
gave
you
still,
but
one
block
in
my
neighborhood,
but
this
block
is
representative
of
many
blocks
in
my
neighborhood
and
I
live
in
a
graduate
Hospital
area.
I
did
research
and
it
bothered
my
mind
when
I
saw
what
was
going
on.
H
These
people
are
not
paying
actual
value.
You
know
what
actual
value
is
the
price
you
paid
for
your
house,
it's
probably
the
market
bag.
You
look
at
this
form
and
I
put
in
there
the
year
it's
kind
of
picked
out
the
years
of
people
who've
been
there
for
more
than
ten
years,
so
it's
2013,
they
have
not
paid
actual
value,
it's
been
$100,000
or
more
below
the
actual
value
and
2013
when
my
property
jump
from
30,000
of
the
300,000,
their
property
3
someone.
These
are
three
storey
houses.
H
H
H
$300,000
they
remained
307,000
dollars
from
2014
to
2018
no
increase.
The
only
thing
that
officer
property
assessment
did
was
to
make
an
adjustment
between
what
you're
paying
for
the
land
and
what
you
were
paying
for
the
building,
but
the
assessment
remained
the
same
there,
all
of
a
sudden
in
2019
they
jumped
up,
and
many
of
these
people
saw
their
properties
jump
from
385,000,
like
god,
385,000
shaking
spending,
eighty
thousand
to
seven
hundred
and
ninety
two
thousand.
H
Now
he
qualified
for
Lou
I,
don't
know
what
his
income
is,
but
he
definitely
qualifies
for
loop
under
this
special
program
and
it's
a
whole
lot
of
them.
This
is
just
a
sample
of
one
block.
You
can
say
any
block
in
my
neighborhood.
I
find
a
whole
lot
of
these
people
have
not
been
paying
actual
value,
and
now
it
has
doubled
because
of
all
this
increase
from
the
new
construction.
H
How
long
do
you
think
that
cap
is
gonna?
Last
with
all
these
people?
Looking
for
relief,
I'm,
sorry,
you
have
got
to
hold
this
bill,
can't
pass
it
the
way
it
is
because
you're
affecting
too
many
people
and
the
ones
who
need
it
will
be
help
than
these,
and
not
the
most
Oprah
did
a
lousy
job.
I'm
talking
about
office
of
property
assessment
has
done
a
lousy
job
and
you
still
letting
them
get
away
with
it
naval
home
because
a
perfect
example.
They
got
condos
in
there
several
hundred
condos.
H
H
Five
hundred
500
AD
movie,
now
one
single
person
in
there
and
it's
over
hundred
just
one
little
condo
building
they
got
ten,
it's
pay
actual
value,
not
a
single
one,
and
you
want
you
stopped
all
people.
This
is
terrible,
not
one
of
them
pay
actual
value.
Okay,
they
paid
five
hundred
thousand
two
hundred
five
thousand,
and
you
know
that
the
current
assessment
is
at
the
most
four
and
twenty
1904
condo
and
then
I
paid
five
hundred
six
hundred
thousand
dollars.
H
H
What
happened
is
that
office
of
property
says
they
knew
what
they
were
doing
because
I
told
you
you
feel
about
it.
I
said
uh-huh
I
know
what
else
people
who
got
abatements
may
even
qualify
this
message,
even
though
they'll
say
that
the
law
says,
if
you
got
an
update
in
it,
you
can't
get
it,
but
the
abatement
was
against
what
the
property,
not
the
homeowner.
Now,
if
you
bought
it,
got
you
a
better
in
1997
or
they're
gonna,
trace
back
to
that
property
and
find
out
whether
or
not
you
got
in
the
basement.
H
A
H
While
you
owned
this
house
during
the
ten
years,
did
you
own
this
house
during
10
years
and
sivan
abatement
I
got
on
their
application,
so
they
can
say
here
so
I
know,
that's
the
only
way
you're
gonna
find
out,
okay,
otherwise
you're
not
gonna,
find
out,
and
then,
if
they
want
to
lie
and
you
catch
them
later
on
in
a
lie.
This
should
be
some
punishment
that
is
pay
them
back.
Taxes
that
you
like
that
paint.
H
H
Want
to
talk
about
bateman
snails
who,
when
to
come
up
that
bill
coming
for
babies,
I'll
be
ready
for
that
too.
But
this
is
not
the
bill
to
be
passed
at
this
time.
Yes,
the
bill
must
be.
It
must
be
a
loop,
some
kind
of
loop
safe,
but
not
a
constant
loop
bill,
because
the
next
bill
see
another
loop.
When
okay
I
don't
get
their
act
together,
we
need
OPA
to
get
their
act
together,
start
assessing
people
who
are
receiving
of
fakeness
and
I'm
telling
you
most
updated
properties
are
not
at
the
actual
value.
H
H
B
H
D
H
H
D
D
H
A
A
A
N
Good
evening
my
name
is
Erika
Hurst
I'm,
a
community
organizer
with
one
Pennsylvania
and
I'm
a
Philadelphia
resident
and
a
would
you
spell
your
first
name?
