►
Description
The Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and The Homeless of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Monday, November 6, 2017, at 10:00 AM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following items:
170827 An Ordinance amending Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Regulation of Individual Conduct and Activity," Chapter 10-800, "Safety," by adding a new Section 10-840, "Squatters," establishing and clarifying procedures to remove squatters from real property, all under certain terms and conditions.
170841 Resolution authorizing the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless to hold hearings to discuss the impact of squatting in Philadelphia, the victims of squatting and additional measures and best practices to prevent squatting.
Committee on Housing Neighborhood Development and the Homeless
Chair: Councilman Allan Domb (At Large)
Vice Chair: Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (3rd District)
A
Good
morning,
this
hearing
was
called
to
order.
Now
this
is
the
public
hearing
of
the
City
Council
Committee
on
housing,
Neighborhood,
Development
and
the
homeless.
The
purpose
of
this
public
hearing
is
to
heard
testimony
on
bill
number
one
708
to
seven
to
take
testimony
regarding
the
impact
of
squatting
and
the
city
as
authorized
by
resolution
number
one
708
401
I
recognize
the
presence
of
a
quorum
of
committee
members,
members
of
the
committee
and
attendants
or
to
my
immediate
left.
B
B
Morning
to
my
council
colleagues
to
today's
witnesses
and
all
those
are
here
for
this
very
important
dialogue
but
may
I.
Please
ask
everyone
for
just
one
moment
of
silence
for
victims
of
yesterday's
tragic
shooting
in
the
Sutherland
Springs
Church.
It's
I
think
as
Americans
we're
facing
this
way
too
many
times,
and
it
is
an
awful
situation,
but
in
their
memory
and
for
Humanity
I'd
like
a
moment
of
silence,.
B
Today
marks
the
first
City
Council
Committee
hearing
on
full
of
his
growing
squatter
problem
for
those
unfamiliar
with
that
term.
Squatting
is
really
an
act
of
criminal,
trespass
or
unlawful
occupancy
for
most
people
owning
their
home.
It's
a
definition
of
the
American
Dream
and
the
most
critical
financial
investment
a
family
will
ever
make,
but
for
those
homeowners
dealing
with
illegal
squatters
homeownership
has
become
a
complete
nightmare.
Most
often
unscrupulous
people
find
a
home
in
which
the
lawful
homeowners
are
away
for
a
period
of
time.
B
They
are
then
illegally
break
into
the
empty
house
and
set
up
residency.
There
seems
to
be
an
underground
network
of
squatters
who
either
case
and
scan
the
neighborhood
for
vacancies,
finds
it
through
the
real
estate
listings
and
target
empty
homes
in
the
city.
Northeast
Philadelphia
has
seen
its
fair
share
of
squatters,
but
I
truly
believe
that
is
through
all
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
Our
police
officers
are
usually
the
ones
first
called
by
lawful
homeowners,
but
the
police
are
a
complete
disadvantage.
B
Often
the
unlawful
inhabits
of
the
house
produce
a
phony
rental
lease
claiming
to
be
a
tenant
of
the
house.
Our
police
officers
have
neither
the
time
nor
the
ability
to
track
down
the
authenticity
of
this
lease.
Unfortunately,
the
state
laws
that
govern
so-called
squatter's
rights
are
archaic
and
afford
the
illegal
inhabitants
and
equal
or
sometimes
more
rights
than
the
actual
lawful
homeowners.
B
To
be
clear,
there
are
certain
unscrupulous
landlords
in
the
city
who
take
advantage
of
renters
that
cannot
be
permitted
either,
but
the
focus
of
this
hearing
and
our
resolving
legislative
remedies
are
focused
on
illegal
trespassers
and
unlawful
occupants.
This
hearing
pertains
to
actions
that
can
be
construed
as
criminal
acts
and
does
not
pertain
to
example,
of
a
landlord
and
tenant
relationship
or
anyone
who
had
at
one
time
the
legal
right
to
occupy
the
said
residence
examples
of
these
cases
would
include
foreclosure
or
homeowners
or
an
aural
rental
lease
gone
awry.
B
My
office
has
been
in
close
communication
with
my
friend
and
colleague,
state
representative
John
Taylor,
who
we
brought
this
to
my
attention
earlier
this
summer.
John
Taylor
is
here
with
us
today
on
updating
the
existing
state
legislation
to
close
loopholes
and
afford
lawful
homeowners,
more
safeguards
against
illegal
squatters.
Both
of
our
officers
have
been
in
contact
with
mr.
Greg
Rowe,
chief
of
legislative
unit
of
the
District
Attorney's
Office,
and
also
with
families
who
have
lived
or
are
currently
living
through
the
nightmare
of
squatters
in
their
homes.
B
Given
that
we
believe
the
crime
is
being
committed
in
these
cases,
and
there
is
no
landlord-tenant
relationship
whatsoever-
will
also
be
interviewing
legal
experts
from
the
district
attorney's
office
and
the
police
commissioner's
office.
Real
estate
professionals
and
government
agencies
specialties
in
these
disputes
and
hear
directly
from
those
who
have
been
victimized
by
the
squatters.
It
is
up
to
us
in
the
state
and
local
government
to
resolve
this
problem
and
Monday
marks
a
significant
first
step
to
this
remedy.
B
I'd
also
like
to
say,
there
are
probably
folks
that
have
not
even
come
forward
yet
or
that
are
being
victimized
by
the
very
same
thing
and
I
would
make
my
office
available
for
anyone
that
is
going
through
this
difficulty
and
we
are
here
to
serve
so
mr.
chairman.
Thank
you
for
these
few
moments.
Thank.
C
You
very
much
mr.
chairman
I
appreciate
very
much
council
men,
Tom
burgers
resolution
to
have
hearings
and
all
the
work
that's
being
done.
However,
concerning
my
bill,
I
present
a
bill
that
I
would
like
to
have
passed
out
of
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation.
The
reason
I
say
that
is
because
we
already
have
a
criminal
statute
and
it's
very
clear
there
couldn't
be
anything
more
simple
or
easy
to
understand
or
more
relevant
to
the
average
citizen
than
someone
violating
their
home
breaking
into
their
home
entering
illegally
and
unlawfully.
C
We
have
different
types
of
situations.
Some
are
clearly
landlord
tenant
issues.
Those
are
resolved
in
a
civil
court.
Some
are
clearly
criminal
kicking
in
a
door
breaking
into
a
house,
mashing
windows,
those
are
clearly
criminal
and
the
only
entity
that
is
designed
to
deal
with
public
offenses
like
that
are
the
police
and
the
District
Attorney's
Office
are
law
enforcement
entities.
There
is
no
other
way
to
deal
with
that.
Our
civil
system
is
not
designed
to
provide
appropriate
justice
in
a
private
civil
court.
C
Hearing,
for
example,
homeowners
do
not
have
a
business
license;
they
don't
have
a
revenue
I,
since
they
don't
have
a
certificate
of
compliance.
They
don't
have
any
of
these
things
because
they're
not
renting,
they
don't
have
a
certificate
of
vacancy
because
their
home
is
not
vacant
and
therefore
they
go
into
a
court
system
and
clog
it
up
with
a
matter
that
will
take
up
to
16
months,
if
they're
lucky
to
remove
a
criminal
before
citizens
take
matters
into
their
own
hands.
C
It's
important
that
we
clarify
for
our
city
for
our
police,
exactly
what
their
responsibilities
are.
Taxpayers
expect
the
police
to
do
their
duty.
They
are
trained,
they
go
through
training
and
they
are
supervised.
Police,
do
not
simply
arrest
someone
and
conclude
that
they
are
guilty.
The
process
is
one
in
which
they
need
probable
cause,
and
it's
a
it's
a
it's
a
thing
that
they
do
every
day.
Let
me
start
with
my
statement.
C
Bill
number
17,
Oh
827,
a
person
who
breaks
into
your
home
and
refuses
to
leave
is
not
a
tenant
just
because
they
say
so
that
person
is
a
criminal
and
should
not
be
treated
like
a
tenant.
Without
credible
evidence
in
obvious
cases
of
burglary
or
criminal,
trespass,
squatters
should
be
arrested
and
prosecuted.
In
less
obvious
cases,
there
should
be
an
expedited
civil
process.
C
It
should
not
take
9
to
16
months
to
remove
a
criminal
from
your
home,
because
you're
forced
to
hire
a
lawyer
and
use
a
civil
proceeding
that
is
not
designed
to
deal
with
violations.
In
the
meantime,
you
must
continue
to
pay
utilities
and
all
costs
even
after
these
criminals.
Finally
leave
your
home.
They
are
not
punished
with
jail
or
fines.
They
do
not
pay
rent
or
reimburse
you
for
the
damage
to
your
home.
It's
not
surprising
that
they
often
do
it
again.