Yes,
a
you
are
I
see
a
last
name,
Hur
s
T.
Thank
you
and
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
the
body
that
remains
in
the
room.
I
just
want
to
make
it
be
known
that
Jenny,
Blackwell,
squalor
Greenlee,
Oh,
Alan,
DOM
and
David
are
still
in
the
room.
N
N
I
just
want
to
thank
the
City
Council
body
for
doing
a
a
review
of
the
OPA
office
and
providing
recommendations
to
recruit
new
leadership
for
OPA
office,
including
chief
assessment
officer,
and
at
least
three
deputy
Assessors,
with
the
assistance
of
a
nationally
recognized
executive
search
firm
on
the
also
the
recommendations
to
contract
with
the
mass
appraisal,
firm
and
firms
to
assist
the
increasing
accuracy
of
annual
assessments.
So
all
these
recommendations
found
online
I
just
want
to
thank
this,
the
City
Council
body
for
coming
up
with
those
recommendations,
but
we
have
more
work
to
do.
N
We
have
a
lot
more
work
to
do
so.
This
ability
needs
to
be
held
because
of
the
sign
I'm
holding
right
now
it
says
redlining.
Where
did
all
the
black
folks
go?
I'm
28
years
old
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
is
declining
in
owner-occupied
housing.
The
suggestion
that
councilman
Dom
proposed
that
sounds
a
lot
like
reverse
mortgages
and
that
predatory
lending
and
that
predatory,
predatory
buying
of
homes
is
the
reason
why
we
are
in
this
mess.
N
We
want
to
make
sure,
there's
a
magnifying
glass
over
this
next
bill
that
comes
through
to
propose
that
luke
be
expanding.
We
want
to.
We
want
to
also
suggest
that
the
appraisers
be
re-educated
on
assessing
property
for
full
market
value,
because
I
sat
on
the
phone
with
a
few
of
my
seniors
last
night
and
we
look
over
data
after
data
after
block
after
block
after
block.
Where
did
the
black
folks
go
they're
being
pushed
out?
We
are
still
dealing
with
the
effects
of
redlining
50
years
post,
the
Fair
Housing
Act
being
passed.
N
We
have
to
take
a
look
at
this.
This
is
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
the
home
of
Brotherly
Love
and
sisterly
affection.
We
cannot
continue
to
push
bills
pass
because
they
sound
good
or
look
good,
a
lot
of
the
people
in
the
room
I'm
here
to
speak
for
the
people
that
are
not
only
just
here
in
the
room,
but
the
people
who
couldn't
make
it
out
during
this
weather
I'm
here
to
speak
for
the
people,
who
cannot
will
not
and
do
not
speak
up.
N
I
come
from
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
I
would
like
to
keep
this
place.
As
my
home
I
grew
up
in
Southwest
Philadelphia,
where
there
is
a
declining
homeownership.
If
you
look
at
the
reinvestment
funds,
research
in
the
urban
Institute's
research,
they
tell
you
that
there
is
a
huge
decrease
in
owner-occupied
housing
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
and
a
lot
of
these
people
are
the
african-american
black
citizens
in
Philadelphia
that
were
redlined
in
the
communities.
N
We
need
to
make
sure
that
we
are
reviewing
our
bills
and
making
sure
that
there
is
hashtag
a
seat
at
the
table
for
the
people
here
in
the
room,
and
so
citizens
are
Philadelphia
that
were
kept
in
Southeast
communities
have
a
second
chance
of
staying
in,
to
build
legacy
and
to
build
generational
wealth.
What
we're
seeing
right
now
are
bills
being
pushed
through
and
there
is
no
protections
for
the
residents
in
the
community
we
need.
N
We
also
suggest
that
there's
a
history,
that
we
also
suggest
that
there
is
a
restorative
justice
that
takes
place
so
I,
don't
understand
why
there's
there
can't
be
a
retroactive
contributions
if
they
still
didn't
meet
their
cap,
yet
I'm,
not
understanding
that
so
you're
gonna
have
to
explain
that
to
me
and
I'm
more
than
happy
to
give
someone
my
contact
with
my
arm.
I
have
the
information
on
this
flyer.
You
could
contact
me
so
we
can
sit
down
and
understand.
I'll
come
here
as
a
bridge
of
hope
for
the
next
generation.
N
N
This
is
a
national
crisis
and
I
have
much
respect
for
the
body
in
this
room
and
for
the
people
that
are
not
in
this
room
and
I
know
that
if,
like
moms
get
together,
we
can
defend
these
citizens
and
the
seniors
that
are
here
so
I
just
want
to
make
a
point
to
the
findings
of
the
Opie
assessment
that
occurred.
The
only
category
of
assessments
that
do
meet
industry
standards
are
condominiums.
N
I
am
NOT
the
first
person
to
state
this
today,
the
people
that
are
building
and
refurbishing
and
that
are
redeveloping,
and
we
need
to
make
it
be
known
that
the
tax
abatements
are
not
only
for
the
people
that
have
done
redevelopment
but
have
refurbished
and
that
have
rehabbed
these
condominiums
or
these
old
historic
homes
into
condominiums.