C
Opponents
of
my
bill
object
because
they
say
the
police
are
not
able
to
distinguish
obvious
cases
of
criminal
trespass
and
fraud,
yet
the
police
investigate
murders
and
complex
economic
crimes.
Computer
crimes
every
day
the
District
Attorney's
Office
can
determine
whether
there's
enough
evidence
to
file
criminal
charges
and
the
courts
can
decide
whether
the
evidence
against
the
defendant
is
beyond
a
reasonable
doubt.
C
Today,
there's
a
serious
problem
of
criminals
breaking
into
homes,
falsely
claiming
to
be
tenants
and
a
failure.
In
many
cases,
by
police
to
act
because
of
arguments
such
as
those
that
are
being
made
by
the
opponents
of
this
bill,
criminal
laws
are
enforced
by
the
police,
prosecutors
and
Criminal
Court
civil
court
is
not
designed
to
appropriately
address
criminal
violations.
C
Clogging
up
civil
courts
with
criminal
matters
that
do
not
fit
in
the
system
takes
even
longer
than
the
regular
civil
cases
and
is
burdens
them
to
all
the
argument
that
no
one
should
be
arrested
because
landlord-tenant
relationships
are
legally
complicated,
is
completely
wrong.
Arrests,
where
probable
cause
exists
as
determined
by
a
trained
and
sworn
police
officer,
is
the
law
and
the
standard.
C
The
arrest
merely
initiates
a
criminal
process
against
the
alleged
offenders.
Charges
have
to
be
brought
by
the
police
approved
by
the
district
attorney's
office
and
found
sufficient
by
the
court.
Only
then
can
a
trial
begin
if
at
any
point,
the
police,
DA
or
judge
determined,
there's
not
enough
evidence
that
a
crime
has
been
committed.
The
criminal
process
stops
my
bill
does
not
because
it
cannot
make
the
police
arrest
criminals.
C
They
should
and
I
urge
the
mayor
to
ensure
that
they
do
what
my
bill
does
is
help
the
home
owner
who
must
deal
with
the
criminal
that
is
not
arrested
and
remains
in
their
home.
It
lays
out
a
process
that
will
expedite
a
civil
hearing,
while
my
bill
lays
out
the
foundation
for
that,
I
cannot
make
the
court
have
a
expedited
process.
The
court
is
a
separate
branch
of
government
and
they're
not
subject
to
my
bill.
They
must
decide
to
create
an
expedited
process
on
their
own
I've,
already
met
with
the
judiciary
to
discuss
this.
C
However,
even
if
it
happens,
that
process
will
not
resolve
this
problem
within
24
hours.
Hopefully
it
could
take
place
within
30
days,
but
that
will
take
more
tax
dollars
for
both
the
city
and
the
courts
in
order
to
establish
this
system,
but
for
criminal
offenders
who
break
into
homes
the
only
process
we
as
a
government
endorsed
is
the
police
enforcing
the
law.
Otherwise,
you'll
have
citizens
enforcing
it
by
themselves
and
that's
not
what
we
want
in
these
three
separate
instances.
C
Clearly
a
landlord-tenant
issue.
Clearly
a
criminal
issue.
This
bill
provides
some
guidance
to
the
police
as
to
what
is
and
what
isn't
acceptable
in
terms
of
the
argument
that
I
am
a
tenant,
it
does
not
apply
to
Gardens,
it
does
not
apply
to
abandoned
buildings.
Abandoned
buildings
are
already
a
defense
in
the
state
criminal
code.
This
applies
when
there
is
evidence
that
the
a
crime
is
being
committed,
but
the
police
do
not
feel
or
the
district
attorneys
that
there
sufficient
probable
cause.
In
that
instance,
we
create
a
expedited
hearing.
C
We
have
the
identification
and
we
institute
a
fine,
and
what
we
have
found
in
this
process
is
that
there
are
professional
squatters
who
have
money
who
have
homes
who
have
the
ability
to
pay
these
fines
and
what
we're
seeking
is
voluntary
compliance.
This
problem
has
existed,
apparently
at
least
for
a
decade,
if
not
longer,
and
so
the
argument
that
we
have
just
learned
about
this
I
think
is
problematic.
In
fact,
I
feel
that
we
should
take
care
of
this
today
because
it
is
long
overdue.
Thank
you
very
much.
Thank.
D
Brief,
thank
you
so
much
chairman
DOM
and
appreciate
the
importance
of
this
hearing.
You
know
I,
don't
disagree
at
all
with
my
council
colleagues
concerns
about
the
urgent
issue
that
is
going
to
be
laid
out
before
us,
but
I
do
think
that
some
of
the
testimony
that's
being
presented
raises
some
of
the
legal
questions
and,
while
I
don't
think
that
holding
a
bill
to
work
out,
some
of
the
legalities
of
a
question
means
anything
about
the
seriousness
to
which
we
pay
attention
to
these
issues.
D
I
do
think
it's
important
that
we
listen
to
the
fullest
amount
of
the
hearing,
including
some
of
the
concerns
that
are
being
raised
by
some
of
our
strongest
advocates.
Who've
been
very
present,
who
certainly
don't
want
to
see
outrageous
situations
which
I
think
the
councilman
is
trying
to
address,
but
would
like
to
see
us
do
it
in
ways
that
meet
the
requirements
of
the
law
and
help
us
put
out
policy
that
is
responsive
to
and
recognize
that
policy
that
we
put
out.
D
There
impacts
people
beyond
specific
circumstances,
beyond
circumstances
that
we
may
not
even
understand
or
recognize,
and
that's
why,
when
we
take
these
approaches-
and
we
look
at
policy
like
this-
we
want
to
make
sure
and
I
certainly
would
like
to
hear
a
legal
opinion
on
the
bill
from
our
law
department
before
moving
forward
as
well.
So
thank
you
very
much
and
I
look
forward
to
the
testimony
Thank.
A
You
Councilwoman,
okay,
we
have
a
lot
of
people
testifying
today
over
25
I
think
so
far,
so
I
wanted
to
set
a
few
ground
rules.
If
we
can
I'd
like
to
keep
the
testimony
to
within
two
minutes
of
each
person,
I
have
a
timer
by
the
way
here
and
I
like
it
either
summarize
or
keep
the
two
minutes,
but
keep
everything.
A
The
two
minutes,
if
you
can
also
would
like
you
to
possibly,
of
course,
state
your
name
but
also
indicate
whether
your
testimony
applies
to
the
bill
to
the
resolution
or
to
both
and
I
like
to
ask
the
clerk
now
to
read
the
title
of
the
bill
and
the
resolution
being
considered
by
this
committee
today.
Bill.
F
Conduct
and
activity
chapter
10
800
safety
by
adding
a
new
section,
10
840,
squatter's,
establishing
and
clarifying
procedures
to
remove
squatters
from
real
property,
all
under
certain
terms
and
conditions
in
resolution
number
one:
seven:
zero.
Eight
four
one
resolution
authorizing
the
Committee
on
housing,
Neighborhood,
Development
and
the
homeless,
to
hold
hearings
to
discuss
the
impact
of
squatting
in
Philadelphia,
the
victims
of
squatting
and
additional
measures
and
best
practices
to
prevent
squatting.
A
Okay,
I'd
like
to
call
up
the
panel
number
one
and
we
have
our
tremendous
representative
from
Philadelphia
and
state
represent
of
john
taylor,
who
has
clearly
represented
all
philadelphians
Andrew
gentleman,
Michael,
berry,
captain,
Francis,
Healy
and
Rebecca
Swanson.
Please
state
your
name
for
the
record
and
I
guess.
Each
department
you're
with
I.
G
Morning,
council,
councilman,
DOM
and
members
of
the
committee,
thank
you
for
giving
me
and
the
rest
of
the
panel
you
steps
as
far
as
an
opportunity
to
talk
about
illegal
trespassing
for
the
purposes
of
occupying
a
residence
and
I
I.
Think
that's
what
we're
talking
about
is
councilman
o
just
mentioned.
This
is
not
a
new
process
you
mentioning
going
on
for
a
decade
or
so
I
think
it's
it's
been
going
on
for
a
long
time
in
Philadelphia,
depending
on
different
periods.
G
Our
office
got
involved
in
this
particular
problem
through
the
neighborhoods
of
WA,
Sonoma
and
Frankford
and
Ciccone,
where
individuals
were
recognizing
properties
that
were
being
foreclosed
upon,
and
in
that
case
they
would
enter
the
property
neighbors
would
call.
But
in
those
situations
the
owner
was
not
there
because
in
many
cases
it
would
be
a
bank
from
from
Arizona
or
from
from
Florida
or
somewhere
else.
So
there
would
be
little
in
the
way
of
standing
for
for
anyone's
it's.
This
step
forward
and
I
think
that
that
put
the
police
in
a
bad
situation.
G
But
more
recently,
the
perpetrators
of
this
crime
have
become
more
bold.
They
breakin
broken
into
houses
immediately.
We've
had
situations
that
you're
going
to
hear
direct
testimony
from
on
onwe
chling
Street
in
Akron
Street,
both
on
the
way
chop,
family
and
from
the
Magee
family,
where
they
occupy
the
premises
were
able
to
thwart
police
activity
by
way
of
forging
documents
worse,
they
prey
on
unsuspecting
citizens
by
renting
them
the
very
property
they
had,
no
right
to
being
in
the
first
place.
So
what
do
we
do?
G
I
think
we
need
action
both
at
the
city
level,
at
the
state
level
and
in
the
court
system.
I
think
we
need
work
collectively
to
solve
this
problem.
The
bill
I've
introduced
is
House
bill
1874,
it
was
not
complete.
There's
been
a
new
bill
that
has
been
worked
out
with
with
our
staff
and
the
district
attorney's
office
and
I'm
gonna.
Let
Andrew
and
Mike
talk
about
that.
But
basically
is
what
can
the
police
do
and
when
can
they
do
it,
and
we
need
to
have
that
clarified.
H
Good
morning,
behalf
of
this
attorney
Kelly
Hodge,
thank
you
for
inviting
us
here
to
this
important
hearing.
My
name
is
Mike
berry
I'm,
the
deputy
of
the
pretrial
division
in
the
Philadelphia
District
Attorney's
Office,
which
means
I
supervise
the
DA's,
were
all
in
most
arrests
with
me
as
Andrew
gentleman.
The
chief
of
the
public
nuisance
task
force
in
my
office
I
want
you
to
imagine
that
you
walk
in
your
house
one
day
and
find
some
of
somebody
else
is
living
there.
Maybe
this
is
your
primary
residence
or
second
house,
a
rental
property.
H
Maybe
it's
a
home
to
belong
to
your
mom
and
dad
that
passed
along
to
you
or
a
home
that
belongs
to
your
church
or
community
organization,
and
imagine
that
you
can't
get
anyone
from
the
city
to
remove
this
person.
Maybe
you
have
nowhere
to
live
because
someone's
moved
in
your
home.
Perhaps
lots
have
been
changed.
Maybe
you
need
a
hearing
aid
court
hearing
in
a
few
months?
H
Maybe
maybe
you
can
get
somebody
arrested,
but
in
the
mean
time,
practically
speaking,
your
house
is
no
longer
yours
and
the
government
either
through
the
current
law
or
operational
issues,
or
some
combination
of
both
currently
can't
help
you
in
a
timely
manner,
your
house
has
been
taken.
You've
done
nothing
wrong
and
you're
a
victim.
H
Well,
we
recognize
the
issues
can
get
confusing
and
sometimes
overlap.
We
do
not,
anyway,
want
to
create
a
solution
that
would
empower
unscrupulous
property
owners
to
circumvent
the
legal
process
so
unlawfully
evict
or
harm
their
tenants
or
to
trample
on
tenants
rights.
The
people
here
we're
talking
to
talk
about
are
not
tenants
by
any
legal
definition.
There
are
trespassers
who
have
legally
entered
a
person's
home
with
an
intent
to
stay
now.
Why
do
these
victims,
whose
homes
are
taken
from
them,
have
so
much
trouble
getting
them
back?
H
There
could
be
many
reasons,
but
to
to
consider
are
that
it
typically
takes
a
significant
period
of
time
to
go
through
the
current
civil
ejectment
process,
and
there
are
some
concerns
that
the
city
self-help
fiction.
Organist
may
have
unintentionally
stymied
some
efforts
to
by
other
City
agencies.
As
it
stands
now,
there
are
only
two
ways
to
remove
an
illegal
trespasser,
an
arrest
or
the
civil
ejectment
process.
H
Arrests
are
what
I
know
about,
and
a
quick
arrest
of
an
unlawful
occupant
is
not
necessarily
a
good
solution.
In
many
cases,
while
on
a
resent
rest
would
result
in
the
removal
of
an
illegal
Occulus
access
to
assume
she
can
have
to
wait
until
a
criminal
investigation
is
completed
before
having
the
opportunity
to
repossess
their
home.
H
It's
always
a
bad
idea
to
rush
to
judgment
on
criminal
arrests,
and
there
are
many
situations
we
have
found
where
a
person
may
be
an
unlawful
occupant
occupant,
but
not
warrant
arrest
such
as
when
they
themselves
have
been
fraudulently
offered
at
home
by
someone
who
doesn't
own
it.
Arrest
should
be
about
starting
a
criminal
proceeding,
not
a
means
to
inject.
There
are
solutions.
We've
been
working
with
the
representative,
Taylor
senator
Taylor,
I'm,
sorry,
okay,
I
apologize
on
state
legislation
that
would
address
some
of
the
problems.
H
His
legislation
is
modeled
after
recent
legislation
that
was
passed
in
the
state
of
Washington,
it
permits
law,
court
and
a
law
enforcement
officer
with
probable
cause
to
believe
a
person
is
committing
a
criminal
trespass
on
residential
property,
to
either
arrest
and
remove
the
person
from
a
premises
of
arrest
as
needed,
or
to
simply
remove
the
per
person
without
making
arrests
pending
an
investigation.
Additionally,
the
owner
or
authorized
agent
of
the
residential
property
may
initiate
an
investigation
by
providing
a
sworn
statement
signed
under
penalty
of
perjury.
H
The
state
won't
include
that,
among
other
things,
he
or
she
is
the
owner
or
authorized
agent
of
the
property.
The
trespasser
is
not
a
tenant
or
an
invitee
or
permitted
to
be
on
the
property
and
has
instead
remained
on
the
premises
that
the
owner
has
demanded.
The
person
vacate
the
premises
and
the
person
has
not
done
so.
H
The
person
whose
tenant
of
the
property
would
also
be
provided
an
opportunity
to
present
to
the
investigator
any
credible
evidence
showing
that
he
or
she
is
an
owner
tenant,
illegal
occupant
of
the
president,
present
premises
or
a
guests
are
invited
there
of
this
narrowly
crafted
legislation
would
go
a
long
way
towards
providing
proper
owners,
a
legal
and
safe
method
of
reclaiming
their
property
from
trespassers.
We
also
believe
that,
collectively
we
should
look
at
section
9,
1600
of
the
Philadelphia
Code.
H
We
dresses
the
issues
of
self
up
eviction
practices
to
see
what
changes
as
any
are
needed
to
ensure
that
see
the
officials
are
appropriately
empowered
to
remove
illegal
trespassers.
As
part
of
this
as
analysis,
consideration
of
councilman
OHS
proposed
resolution
is
important.
Council
knows
the
man
who
brought
this
issue
to
my
attention.
H
This
legislation
correctly
assumes
that
the
process
for
an
owner
to
reclaim
his
or
her
property
needs
to
be
changed
and
that
there
needs
to
be
a
quick
way
to
provide
a
quick
and
substantive
adjudication
of
the
claim.
The
resolution
currently
acknowledges
that
owners
of
records
of
real
property
should
be
the
beneficiary
of
a
legal
presumption
when
no
proof
can
be
provided
that
a
landlord-tenant
relationship
ever
existed.
H
Councilman
Zoe's
proposal
widely
focuses
on
the
people
whose
homes
have
been
stolen
and
that
the
law
needs
to
protect
them
because
they're
the
victims,
by
adopting
a
formal
written
process,
we'd,
be
ensuring
that
the
law
does
not
unintentionally
benefit
unscrupulous
owners
or
landlords,
which
again
is
no
one's
purpose
here
today,
while
still
acknowledging
that
as
victims
of
these
crimes,
property
owners
should
be
protected
by
the
law
and
not
thwarted
by
it.
I.
Thank
you
for
your
time.
Your
consideration
as
we
try
to
help
victims
of
crime
and
Philadelphia
get
their
homes
back.
I
I
Thank
you
I
apologize
that
thank
you
for
allowing
the
police
department
to
comment
on
both
the
bill
and
the
resolution.
As
you
all
know,
the
officers
of
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department
are
called
not
just
when
outright
crimes
occur,
but
are
also
called
to
resolve
a
wide
range
of
disputes,
ranging
from
child
custody
matters
to
property
line
squabbles
between
neighbors
and
inevitably
to
resolve
landlord
tenant
and
other
property
ownership
issues.
I
Regrettably,
these
matters
are
complicated
with
dueling
documentation
records
and
the
implications
of
city
code,
9
1600,
which
prohibits
self-help
evictions.
The
officers
are
often
left
with
the
untenable
task
of
trying
to
resolve
these
matters
on
the
street,
with
no
access
to
official
records.