We
need
to
make
that
be
aware.
Second
thing
OPA
is
falling,
is
failing
to
meet
11
out
of
18
responsibilities
and
is
determined
by
the
city
code,
including
failings
who
explained
via
OPA
website
how
the
city
calculated
individual
assessments.
N
I
didn't
make.
This
up.
I
thought
this
from
the
city's
website.
Okay,
it's
about
reading
and
understanding.
Now
I'm,
not
a
math
major,
but
if
I
get
11
out
of
18
questions
wrong
on
the
test,
I
failed
I
did
not
do
well
on
that
test.
I
did
not
study.
I
didn't
go
to
my
study
groups.
I
didn't
ask
my
teacher
for
help
answer
your
teachers
for
help
your
teachers
or
the
community.
You
are
representing
us
in
the
community,
so
extra
teachers
for
help.
You
see
these
citizens
sitting
next
to
me
behind
me.
A
N
Is
my
final
point:
I'm
sorry,
ma'am,
I'm,
100,
so
properties
valued
under
a
hundred
thousand
or
over
assessed,
meaning
those
property
owners
are
paying
more
than
their
fair
share
in
property
taxes.
My
name
is
ARCA
Hurst
and
I'm
more
than
ready
and
willing
to
speak
to
you
about
adjustments
in
to
holding
this
bill.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
O
For
example,
when
I
came
here
two
weeks
ago
for
the
assessment
I
explained
to
you
that
on
the
2100
block
of
Wharton
Street,
okay,
there
are
only
six
families
left
out
of
30
as
the
original
homeowners,
their
new
home
owners,
which
or
white,
are
receiving
the
same
assessment
value
as
I,
but
they
pay
400
plus
for
their
homes.
I
am
being
reassessed
at
121,000.
Why
are
they
being
reassess
as
well
as
121,000?
It
doesn't
make
sense.
O
We
also
asked
for,
in
terms
of
the
appeals,
look
again
and
check
the
appeals
I'm
down
at
the
appeal
office.
Almost
every
other
week,
I
have
not
yet
seen
a
sim
city
council
person
to
represent
the
citizens
to
see
what
goes
on
down
at
OPA
you're
only
reading
what
they
telling
you.
The
next
thing
is
also
the
condos.
We've
always
complained
about
they're,
not
paying
their
fair
share
and
when
we
looked
again
they're,
not
they're,
not
Debian,
VSS
undervalued.
O
When
you
said
that
you
in
terms
of
different
programs,
are
you
asked
other
people
to
bring
in
the
to
disclose
their
incomes
right
now,
as
I
sat
down
and
sit
down
at
the
municipal
service?
Building,
no
they're
not,
and
no
one's
paying
attention?
You're,
not
listening!
What's
going
on
at
all,
we're
asking
for
you
to
please
look
at
what's
going
on
at
the
OPA
to
be
reassessed
before
we
consider
before
we
consider
doing
this
loop
program,
because,
what's
going
to
happen,
is
that
the
people
who
definitely
need
it?
They
will
not
receive
it.
O
If
you
did
not
know
that
reverse
mortgages,
most
of
the
people,
the
seniors
in
my
neighborhood,
went
and
got
the
reverse
mortgages
to
help
them
pay
for
their
taxes.
They
did
not
know
that
what
happens
is
that
if
you
do
not
stay
up
a
current
with
your
taxes,
if
you're
not
current
with
your
utilities,
if
you're,
not,
if
you
get
a
violation
from
L&I
guess
what
the
reverse
mortgage
takes
your
homes,
so
that
is
homeless.
You
guys
don't.
O
P
Thank
you
very
much,
I'd
like
to
just
kind
of
explain
if
I
could
so
I
did
introduce
a
bill.
I
think
it
was
last
week
or
the
week
before
that
says
basically
that,
because
the
assessments
are,
in
my
opinion,
illegal
and
inaccurate
that
we
skip
this
year,
the
10.5%
increase
and
go
back
before
that
that
bill
was
just
introduced
before
that
I
think
last
year
there
was
another
bill
that
the
reason
I'm
bringing
that
up
is
not
to
make
excuses.
What
I
want.
P
What
I
want
to
say
is
any
bill
introduced
takes
a
long
time
to
process,
so
we
do
have
bills
in
I,
don't
know
if
it'll
pass
or
not,
but
that's
what
you're
advocating.
But
if
we
don't
act
on
this
bill,
people
won't
have
any
help.
You
know
what
I'm
saying
is
I
know
you
want
to
hold
it,
but
if
you
hold
it,
none
of
these
bills
are
gonna
go
forward,
and
then
what
happens
is
even
though
this
bill
is
not
perfect.
It
at
least
offers
some
help
to
people.
I
hope
my
bill
passes.
P
I
hope,
you'll
support.
It
I
hope
we
will
all
kind
of
address
these.