I
think
it
is
important
at
this
point
to
clarify
the
difference
between
the
common
perception
of
a
traditional
squatter
from
the
intentional
criminal
acts
that
we
have
seen
over
the
past
several
years.
Traditional
squatters
are
individuals
who
enter
an
abandoned
facility
to
use
as
an
impromptu,
residence
or
shelter.
I
There
are
no
indicia
of
any
ownership
or
leasehold
interest.
This
is
the
classic
version
of
squat.
However,
increasingly
we
are
finding
individuals
who
intentionally
enter
an
unoccupied
or
even
occupied
structure,
to
deprive
the
true
owner
or
lessee
of
the
right
to
the
property
or
to
extort
the
owner
into
paying
them
to
leave
the
property.
This
is
not
a
squatter
seeking
shelter
or
a
landlord
tenant
dispute,
but
rather
a
crime.
I
Regrettably,
this
crime
is
not
easily
identifiable.
It
takes
investigative
work
that
is
simply
beyond
the
scope
of
the
responding
patrol
officer.
These
criminals
are
aware
of
the
current
city
code
and
are
savvy
enough
to
produce
fraudulent
records
and
leases
and
even
legitimate
utility
bills
to
deprive
an
owner
of
their
home
or
to
extort
them
for
its
return
is
offensive
in
every
level
and
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department
will
do
whatever
it
can
within
its
power
to
bring
these
criminals
to
justice.
I
Clearly,
law
enforcement
and
legislators
need
to
come
together
to
adjust
this
threat,
so
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department
applauds
the
efforts
of
both
councilman
tavern,
burger
and
Councilman
o
for
bringing
these
issues
to
the
forefront
for
discussion
and
debate.
While
this
matter
is
debated,
I
think
it
is
important
to
remember
that
the
intentional
act
to
deprive
a
person
of
property
or
to
extort
an
individual
is
a
crime
and
must
be
treated
as
a
crime
where
swift
and
definitive
action
can
be
taken
by
law
enforcement
to
a
beat
the
harm.
I
While
City
Council
has
the
authority
to
adjust
this
matter
through
the
city
code,
the
police
are
limited
in
what
we
can
do
with
enforcement.
The
ability
to
issue
a
code
violation
notice
may
be
helpful
to
establish
notice
in
a
criminal
case,
but
the
code
will
not
authorize
police
to
forcibly
remove
individuals
for
code
violations.
Thus
the
harm
continues
for
the
owner.
I
For
this
reason,
the
police
department
would
strongly
recommend
that
our
state
legislators
be
included
in
developing
a
comprehensive
solution
to
this
somewhat
new
and
complicated
crime.
To
that
end,
I
commend
the
efforts
of
the
District
Attorney's
Office
and
Senator
Taylor.
As
previously
mentioned
by
mr.
berry,
with
both
city
ordinances
and
state
laws
attacking
the
issue,
we
believe
a
synergy
can
be
created
that
will
allow
a
swift
and
fair
justice
when
required,
but
without
intentionally
criminalizing
traditional
squatting
activities.
J
Good
morning,
chairman
DOM
and
members
of
the
Committee
on
housing,
Neighborhood
Development
in
the
homeless,
I
am
Rebecca
Swanson,
director
of
planning
for
the
department
of
licenses
and
inspections.
I
am
here
to
provide
testimony
on
resolution
number
one:
seven,
zero
841
and
bill
number
one:
seven
zero,
eight
two:
seven,
which
addressed
the
citywide
impact
of
incidents
of
unlawful
trespass
into
residential
properties.
I'd
like
to
thank
the
committee
for
inviting
L&I
to
be
part
of
this
important
discussion.
J
As
the
resolution
states,
there's
a
difference
between
what
is
commonly
thought
of
as
squatting,
which
can
encompass
a
number
of
complicated
situations
in
which
an
individual
is
legitimately
living
in
a
home
without
fair
documentation
or
in
which
an
individual
seeks
shelter
and
what
is
clearly
a
vacant
and
abandoned
property
and
the
criminal
trespassing.
We
are
here
to
discuss
today,
a
situation
of
an
individual
breaking
into
a
residential
property.
J
The
existence
of
such
a
license
could
be
used
as
evidence
that
any
occupants
of
the
property
are
there
without
the
owner's
consent.
Similarly,
owners
who
choose
the
rental
rent,
the
property
should
always
have
an
active
rental
license.
The
department
agrees
that
unlawful
trespass
is
a
public
safety
threat
and
that
home
owners
deserve
protection
from
this
criminal
act.
As
such,
the
issue
deserves
serious
consideration.
However,
it
is
important
to
continue
to
note
the
difference
between
criminal,
trespassers
and
individuals
who
may
legally
occupy
a
building
without
clear
documentation.
J
People
who
we
see
every
day
as
code
enforcement
officials,
there
are
approximately
two
hundred
and
seventy
three
thousand
tenant
occupied
residential
units
in
Philadelphia.
Not
all
of
these
residents
have
a
written
lease
or
utility
bill
in
their
names,
nor
they
legally
required
you.
There
are
also
thousands
of
other
units
in
the
city
occupied
by
those
who
consider
themselves
the
rightful
owner,
but
because
of
a
tangle
title,
each
fraud
committed
by
another
person
or
a
rent-to-own
agreement
may
not
have
the
paperwork
proving
themselves
to
be
the
owner.
J
We
do
not
support
a
solution
that
could
lead
to
these
individuals
being
removed
from
the
homes
they
legally
occupy,
because
they
would
be
unable
to
provide
certain
documentation,
leaving
them
homeless
and
leaving
the
community
with
a
vacant
building.
Whatever
solutions
there
are
prevent
trespassers
from
illegally
seizing
control
of
a
property
must
take
into
consideration
the
large
number
of
citizens,
who
could
be
adversely
impacted
as
the
code
enforcement
and
building
safety
agency
for
the
city,
the
department
is
committed
to
working
with
our
fellow
city
agencies,
City,
Council
and
stakeholders
on
these
potential
solutions.
A
B
You,
mr.
chairman,
just
just
to
clarify-
and
this
is
a
question
both
for
state
representative
Taylor
and
mr.
burry-
and
that
is,
do
you
find
it
essential
that
state
legislation
should
be
enacted
before
we
can
introduce?
Why
not
necessary,
introduce
or
pass
any
other
bill
at
this
moment,
I
mean.
Does
that
give
the
strength?
Does
that
make
it
happen?
Because
most
people
don't
realize
it?
We,
you
know
the
state
is
the
sovereign.
You
know
sees
exists
because
states
allow
them
to
and
I
like
that.
G
Yeah
councilman
Knight
is
problematic,
as
this
situation
is
in
Philly.
It's
also
statewide
and
I
think
for
the
purpose
of
the
bill
and
and
all
that
might
speak
to
it
as
well.
But
the
purpose
of
it
is
to
really
clarify
when
police
can
getting
involved
in
civil
situation
and/or
when
a
civil
situation
warrants
police
activity,
and
it's
it's
really
very
clear
to
the
victim
right.
G
Thank
you
for
your
involvement
in
both
the
way
cough
and
the
and
the
Magee
families,
and
like
and
you're
talking
to
the
police
and
and
and
I
think,
even
in
that
situation,
the
police
saw
it
differently
in
two
different
situations:
a
quarter-mile
apartment
right,
so
this
legislation
I
think
clarifies
that
would
give
council
an
opportunity
to
to
narrow
it
or
expand
it,
and,
as
as
was
mentioned,
this
is
not
about
landlord
tenant
rights,
it's
not
about
unscrupulous
landlords.
It's
it's
about
trespassers
and.
H
If
I
could
add
first
regarding
the
need
for
action
at
the
state
level,
I
can
tell
you,
on
behalf
of
the
District
Attorney's
Office
and
I
feel
fairly
comfortable
with
the
police
department
to
state
crimes.
Code
tends
to
be
the
the
first
resource
the
police
go
to
when
they're
trying
to
see
if
there's
a
crime
and
try
to
get
clarification
on
what
to
do
absolutely.
That
is
the
same
with
us
at
the
DA's
office.
So
having
clarity
at
the
state
level
would
be
very
helpful
on
that
level.
H
To
that
extent,
to
you
know,
the
the
legislation
is
proposed.
I
think
clarifies
the
simpler
situations
which,
unfortunately,
they
can
be
more
complex
than
we'd
hope,
but
the
situations
where
there's
you
know
a
broken
window
or
a
kicked
in
door
and
a
person
staying
somewhere.
The
police
have
a
pretty
good
understanding
of
what's
happening
there
and
they
feel
comfortable.
It's
a
felony.
H
It
takes
some
investigation
by
the
police
and
a
full
criminal
investigation
probably
takes
longer
than
what
is
fair
to
the
homeowner.