Obviously,
improper
inaccurate
over
assessments
of
properties,
I,
don't
think
we
should
move
forward
on
it,
but
as
much
as
I
believe
that
my
concern
is,
if
I
don't
vote
for
this
bill,
the
people
out
there
won't
have
any
help
so
I
rather
help
people,
then
not
help.
People
and
I'm
agree
with
everything
you
said
there
is
a
bill
in.
Maybe
we
can
work
on
if
that
one
isn't
a
good
bill.
These
other
council
people
introduced
bills.
P
They
do
care
about
home
ownership,
they
care
about
the
people
in
there.
We
disagree,
of
course,
at
times,
but
we
also
agree
that
these
is
that
we
all
agree.
These
assessments
are
not
accurate.
They
are
hurting
people
they're
driving
people
out
their
neighborhoods.
We
have
to
do
something,
but
the
issue
that
is
arising
is
we
don't
assess
the
property,
that's
actually
another
branch
of
government
and
so
we're
trying
to
introduce
legislation
to
address
that
so
that
we
can
have
control
over
that.
P
I
just
want
to
explain
that
as
much
as
what
you're
saying,
if
we
don't
pass
councilmen
squealers
bill
that
at
least
helps
some
people
in
some
way.
There
won't
be
any
help
for
people
with
these
improper,
overly
high
property
assessments
and
the
resulting
taxes.
So
it's
difficult
for
me
to
hold
this
bill
as
much
as
I
agree
with
you,
because
I
rather
help
some
people
and
keep
working
on
you
want
fix
the
whole
system
throw
out
those
no-good
assessments
make
sure
it's
done
right,
but
but
we
have
to
try
to
help
people
right
now.
O
Okay,
now
can
I
just
you
made
your
comment,
but
what
you
need
to
do
so
you're
putting
the
cart
before
the
horse
until
we
fix
the
assessment
on
what
they
are
doing.
Okay,
then
you
come
back
because
what's
happening,
if
we
put
this
bill
in
then
that
those
people
that
don't
need
to
help
we're
not
are
not
going
to
get
it
because
now
you're
taking
more
of
that
money.
O
So
if
you
have
$50,000
I'm
richer
than
an
example,
if
you
have
$50,000
and
now
those
people
like
on
my
particular
block
of
Wharton
Street,
where
they
pay
$400,000
for
their
homes,
they
qualify
for
this.
So
then
that
means
that
the
other
people
that
really
needed
it
was
the
money
won't
be
there
for
them.
O
That's
what
I'm
trying
to
explain
to
you
hold
it
for
me,
I'm
not
saying,
never,
do
it
but
hold
up
for
a
minute
until
we
fix
the
assessment,
which
is
very
very
broken,
because
you
we
sitting
back
here
and
as
I
said
two
weeks
ago,
you
was
here
a
councilman
ho,
as
I
said
and
I
explained
to
you,
I
live
a
warden.
Street
I
gave
you
Federal.
Street
I
gave
you
red
stream
those
homes
there
are
undervalued
and
there
and
I'm
paying
more
taxes
than
they
are.
O
So
that's
what
I'm
saying
wait
hold
it
because
now,
as
a
senior
I
can't
afford
to
pay
$400
more
right
now,
no
I
can't
so
that's
all
I'm,
saying
I'm.
It
may
be
great,
but
wait
until
we
get
this
fixed
first
and
then
come
back
and
say
all
right
cuz.
You
might
come
up
and
say
that
you
mean
name
or
lose,
but
right
now,
you've
given
them
that
don't
need
it.
They
will
give
it.
No
doubt:
okay,.
P
So
so
I
do
understand
what
you're
saying
I
don't
want
to
belabor
the
point.
Cuz
I
got
your
point.
I
just
want
you
to
know
that
we
can
do
legislation
and
it
takes
a
long
time
for
it
to
get
to
this.
Opa
is
not
something
we
can
fix
without
a
bill
that
the
the
office
of
property
assessment
is
under
the
mayor's
office.
That's
who
fixes
that
we
would
have
to
pass
legislation,
and
so
it's
not
going
to
get
fixed
in
a
month
or
two
or
three
I.
O
A
K
Afternoon,
my
name
is
out
Laverne
friend
and
I
live
in
the
Graduate
Hospital
area.
An
example
just
came
to
me
just
the
other
day,
because
I'm
always
talking
in
my
community
ringing
the
bells
calling
people
on
the
phone
and
finding
out
now
did
he
had
a
commissioner
say
that
just
left
here
that
was
114
events
I
like
to
know
where
were
they
any
events,
I'm
talking
to
people
every
day
in
the
Brentwood
Hospital
know
nothing
about
loot
that
never
even
heard
of
OPA
none.
K
Of
that
absolutely
none,
so
it
wasn't
from
the
inception.
We
understand
that
we
would
never
consider
doing
the
inception
of
AVR
back
in
2012.
We
are
and
I'm
one
of
them
that's
confused
frustrated
and
don't
really
understand
how
the
system
was
structured.
We
have
heard
that
the
assessments
are
unfair
and
just
downright
illegal
and
I.