As
far
as
seeking
someone
out
of
their
house,
the
legislation
for
hopes
that
by
having
people,
come
to
a
police
station
and
give
a
sworn
statement
that
will
probably
provide
a
certain
level
of
assurance
that
this
isn't
going
to
be
an
unscrupulous
home
owner
or
renter.
H
Creating
making
something
up
if
they're
gonna
have
to
go
to
a
police
station
essentially
commit
a
felony
and
lie
in
a
sworn
statement,
same
thing
with
the
the
the
occupants.
It's
one
thing
for
an
occupant
on
the
street
to
make
a
quick
claim
to
say:
oh
I
rented
this
on
Craigslist.
If
you
require
them
to
come
to
the
police
station,
you
give
a
sworn
statement
saying
they
rented
this
on
Craigslist
and
they're
willing
to
do
that
all
right.
Well,
now
an
investigation
has
to
be
done
done,
but
we
suspect
they
won't.
H
We
suspect
that'll
be
a
good
tool
to
weed
out
the
fraudulent
claim
versus
the
actual
dispute,
which
is
what
I
believe
we're
all
trying
to
do
here.
So
I
think
that's
the
strength
of
representative
Taylor's
statute.
Although
I
reiterate
what
I
said
in
my
testimony
regarding
councilman
OHS,
the
presumption
you
know,
a
homeowner
with
legal
documentation,
I
understand
there
can
be
unscrupulous
homeowners,
but
in
particular
we
have
cases
where
these
are
people's
primary
residences,
a
rental
property
there's
got
to
be.
H
We
feel
some
sort
of
presumption
that
if
they
can
provide
legal
documentation
or
and
willing
to
go
to
a
police
station
and
make
take
a
sworn,
take
it
off
or
sign
a
sworn
statement
that
their
this
is.
They
did
not
rent
this
to
somebody
that
that
could
be
the
basis
for
quicker
action
than
civil
judgment.
So.
B
B
K
D
Thank
you
very
much,
representative
Taylor.
Thank
you
so
much
for
everything
you've
done
for
Philadelphia,
it's
been
a
real
honor
to
be
able
to
work
with
you
on
many
different
things,
including
all
your
work
that
you've
done
on
education.
Schools
in
particular
very
grateful
to
you
for
that
one.
One
of
my
questions
is:
is
your
bill?
Do
you
feel
that
do
you
feel
like
the
clarity
that
is
needed
at
the
state
level
around?
This
should
precede
any
municipal
bill
that
moves
forward?
G
Yes,
before
it's
implemented
as
you
both
deliver
as
both
bodies
deliberate,
it
probably
can
happen
at
simultaneously,
but
starting
with
the
fact
that
this
legislation
allows
the
police
to
remove
someone
without
a
necessity
of
an
arrest.
So
I
think
that
that
really
will
be
important
before
any
City
legislation
is
actually
implemented,
but
I
think
we
can
both
work
work
hard
on
it
simultaneously.
G
My
end,
okay,
you
know
what
the
support
of
the
Pennsylvania
District,
Attorneys,
Association
I,
think
that
that
can
happen
and
I
think
that
again
we
in
Philadelphia,
not
the
only
ones
going
through
this.
So
there's
members
throughout
the
Commonwealth
that
have
a
similar
situation.
I
mean
I,
think
they
may
choose
to
handle
it
differently,
but
I
think
they
all
all
need
that
clarity.
D
Thank
you
very
much
and
then
for
mr.
gentleman.
My
question
is:
there
are
I,
don't
know,
maybe
14,000,
tangled
titled,
that
we've
got
going
on
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
I,
think
planning,
Commissioner,
Swanson
talked
about
273,000
tenant
occupied
properties,
we've
got
Forge
deeds
and
we
also
have
oral
leases,
which
are
recognized
at
the
state
level.
They
do
not
require
something
in
writing,
given
that
the
bill
specifically
asks
that
police
be
the
determiners
within
a
specific
time
period
to
determine
whether
someone
has
a
right
to
be
in
the
property.
D
H
That
they
too
would
go
to
the
police
department
and
be
willing
to
give
a
signed
statement
to
that
effect,
which
would
then
probably
hopefully
lead
to
moving
to
the
civil
ejectment
process
like
we
have
now.
Those
tough
cases
where
there's
a
dispute
are
still
going
to
be
a
dispute.
What
we're
hoping
this
legislation
will
do
is
those
cases
that
are
not
legitimate,
they're
a
person
on
the
street,
making
a
claim
that
they
can't
back
up
in
any
way
and
that
they
no
scrutiny
will
show
that
they're
not
telling
the
truth.
H
H
The
question
is:
I
think
that
they
need
some
guidance
on
the
tougher
situations
and
the
hope
of
this
legislation
is
that,
while
still
giving
the
police
the
power
to
arrest
on
the
street
when
they
need
to
having
them,
go
down
to
the
police
station
and
have
some
sort
of
process
where
people
have
to
sort
of
speak
on
the
record,
give
their
position
on
the
record
would
deter
obvious
frauds
from
making
these
claims
and
would
then
funnel
the
real
conflicts
through
the
system
that
they're
supposed
to
go
to.
But.
H
H
They
wouldn't
have
to
bring
them
forward.
They
would
be
afforded
the
opportunity
to
do
that.
The
the
person
who's
on
the
premises,
who
is
making
a
claim
to
have
a
lawful
right
to
the
premises
will
be
given
the
opportunity
to
go
to
the
police
station
not
forcibly
to
state
their
claim
under
oath
and
if
they
do
that,
my
expectation
is
that
the
police
department
then
will
either,
depending
on
the
specifics
of
the
situation,
refer
it
to
the
civil
courts
or
start
a
criminal
investigation,
but
I
don't
know
that
necessarily
in
that
situation,
ejectment
would
happen.
H
D
I
guess
the
question
that
I
have
sir,
is
that
the
bill
says
that
once
a
current
owner
complaints
to
the
police
that
it's
waters
occupying
the
property,
the
police
shall
immediately
notify
this
water
that
he
or
she
must
leave
the
property
within
48
hours
of
such
notice.
If
the
alleged
swatter
can
show
credible
evidence
why
they
should
be
rejected
from
the
real
property,
then
the
matter
shall
be
resolved.
D
H
By
way
of
again
the
one
I'm
most
familiar
with
the
incident
that
happened
with
a
woman
named
Miss
binds
with
the
LEAs.
She
said
the
day
of
that
I
rented
this
on
Craigslist.
By
day
after
day
after
day,
the
police
would
go
back
seeking
proof
of
this
Craigslist
rental
and
she
would
never
do
it.
The
problem
with
that
particular
case
is
because
she
made
even
a
very
offhanded
claim
to
be
a
lessor.
H
D
I
would
agree
with
you
on
that
I
think.
The
issue
is
not
to
look
at
the
cases,
but
rather
than
talk
about
what
we
hope
the
law
might
be
able
to
do
what
we
know
based
on
past
practice,
whether
this
is
really
the
best
use
of
police
procedures,
discretion
and
within
the
bounds
of
the
law.
Given
the
context
that
we
currently
have
with
tangled
titles
forged
deeds
oral
leases
and
a
very
complicated
system,
it's
not
to
in
any
way
say
that
we
should
not
be
paying
attention
to
it.
D
But
what
is
being
proposed
on
the
table
is
a
pretty
serious
and
aggressive
move
towards
quick
decision-making.
That
has
enormous
consequences
and
any
deprivation,
of
course,
on
the
owner
or
a
tenant
of
property
should
require
us
to
ensure
that
we
are
making
sure
that
we
are
meeting
the
mandates
of
the
law,
not
what
we
hope
the
law
will
do,
but
what
we
know
the
laws
limited
capacity
to
be
able
to
do
what
will
be
in
the
best
interests
of
everybody.
Well,.
H
I
I
mean
I.
Can
let
mr.
white
speak
about?
What's
the
best
use
of
the
police
resources?
I
can
tell
you
that
the
police
are
stuck
with
this,
regardless
of
this
law,
I
mean
they're,
the
ones
on
the
other
ones.
Everybody
calls
when
somebody's
there,
when
somebody's
asked
to
go
to
a
civil
ejectment
procedure,
that's
going
to
take
months,
the
police
repeatedly
get
the
call
saying.
H
Why
is
this
taking
so
long
and
we
do
in
power,
and
just
so
you
know
when
I'm
talking
about
empowering
the
police
I'm
not
talking
about
letting
the
cop
on
the
street
who
took
the
9-1-1,
call
necessarily
make
the
call
but
I'm
talking
police,
along
with
the
leadership
at
their
tech
division
and
consulting
with
my
office.
The
ability
to
make
some
decisions
regarding
this.