Think
councilman
OA
has
spoke
with
you
and
that's
the
words
that
you
use
use
the
word
to
me.
The
assessments
are
illegal
about
two
weeks
ago
and
I.
Think
a
madam
Councilwoman
a
black,
well
your
assistant.
K
When
they,
the
bill,
was
being
read
off.
It
says
something
about
what
are
the
conditions
under
the
bill
and
I'd
like
to
ask:
do
you
always
what
are
the
conditions
under
this
bill
because,
as
I
tried
to
read
it,
it's
hard
to
understand
for
me?
So
what
are
the
conditions
under
this
bill?
I
just
ran
into
a
gentleman.
His
mother
just
died.
Three
weeks
ago,
I've
made
some
calls
up
here
and
I
come
to
find
out.
K
He
will
not
be
able
to
qualify
for
Luke
simply
because
his
when
his
prior
to
his
mother's
death,
she
did
get
the
loop
program,
but
now
she
he
will
not
be
able
to
get
the
loop,
because
we
were
told
that
his
taxes
in
2018-19
have
not
went
up
three
times
as
high,
and
we
do
understand
the
help
that
you
tried
to
give
from
the
hundred
and
fifty
percent
of
the
aid.
What
is
the
area
medium
income
and
brought
it
down
to
fifty?
So
we
understand
the
help
that
you're
trying
to
do,
but
people
are
suffering.
K
K
According
I,
don't
know
all
these
numbers
and
the
statistics
and
no
one
left
but
I,
know
what
I
see
I
see
that
in
my
neighborhood
I
was
born
and
raised
in
South
Philadelphia
for
63
years,
and
we
are
the
minority
there,
because
we
have
been
gentrified
out
just
simply
just
push
down
and
then
we're
not
getting
in
as
much
help
as
we
really
need
to
have
these
assessments
they
they
somebody
got
to
do
something
with
these
assessments.
Somebody
have
to
talk
to
the
mayor.
He
needed
to
be
down
here
to
listen
to
us.
K
He
really
needed
to
and
I
do,
recommend
Harley
there's
some
people
on
the
out
from
the
community
would
be
a
part
of
the
conversation.
I
really
recommend
that
very
hard
because
we
live
there.
That's
we
live
there.
That's
our
home
and
I
don't
intend
to
go
any
way.
I'm
trying
to
stay
in
my
home,
I.
Don't
personally
have
that
serious
problem
yeah,
but
I'm
talking
to
people
everyday.
That
does.
Thank
you.
Thank.
Q
My
name
is
dawn.
My
name
is
Charles
major
I'm,
a
South
Philly
resident
for
a
lifetime.
South
Philly
resident
I've
been
a
committeeman
for
some
years,
currently
I'm,
not
a
committeemen
because
of
the
new
faces
in
the
neighborhood.
You
know
with
committee
minute
of
the
30
Ward
17th
division
since
the
naval
home.
You
can't
really
campaign
and
do
anything
in
there
to
get
a
vote.
So
you
can
you
lose
by
3
votes
because
you
can't
get
all
the
votes
in
a
naval
home
because
of
the
people
in
a
naval
home.
Q
They
become
committee
men's
themselves,
but
in
the
meantime,
I'm
still
active
with
the
neighborhood.
Everybody
still
knows
me,
as
the
committee
man.
They
come
to
me
about
different
things
and
when
you
talk
about
the
ABI,
if
you
go
down
to
the
AV
is
the
guy
who
signs
you
in
down
there.
He
would
tell
you
that
I'm
a
frequent
flyer,
because
I
go
down
there
with
a
lot
of
the
senior
neighbors
to
help
them
with
their
problems
and
most
of
the
time
was
successful
because
they
know
about
it
and
everything.
Q
But
as
far
as
the
loop
program,
I
work
with
councilman
Johnson
at
the
initiation
of
Duluth
program
and
we
worked
on
it
and
it
was
successful
for
what
we
needed
to
do
and
also
after
the
loop
program
we
found
out.
I
was
I've,
know
I'm,
one
of
the
ones
that
went
back
to
councilman
Johnson.
It's
about
the
entangled
titles
and
deeds
in
the
neighborhood,
because
everything
is
messed
up,
because
people
lived
in
homes
in
1958,
their
grandparents
brought
to
home
and
they
lived
there.
Q
So
they
lived
there
and
when
it
was
time
for
the
loop,
they
couldn't
get
it
and
we
kind
of
solved
that
problem
now.
Now
we're
here
and
I
hear
all
the
people
here
talking
and
this
this
young
28
year
old
lady.
She
reminds
me
of
me
when
I
was
younger.
You
know
getting
up
and
expressing
ourselves.
She
seemed
to
be
very,
very
intelligent
and
and
they're
all
they're,
all
right
on
key.
Q
What's
going
on
and
I
hear
all
that
things
in
it
I
hear
one
of
the
councilmen
say:
oh
well,
the
first,
the
people
who
have
a
tax
abatement-
they
won't
qualify
for
a
they
won't
qualify
for
Luke,
but
how
about
the
houses
that
will
rebuild
for
hundreds
of
thousands
of
dollars
that
had
a
tax
abatement
and
the
person
who
took
the
tax
abatement
out?
Who
never
was
from
here
at
the
beginning,
is
gone?
Will
these
people
qualify
for
the
taxes
and
four-footed
for
this
new
luke
program
and
in
my
understanding
of
the
tax
abatement?
Q
Is
that
once
the
ten
years
is
up,
then
this
property
comes
up
on
board
to
give
more
money
to
the
schools,
more
money
to
the
city
and
that's
the
way
that's
supposed
to
work,
but
I'm
not
going
to
revisit
all
the
things
that
they
said.
But
you
know
it's
only
right.
You
know
that
this
bill
be
tabled.
Until
you
can
talk
to
people,
you
need
to
talk
to
people
like
me.
You
need
to
talk
to
people
like
the
people
at
the
table
here.
Q
There's
a
lot
of
people
that
like
to
talk
about
about
this
bill
and
as
far
as
councilman
o
saying
well,
we
need
to
sign
it
and
put
it
put
it
on
the
table
now,
if
you
sign
them,
put
it
on
the
table
now
and
it's
like
in
business,
you
can't
go
back
on
it.
So
it's
not!
It's
don't
need
to
sign
it
and
put
it
on
a
table
now
and
I'm
asking
the
council
people
who,
who
are
on
the
committee
to
ask
this
vote
to
be
on
hold
until
further
notice.
Thank
you.
A
Thank
you
very
much.
We
now
have
one
last
committee,
tiffanygreen
Victoria,
Fernandez,
Barbara,
Kerry
and
Cora
Turpin.
Thank
you
very
much.
We
welcome
all
of
you.
This
is
our
final
hearing.
If
there's
anyone
else
who
needs
to
testify
see
someone
year,
would
you
identify
yourself
and
begin
while
they're
coming
forth.
B
R
Have
my
presentation
here
in
writing,
for
so
you
can
have
a
copy.
I
have
lived
in
Philadelphia
since
1957,
my
residences
have
been
the
village,
that's
North,
Philly
Yorktown,
that's
around
temple
and
since
1977
Northern
Liberties
and
my
my
history
as
a
community
activist
Spence
sixty-two
years
and
includes
the
sit-ins
to
integrate
Woolworths
as
a
teenager
in
in
nineteen.
R
Fifty
patrolling
the
streets
with
crisis
intervention
to
quell
the
riots
of
the
60s
pickling,
with
form
of
Representative,
W,
Curtis,
Thomas
to
close
nuisance,
bars
and
other
unwanted
establishments
in
Northern
Liberties
in
the
70s
fighting
for
quality
schools
with
the
Philadelphia
Federation
of
Teachers
in
the
80s
bringing
modern
technology
to
Overbrook
high
school
in
the
90s.
The
list
goes
on.
I
have
stayed
in
Philadelphia
in
spite
of
gang
violence,
police
brutality
and
school
closings.
I
thought
I'd
seen
it
all
until
the
actual
value
initiative
on
which
real
estate
taxes
are
based
became
alone.
R
R
The
burden
of
these
avi
taxes
are
placed
against
former
city
workers
who
were
required
to
buy
homes
in
less
than
desirable
neighborhoods
to
maintain
their
employment
and
to
stem
the
tide
of
the
middle-class
flight.
From
this
city.
In
the
1970s
we
stained
our
neighborhoods
became
desirable.
Then
City
Council
passed
the
API
for
homeowners,
that
is
a
mathematical
and
economic
burden.
/
impossibility
for
all
citizens
on
fixed
incomes
to
meet
on
a
long-term
basis.
R
Whatever
the
obstacles
we
need
for
city
council
to
join
us
in
the
effort
to
save
our
homes.
As
a
committee
person
for
over
30
years,
I
know
of
the
power
of
working
together.
Nothing
is
impossible.
Please
help
us.
The
number
of
foreclosures
in
Philadelphia
increases,
even
as
we
speak,
and
the
AVI
will
cause
a
tragic
end
to
its
long
term.
R
Citizens
who
have
worked
all
their
lives
for
the
benefit
of
this
city,
as
an
addendum
I
would
like
to
say
to
Councilman
squalor
I
notice
that
I
don't
see
many
of
your
constituents
here
and
those
River
wards
also
are
suffering
from
this
very
problem.
I,
don't
know
why
they're
not
here
that
Kensington
Riverwood
area,
because
it's
right
next
to
Northern
Liberties
is
also
suffering
under
this,
and
while
this
this
is
not
a
really
integrated
looking
group,
it
should
be
the
kind
of
thing
we're
talking
about
for
our
senior
citizens.
R
R
D
F
Okay
good
afternoon
I'm
opposing
the
bill
for
the
simple
fact
that
tax
evaders
should
not
be
allowed
to
have
Lew.
This
is
about
protection.
Now,
when
we
come
down
here
and
ask
for
protection,
it
falls
on
deaf
ears.