H
H
That
may
not
require
immediate
arrest,
and
it's
I'm,
just
I
know
on
our
offices,
end
and
I
believe
one
representative,
Taylor's
and
I
don't
want
to
speak
for
him,
but
we're
just
trying
to
come
up
with
a
solution
for
that
middle
ground.
I,
agree
and
I
I'm
less
of
an
expert
than
other
people
here
on
the
complexities
of
tangled
leases
oral
leases
estates,
so
I'm
not
denying
that
all
of
that
exists.
I'm.
H
Just
saying
that
our
hope
is
that
the
statute
will
keep
people
who
are
simply
fraudulently
claiming
a
claim
to
a
property
would
have
to
do
something,
but
just
besides
just
say
that
on
the
steps
of
the
house
before
we
start
this
whole
process
and
that
you
know
I'm,
certainly
I
think
we'd
be
open
to
other
solutions
and
I.
Think
everybody
here,
if
it
were
possible,
would
be
open
to
a
quicker
civil
ejectment
process
than
currently
exists
in
the
city.
D
D
G
Councilman,
if
I
may
I
think
the
legislation
seeks
to
rectify
the
most
clear
situations,
so
a
tenant
usually
does
not
start
his
residential
occupying
of
that
house
by
breaking
into
the
property.
So
that
usually
doesn't
happen
and
when
there's
clear
evidence,
as
we
have
had
in
cases
where
the
window
is
kicked
in,
the
lock
is
broken.
G
And
then
the
secondary
situation
of
multiple
occupants
in
the
house,
who
may
or
may
may
not
have
trespassed
I
mean
I
mean
it
might
have
not
have
broken
in.
So
this
gives
the
police
an
opportunity
to
not
arrest
but
remove
pending
an
investigation
when
the
neighbor
says
I
saw
that
guy
kicked
that
window
in
I
saw
them
break
the
lock
and
walk
into
the
property
and
immediately
the
police
come
boy
if
we
take
if
we
don't
arrest
or
remove
on
on
that
situation,
and
take
that
example
to
its
extreme.
G
Anybody
who
leaves
their
house
at
any
time
for
anything
can
be
subject
to
this
problem.
So
I
think
we're
the
and
I
understand
the
complications
with
the
WHA
releases
and
the
tangle
titles
and
I,
don't
know
if
this
legislation
is
going
to
resolve
those.
But
the
most
clear
situation,
where
I
think
we
can
stem
the
tide
of
the
most
outrageous
behavior
I,
think
that's
what
this
legislation
tries
to
do
and.
D
C
You
very
much
not
only
are
the
police,
the
best
agency
to
enforce
the
criminal
laws
they're.
Actually,
the
only
agency
L&I
does
not
do
it.
No
other
other
entity
can
do
it.
We
don't
want
citizens
doing
and
most
citizens
by
the
way,
seniors
and
persons
with
disabilities.
They
are
not
able
to
do
it.
So
the
only
entity
that
can
force
criminal
laws
are
the
police.
If
they
do
not
do
that,
then
I
think
there's
a
dereliction
of
duty.
I
think
that's
a
huge
problem
for
this
city.
C
The
police
are
sworn
to
uphold
the
law
they're
the
only
entity
that
is
equipped
and
trained
to
do
this,
and
they
should
do
it.
We're
talking
about
presumptions-
and
this
is
not
a
new
kind
of
criminal
code
that
was
created
yesterday-
burglary
criminal,
trespass,
violation
of
property
breaking
into
it.
C
That
is
nothing
new
and
the
police
have
enforced
it
at
time
and
time
again,
if
we
applied
this
standard
as
you're
talking
about
it
today,
any
situation
someone
could
be
in
my
car
I
could
tell
a
police
officer
someone's
still
in
my
car
and
a
person
would
said:
councilman
Oh
lent
it
to
me.
Oh
I
can't
resolve
it.
I
need
some
paperwork.
We
need
to
go
through,
maybe
councilman
oza
rotten
guy,
how
about
date,
rape,
how
about
domestic
violence?
C
We
want
the
police
to
go
and
take
action
and
it
can
be
resolved
through
the
courts
through
a
process,
but
there
needs
to
be
two
action
taken
when
criminal
laws
are
being
broken,
but
this
bill
that
I
present
is
not.
That
has
nothing
to
do
with
the
criminal
side
of
things.
What
it
provides
is
a
process
whereby
there
is
a
presumption
rather
than
confusion,
there's
a
presumption
in
favor
of
the
legal
homeowner,
the
home
owner
of
record,
who
shows
up
and
said
that's
my
house.
Those
are
my
things
in
my
house.
C
We
were
away
we're
back
so
that
the
police
can
have
a
clearer
understanding
under
a
civil
ordinance
what
their
steps
are,
and
the
first
thing
is
the
confusion.
When
someone
says
I
have
a
cable
bill,
I
have
a
utility
bill.
That
is
not
a
lease.
That
is
not
a
right.
That
is
not
anything
and
in
the
case
that
we
were
talking
about
is
about
the
pastor
and
the
woman
who
broke
into
his
home.
She
didn't
produce
anything,
and
it
took
over
five
months
for
the
detectives
to
issue
an
arrest
warrant.
C
What
she
said
after
she
broke
into
the
home
and
the
LEAs
came,
and
then
she
changed
the
locks
after
they
came
was
she
met
she?
She
she
found
some
on
Craigslist
met
them
gave
them
cash.
He's
got
no
lease,
some
paperwork.
When,
when
are
you
supposed
to
pay
rent?
Oh
I,
don't
know
they
don't
answer
their
phone
and
and
and
what
we're
being
told
in
in
the
case
of
the
McGee's
is
because
the
woman
in
the
home
claims
to
have
been
scammed,
yet
the
the
doors
kicked
in
the
doorknob
is
missing
from
the
front
door.
C
The
for
sale
sign
is
gone,
the
lockbox
is
taken
down,
their
items
are
in
the
in
the
home.
What
what
we're
being
told
is
because
the
woman
claims
she
was
scanned
there?
The
police
are
not
going
to
remove
her
now.
How
can
that
be?
If
she's
legitimately
scammed?
She
has
no
right
to
be
in
the
house,
but
it
doesn't
look
like
she
was
legitimately
scanned.
It
looked
like
she's
a
scammer
and
that
can
be
processed
in
criminal
court
or
not
that's
up
to
the
police.
C
What
this
bill
requires
is
that
when
a
lawful
home
owner,
someone
with
proof
calls
the
police
and
says
someone
broke
into
my
home,
the
police
come
and
they
see
evidence
of
a
burglary.
They
should
arrest
that
person.
But
that's
not
this
bill
just
says
they
go
and
ask
the
person
for
either
a
lease,
not
a
phony
lease,
not
a
ridiculous
lease
not
I
met.
Someone
at
a
gas
station
gave
me
thirty
four
hundred
dollars
in
cash
and
I,
don't
have
their
number.
They
don't
answer
my
phone
and
ever
made
a
rental
payment.
C
They
have
to
show
some
legitimate
documentation,
not
a
cable
bill,
not
a
letter
written
to
themselves
and
I've
heard
all
kinds
of
things
from
police
and
it's
not
their
fault.
A
police
officer
said
to
me
if
they
show
a
utility
bill
or
cable
bill,
that's
proof
that
they're
attending
it's
not
proof
that
they're
a
tenant.
It's
not
proof
that
their
attendant.
This
is
a
civil
ordinance.
C
It
presumes
that
the
home
owner
with
the
proper
documentation
who
comes
up
to
a
police
officer
and
says
someone
broke
into
my
house
they're
in
my
house,
that
the
police
will
then,
in
the
gate,
understand
what
are
the
legitimate
and
not
legitimate
documentation.
They
can
talk
to
their
supervisors,
to
detectives
the
DA's
office
whomever
and
it
doesn't
require
arrest.
It's
a
civil
ordinance.
C
It
requires
identification
and
if
the
police
officer
finds
in
enforcing
this
ordinance
that
the
homeowner
has
documentation
and
that
the
person
in
the
home,
with
the
kicked
in
back
door
and
a
broken
window
and
all
that
does
not
produce
any
credible
evidence,
the
police
simply
tell
them.
They
have
48
hours
to
leave
they're,
not
arrested
if
they
don't
leave.
That
becomes
the
issue,
and
so
there's
no
need
to
have
any
further
discussions
about
this.
C
In
my
opinion,
because
there
has
been
a
woeful
failure
to
serve
the
public
and
we
have
victims
of
crime
who
are
homeowners,
and
it's
a
ridiculous
that
we
have
to
have
a
new
civil
process
for
victims
of
a
very
obvious
crime.
I
hope
that
if
someone
steals
my
car
or
beats
me
with
a
baseball
bat,
I
don't
have
to
fill
out
a
bunch
of
papers.
Saying
I
didn't
authorize
them
to
beat
me
with
that
bat
I
didn't
authorize
them.