When
we
ask
for
protection
regarding
the
character
of
our
community,
which
that
bill
is
coming
up,
one
eight
zero,
nine
seven
three
I
want
you
all
to
you
know,
take
a
look
at
it
soon.
At
this
amendment,
we're
asking
for
protection
and,
as
councilman
said,
he
wants
to
protect
people.
F
Well,
we
want
protection
too,
but
this
type
of
protection
is
not
fair.
This
is
unfair.
Okay,
because
number
one
I
don't
think
we're
really
looking
at
this
from
a
serious
standpoint
of
tax
evaders
that
came
in
back
in
205
and
and
before
that,
because
they
were
qualifying.
But
I
was
looking
at
a
particular
real
estate
website
and
I
just
want
to
read
something
real,
quick.
In
fact,
one
investor
recently
did
analysis
and
determine
that
the
350,000
they
invested
ten
years
ago
in
a
condominium
is
worth
about.
F
1
million
dollars
today
and
produces
about
an
income
of
60,000
but
I
also
want
to
say
if
a
person
purchased
a
condominium
around
$350,000
today,
yep
back
10
years
ago,
it
would
be
work
for
about
1
million
dollars.
Also
on
this
website,
it
goes
on
to
say
many
real
estate.
Investors
who
I
have
helped,
are
no
Laura
gainfully
employed
either
due
to
retirement
or
old
age.
Yet
they
happily
rely
on
the
real
estate
for
their
supplement,
their
income
stream
to
finance
their
lifestyle.
F
F
That
is
not
fair
to
us,
because
at
this
particular
point
this
system
has
to
be
fixed
because
we're
not
dealing
with
one
particular
group
that
I
feel
needs
to
be
looked
at,
and
that
is
the
real
estate
Association.
Because
of
the
fact
that
right
now,
Smith
school
was
sold
by
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia,
who
claim
they'd
love
our
children
to
a
developer,
and
he
has
just
listed.
He
has
just
listed
his
first
listing
for
seven
hundred
and
ninety-five
thousand
dollars
a
townhouse
in
the
middle
of
the
school
yard.
F
We
have
a
townhouse
in
the
middle
of
a
school
yard
for
seven
hundred
and
ninety
five
thousand
dollars.
Do
you
know
what
a
795,000
all
does
to
a
community
call
a
wipeout?
It
affects
the
rich
and
it
will
affect
the
tax
assessments.
It
will
affect
the
whole
area.
It
would
make
the
whole
area
too
expensive
to
live
in.
It
is
not
fair
that
we
don't
qualify
for
both
homestead
and
loop,
but
yet
you
want
the
tax
evaders
to
qualify
for
new.
F
That
is
not
fair
at
this
particular
point,
and
it
should
not
be
allowed
we're
saying
at
this
point
that
if
you're
going
to
continue
to
do
that,
then
we
deserve
a
tax
abatement,
because,
though
you
know
you've
given
us
loop,
we're
still
requalified
that
we
required
to
pay
our
taxes.
We
have
not
received
a
100%
tax
abatement,
we
should
be
given
a
tax
abatement
and
we
should
not
have
to
pay
either
because
mr.
Dom
asks
what
is
the
cost.
F
The
reality
of
it
is
the
cost
is:
is
that
those
people
that
he
pacifically
helped
that
purchase
at
three
hundred
and
fifty
thousand
dollars
is
that
their
investment
right
now
is
worth
1
million
dollars?
And
anybody
who
has
an
investment
property
for
1
min
now
should
not
qualify
for
new
I
think
this
bill
needs
to
be
held
up.
It
needs
to
be
put
to
the
side,
because
if
you
continue
on,
then
this
is
really
an
unfair
process
and
I
think
that
this
is
really
trickery
of
the
language
coming.
F
A
S
Cuz
I
didn't
pay
anywhere
in
there
that
to
buy
this
house
so
with
the
court
they
lowered
it,
and
then
the
judge
answers
me
do
I
should
have
been
lowered.
I
said
yes,
it
should
even
lower
than
what
they
did.
I
said
this
is.
This
is
not
actually
what
I
love
based
on
what
I
paid,
butchers,
taxes
and
I
said
this
is
ridiculous,
so
they
lowered
it
a
little
and
then
he
said
the
point
to
where
he
lowered.
He
said
it
will
go
no
lower
I
said
well.
Why
wouldn't
my
this
assess
the
Goldi
lower?
S
He
said
because
of
the
area
where
you
live,
so
my
house
is
not
worth
that
much,
but
the
area
is
so
I'm
paying
all
this
these
taxes.
It's
absolutely
my
taxes
went
from
like
six
hundred
to
three
thousand
stuff.
What
in
the
world
could
I
do
that
on
the
retirement
or
the
retirement?
And
it's
just
getting
ridiculous.
This
bill
does
not
need
to
pass
it's
not
helping
any
of
us.
We,
the
people,
I've,
worked
all
my
life
and
I've
been
a
schoolteacher
and
I
know
that
all
the
years
that
I've
worked,
it's
it's
ridiculous.