C
I,
don't
need
a
whole
nother
set
of
processes
for
the
criminal
side,
but
the
failure
right
now
to
respond
to
lawful
homeowners
on
a
very
fundamental
thing
called
burglary
criminal,
trespass
and
fraud,
which
is
what
it
is.
We
now
have
to
create
a
civil
process
to
provide
guidance
to
our
police
officers
and
at
least
some
understanding
to
our
city,
that
you
cannot
side
with
all
the
criminals
in
this
city
under
the
idea
that
you're,
somehow
helping
homeless
persons
and
persons
who
need
a
place
to
stay,
we
help
them.
This
is
a
very
tenant
friendly
City.
C
We
passed
laws,
we
spend
money
on
the
homeless
and
all
that,
but
this
is
for
homeowners
and
it
is
simply
dealing
with
the
failure
to
deal
with
this
process.
This
fortune
of
violators
who
the
police
are
not
arresting
that
are
not
there's,
not
they're,
clearly
not
tenants,
but
there
isn't
enough
probable
cause
to
arrest.
We
can
expedite
this
for
the
sake
of
the
homeowner.
Thank
you
thank.
A
You
very
much
I'm,
actually
a
question
for
this
panel.
It's
this
simple
question
you
can
answer
yes
or
no,
but
I
think
we're
faced
with.
Today
we
have
a
bill
and
we
have
a
resolution
and
man
would
be
cut
right
to
the
chase.
The
bill
is
asking
us
to
vote
today
on
what
councilman
knows
discussing,
which
very
powerful
statements.
We
have
a
resolution
to
explore
all
the
issues.
G
Mr.
Chairman
I
I'm
only
familiar
with
councilman
OHS
bill
from
what
I've
heard
him
say
today,
I
mean
as
an
advocate
for
these
victims.
I
would
say
both
and
I
think
it
all
can
proceed
simultaneously.
You'll
have
a
debate
about
it
in
council
and
we'll
move
as
quickly
as
possible
in
Harrisburg,
okay,
great
I.
A
I
J
Our
understanding
that
the
Lowell
Department
has
issued
a
memo
and
proposed
amendments,
the
councilman
knows
bill.
That's
pretty
significant,
because
I
have
this
long,
so
my
recommendation
would
be
that
the
committee
hold
the
bill
to
consider
the
wall
department's
amendments
and
then
for
further
discussion
on
the
resolution.
Okay,.
D
D
I
just
had
one
question
for
mr.
white
and
mr.
gentleman
in
a
situation
of
domestic
violence
which
I
know
both
of
you
have
dealt
with
through
the
police
and
the
DA's
office.
Have
you
seen
evidence
of
doors
that
have
been
broken
in
or
windows
have
been
broken
in
as
well
and
a
violent
situation
that
is
occurring
right
then,
and
there.
D
Of
my
concerns
is
to
ensure
that,
in
any
process
that
domestic
violence
victims
in
particular,
who
often
can
be
at
the
mercy
of
whoever
is
able
to
prove
leases,
can
be
threatened
under
an
overly
broad
law.
I
can
get.
It
is
important
to
take
a
look
at
what
the
law
department
does
recommend.
I
hope
that
instead
of
there's
no
question
that
we're
gonna
deal
with
this
issue,
I
really
appreciate
the
representatives
initiative
at
the
state
level
that
will
bring
clarity
to
the
issue,
but
to
move
concurrently
ahead
of
the
state
being
able
to
work
out.
D
Its
own
processes
to
me
means
that
domestic
violence
victims,
tangled
title-deeds,
forged
deeds
oral
leases.
This
is
not
about
the
homeless.
This
is
not
about
pity
or
charity.
This
is
actually
about
rule
of
law
and
making
sure
that
we
are
applying
the
situation
broadly
to
a
whole
group
of
people
not
to
the
exceptional
circumstances.
While
recognized
those
exceptional
circumstances
will
be
addressed,
we
will
not
tolerate
people
who
are
breaking
and
entering
into
other
people's
homes
and
taking
over
them
again.
D
As
I
said,
I'm
grateful
to
the
representative
for
leading
on
this
issue
at
the
state
level,
where
I
think
it
needs
to
be
clarified
and
the
city
will
follow
suit,
but
I
do
want
to
be
cautious,
because
domestic
violence
victims
certainly
do
tend
to
fall
under
this
type
of
consideration.
And
you
know
we
want
to
be
good
thoughtful
about
any
rules
or
laws
that
put
them
at
more
significant
risk,
rather
than
making
sure
that
they
are
considered
equally
protected
under
the
law.
Thank.
C
Fortunately,
I
did
serve
an
assistant
district
attorney
and
have
done
about
25
years
as
an
attorney.
Also
criminal,
defense
and
I
could
tell
you.
I
cannot
imagine
any
circumstance
really
where
domestic
violence
or
other
issues
would
arise.
We
have
a
homeowner
with
documentation
that
this
is
their
home.
Who
says
that
person
broke
in
there
is
the
proof
of
breaking
in
and
they
produce
no
evidence
that
they're,
a
lawful
tenant
of
any
sorts
and
the
presumption
then
initiates
a
process.
C
The
problem
that
I
have
is
also
this
that,
if
you're
in
a
rich
part
of
town,
you
don't
have
this
problem.
Believe
me,
you
come
home.
There's
someone
in
your
home,
you
call
the
police
they're
right
there,
removing
them
your
neighbors
or
whatever,
but
you
go
into
a
poor
section
of
Philadelphia
or
a
lower
middle-class
neighborhood,
and
then
it's
a
toss-up.
Will
you
get
service
or
will
you
not
and
it
really
in
my
experience
comes
down
to
who
you
know?
C
If
you
don't
know
someone
you're
not
likely
to
get
service,
and
it
is
not
the
fault
of
the
police
or
anyone.
It's
just
this
confusion
that
I
have
heard.
So
many
things,
even
from
assistant
das
and
FOP,
not
FOP,
Lodge
five,
but
other
FOP
presidents
had
telling
me
it's
a
squatters
bill
and
all
kinds
of
things
that
are
untrue.
What
I
would
also
say
is
I
have
reviewed
the
law
department's
amendments
and
I
have
to
reject
them.
C
First
of
all,
it
further
delays
the
process
trying
to
going
to
a
court
of
law
going
to
the
fair
housing
commission,
which
you
can
appeal
from
going
that
entire
process
is
not
expediting.
This
issue
and
I
think
that,
because
we
have
not,
as
a
city
provided
the
consistent
level
of
service
to
the
public
that
we
should
have,
we
now
have
a
huge
problem
on
our
hands
that
is
growing
and
I
appreciate
state
representative
Taylor.
You
know
not
only
dealing
with
this
in
Philadelphia
but
statewide.
C
At
the
same
time,
as
we
have
talked
about,
this
problem
needs
to
be
addressed,
and
certainly
the
police
and
the
District
Attorney's
Office,
and
the
public
defender's
office
and
all
the
lawyers
that
are
involved
and
the
courts
will
be
able
to
distinguish
cases
that
need
to
be
reviewed
more
carefully
from
just
blatant
crimes
where
we
need
to
protect
the
homeowners
and
they
expect
us
to
do
it.
Thank
you,
Thank.
B
You
mr.
chairman,
I
really
just
have
to
say
that
the
experience
you
get
as
a
councilman
and
being
on
site
and
and
and
seeing
firsthand
the
difficulty
that
homeowners
have
seeing
that
the
fact
that
the
locks
have
been
kicked,
the
doors
been
kicked
in
the
lock
has
been
removed.
In
one
case,
it
was
a
lockbox
which
all
realtors
used
to
show
properties
and
so
on.
B
To
see
that
that
has
been
removed
and
been
ignored
by
the
really
put
aside
by
the
police
is
is,
is
is
really
hurtful
as
a
human
being,
when
you
can
see
that
the
evidence
is
right
there,
the
McGee's,
who
are
in
the
audience
had
the
sale
sign
removed.
They
had
a
sale
sign
on
their
lockbox,
ripped
off
sale,
sign
taken
away.
That
is
very,
very
problematic
and
something
that
quite
bluntly
I
cannot
stand
for
mr.
Wyckoff.
B
He
is
also
in
the
audience,
and
he
will
testify
I
know
he
will,
but
in
regards
that
he
called
the
police
and
they
were
there
within
hours
within
hours
of
the
people
actually
breaking
in
the
home
and
still
the
half
the
way
that
weight
and
weight
is
is
really
awful
and
not
having
government
do
the
service.
It
is
sworn
to
do
and
to
protect
the
people
that
they
need
to
protect.
B
We're
not
talking
about
an
institution
that
is
miles
and
miles
away,
and
maybe
there
was
a
right
and
the
person
may
be
used
to
live
there.