S
Did
these
taxes
haven't
helped
the
schools
they
have
done?
Nothing
and
the
black
schools
are
just
like
it
was
back
at
1890.
It
has
got
no
better,
that's
how
bad
they
are.
You
know
you
talk
all
this
and
they
do
nothing
the
money.
The
mayor
is
doing
nothing
with
the
money.
It's
just
getting
ridiculous.
You
know,
we've
we
just
work
and
work
and
work,
and
we
need
now
this
bill
to
not
pass
until
OPA,
and
it's
been
yes
but
so
VA
needs
to
be
put
together.
S
It's
ridiculous
and
those
of
us
who
have
worked
all
our
lives
and
lived
in
the
neighborhood
and
I've
been
like
I
sat
in
that
neighborhood
I've
been
in
that
house
40
years,
I've
been
neighborhood
fifty
years
and
it's
just
ridiculous.
I've
worked
on
the
community
birth
with
the
communities.
There's
back
going
back
50
years,
you
know,
and
it's
just
ridiculous
now
the
taxes
and
all
that
that
we
are
paying
is
something
the
person
the
people.
I
should
say
that
work
every
day
like
I
did.
We
everything
is
on
our
backs.
S
I
mean
we
pay
for
everything.
When
we
don't
pay,
they
put
a
lien
on
us.
They
put
a
penalty
on
us.
We
got
the
paid
I
got
to
pay
the
park
in
front
of
my
own
else.
On
a
public
street
I
mean
how
many
more
taxes
do
you
intend
to
put
on
us,
the
liens,
the
penalties.
If
you
don't
pay,
and
then
one
of
the
counselors
talked
about.
Oh
you,
the
senior
can
get
a
loan.
So
if
you
die,
what
are
you
gonna
do
need?
S
So
your
ears,
who
inherit
your
property,
got
more
bills
to
pay
the
inheritance
tax.
The
kilim
alone
I
mean
the
inheritance
tax
will
kill
if
I
left
it
to
my
child,
well,
the
world
would
they
be
able
to
get
together
three
hundred
thousand
dollars
to
pay
for
this,
that's
what
it's
gonna
run
on
more
and
God
forbid.
S
If
I
should
live
ten
to
twenty
more
years,
good
grief,
I
mess
with
just
hand
your
house,
so
this
bill
needs
to
just
be
reset
eat
and
go
over
because
it's
not
helping
us
it's
helping
the
rich
as
it
always
has.
We
never
get
a
breather
and
anytime.
The
judge
can
tell
me
thank
you.
We
all
know
it's
the
area
we're
in
trouble,
because
the
whole
series,
the
whole
thing,
is
becoming
the
area.
Now.
There's.
S
Members,
my
name
is
Barbra
Kerry
I'm,
a
home
owner
I
live
in
the
Overbrook
section
of
the
city,
I'm
75
years
old
and
I'm
on
a
fixed
income.
Because
of
this
success
men
and
seem
like
that:
they're
not
fair.
The
formula
is
you
know
you
don't
have
a
good
formula,
see
Mike
you
discussing
that?
Don't
we
have
any
details
like
saying:
well
we're
going
to
be
this
or
that
no
uh-huh
we
discussed
discussed.
What
are
you
gonna
do
I
feel
like
I
need
to
talk
with
someone
one-on-one
to
tell
me
about
the
different
programs.
S
Now
I
have
the
new
program.
After
listening
to
everybody
today,
I'm
not
sure
what
the
new
program
is.
It's
really
and
I
need
you
to
tell
me
who
one
on
one
do
I
know
to
my
city,
council
person,
saying
hey,
don't
explain
it
to
me
from
A
to
Z
the
beginning,
I
really
don't
know,
but
the
thing
is
I
think
we
should
free
it.
Freeze
everything
I
put
a
hold
on
things
until
we
can
get
this
formula
right
because
are
they
gonna
sets
out
I'll
come
back
and
reassess
the
properties
before
you?
S
A
A
A
D
A
B
A
So
it's
a
permit
first
reading
of
this
bill
at
the
next
section
of
account
session
of
council,
all
those
in
favor
of
the
motion
was
signify
by
saying
aye
those
opposed
the
eyes
have
it,
and
the
motion
carries
in
bill
number
181
1:03,
as
amended
bill
will
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
the
favorable
recommendation
and
a
request
that
the
rules
of
council
be
suspended,
so
listen
permit
first
reading
at
our
next
session
of
counsel.
That
concludes
our
meeting.
We
note
that
Councilwoman
Parker
also
left
her
vote
and
we,
our
committee
hearing,
will
be
adjourned.
A
I.
Thank
all
the
members
who
were
here
and
all
those
who
have
come
to
testify
and
called
that
Councilwoman
bass
to
complete
the
health
hearing,
there's
another
hearing
to
be
completed,
and
we
ask
her
to
come
back
so
that
she
might
do
it
and
thank
her
and
apologize
for
taking
so
much
time.
Thank
you.