We're
talking
about
someone
who
forcibly
cave
in
kick
the
door
down
and
now
has
decided
to
sublet
it
or
is
their
themselves.
So
they
have.
This
matter
resolved
is
of
most
importance
to
me
and
and
and
and
all
other
members
have
counseled
all
the
law-abiding
citizens
in
in
Philadelphia.
A
You
councilman
I
want
to
thank
the
panel
counsel
know
you
still
have
more
comments.
No
okay,
well
I
thank
the
panel
for
your
testimony
and
thanks
for
being
here,
and
thank
you
very
much
like
to
call
up
the
next
panel
on
panel
number,
two
and
we'd
ask
Jack
Malloy
Kenny,
Barrett's
and
Roseanne
Connor
to
come
forward.
J
Morning,
chairman
diamond
and
members
of
the
committee,
my
name
is
Jack
Malloy
I'm,
the
government
affairs
chair
at
the
Greater
Philadelphia
Association
of
Realtors.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
regarding
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero,
eight,
two,
seven
and
resolution
number
one,
seven,
zero,
841
G
part
would
like
to
thank
councilman,
Tobin,
Berger
and
Councilman
ho
for
inviting
us
here
today.
Additionally,
we'd
like
to
thank
chairman
DOM
and
his
staff
for
Jeff
George
for
working
with
us
and
the
police
department
and
the
District
Attorney's
Office
for
nearly
a
year.
J
They
have
listened
to
our
concerns
and
have
worked
towards
finding
solving
measures.
We
recognize
that
some
folks
are
victims,
as
we
heard
earlier.
We
also
know
that
some
are
complicit
in
their
illegal
activity.
The
latter
often
refused
to
vacate
a
property
and
know
how
to
plan
the
system.
Meanwhile,
the
owner
is
victimized
by
going
through
an
expensive
and
tedious
process
that
denies
them
their
fundamental
property
rights,
including
accessing
or
selling
the
property.
I
offer
this
squatting
story
that
was
shared
by
a
fellow
member
who
had
an
empty
dwelling
that
was
listed
for
sale.
J
A
buyer
was
found,
an
agreement
of
sale
was
executed
to
find
a
walkthrough
was
scheduled
the
morning
of
the
settlement.
The
agent
and
the
home
buyer
went
to
the
house
and
found
a
family
squatting
in
the
house.
Unfortunately,
the
sale
could
not
be
saved
and
it
fell
through
a
nine-month,
ejectment
proceeding
was
pursued.
The
house
was
finally
vacated.
Repairs
were
made
to
the
damage
caused
by
the
squatters
and
it
was
listed
again
for
sale.
A
new
buyer
was
found
for
the
property
and
unfortunately
the
same
thing
occurred.
J
J
Gee
part
is
committed
to
creating
a
safe
city
for
homeowners
and
renters.
Therefore,
it's
important
to
reduce
the
risk
disposed
posed
by
squatters.
We
support
the
council's
effort
and
dressing
this
issue.
We
welcome
the
opportunity
to
form
a
stakeholder
group
led
by
the
council
to
be
tasked
with
finding
viable
solutions.
We
also
encourage,
as
we
heard
this
morning,
the
Pennsylvania
State
Assembly
to
be
a
stakeholder
in
this
same
resolution
on
behalf
of
G
Park.
Thank
you
for
the
time
an
opportunity
to
testify
this
morning.
Thank
you.
L
Am
Roseanne
Connor
from
Connor
Connor
I'm,
a
real
estate
broker
and
appraiser
in
Philadelphia
I've
been
selling
bank
foreclosures,
specifically
for
21
years
and
I
have
been
and
I
want
to.
Thank
all
of
you
for
this.
I
have
been
dealing
with
this
for
the
past
two
years,
I
had
gotten
some
Realtors
together,
I've
had
23
incidents
reported
in
the
last
year
and
a
half
of
the
Realtors
that
I
spoke
to.
We
had
50
cases
of
this
happening.
It
is
scary
for
me
when
I
go
to
the
houses.
L
They're
broken
into
there's
been
a
couple
situations
that
I
really
wanted
to
bring
out.
There's
there
was
one
where
we
know
that
sometimes
they
break
in
and
change
the
locks.
So
we
check
the
houses
constantly
because
they
are
Bank
properties,
we've
got,
we
went
to
the
property
and
the
locks
were
changed.
We
changed
them
back
the
next
day.
They
were
changed
again.
We
changed
them
back
the
third
day
they
broke
in
at
one
o'clock
in
the
morning,
and
the
neighbors
said
they
were
in
there
again.
L
We
went
over
there,
they
cut
the
gas
pipe
and
when
we
got
there,
the
first
centered
the
person
went
in
first
started,
throwing
up
that's
how
bad
the
gas
company
was
screaming
and
yelling
at
us.
We
had
nothing
to
do
because
we
thought
it'd
their
their
opportunity
to
get
somebody
in
there.
They
wouldn't
did
that
which
was
a
row
house
with
children.
All
over
place
could
have
blown
up
at
any
time.
We've
had
situations
because
of
our
properties
because
they
are
vacant
a
lot
of
times
new
utilities.
L
We
had
one
we
went
in
where
people
said
they
rented
it.
They
sublet
the
basement
to
a
woman
with
two
small
babies.
The
baby
was
eight
weeks
old,
laying
on
the
floor
in
a
wet
basement
with
no
utilities,
she
had
a
TV,
a
portable
TV
and
a
diaper
bag,
and
two
babies
laying
on
a
blanket
in
the
floor
when
I
went
in
and
put
the
light
on
scared.
The
heck
out
of
us
I
almost
had
a
heart
attack,
but
she
said
they
sublet
it
to
her.
L
Some
of
these
properties
are
Jane,
dangerous
and
I
want
to
say
when
we
call
a
lot
of
these
situations
are
not
reported,
because
we
wait
for
the
police
anywhere
from
two
to
four
hours.
I
usually
give
up
between
three
and
four
hours.
I
understand.
It
is
not
an
urgency
for
the
police
and
when
the
police
come,
they
are
very
nice
to
us,
but
the
waiting
sometimes
is
3-4
hours
and
then
I
just
leave
so
they're,
never
even
reported
this
is
so
frequent.
It
happens.
L
So
often
I
have
two
right
now,
one
in
Juniata
people
have
been
there.
For
almost
ten
months
you
were
on
water
bill
$400
a
month,
I
knocked
on
the
door.
I
said
what
are
you
doing
with
the
water
dude?
Are
you
filling
a
pool?
Likewise?
Were
we
paying
this
high,
though
she
said?
Do
I,
look
like
I,
have
a
pool
and
slammed
the
door
in
my
face
now
you
know
again,
we
called
the
police.
The
situations
are
so
out
of
control.
L
I
want
to
say
that
when
we
call
the
police,
we
always
have
a
tax
record
showing
that
we
have
proof
of
ownership.
Secondly,
we
have
a
statement
saying
that
we
are
the
agent
for
the
owner.
I
have
a
statement
just
saying
that
I
am
the
agent
for
the
owner
and
when
we
have
a
rental
license.
The
vacant
proud,
I'm,
sorry
vacant
property
license
on
everyone
except
the
ones
where
it
happens.
So
soon
we
can't
get
a
license
until
the
deeds
recorded.
So
we
have.
L
We
apply
on
everyone
immediately
as
soon
as
we
can
having
proof
having
proof
of
who
we
are
having.
Sometimes
writs
we've
already
done
an
eviction,
we
go,
there
knock
on
the
door
and
still
the
police
said
they
can't
take
us
out.
We
also
offer
these
people
to
add
insult
to
end.
We
offer
them
an
average
of
$2,500
to
leave
the
squatters
and
they
say
no,
because
we
can
be
here
for
so
long,
so
we
don't
have
to
do
that.
L
I
mean
it's
insult
injury,
it's
dangerous
for
us,
it's
dangerous
for
the
people
moving
into
these
houses
that
are
not
fit
for
rock
I
had
one
one.
Lady
said
she
ran
it
in.
She
said
they
told
me
if
we
get
evict
a
during
the
time.
We're
here,
they'll
give
us
a
free
property
after
they'll
give
us
another
one,
they'll
transfer
us.
No
one
would
question
why
you
would
be
evicted
from
a
house
that
you're
legal,
even
raining
one,
one
least
and
final,
because
I
don't
want
to
go
on
too
long.
L
One
lease
actually
said
it
was
between
the
tenant
and
the
landlord.
The
landlord's
name
was
real,
eight
or
two
words
real,
a
torque
like
and
the
police.
Even
the
policeman
said
to
me
like
who
actually
would
believe
this.
So
it
is,
it
is
scary
for
us
I
go
in
houses
that
have
been
broken
into
I,
don't
know
if
they're
in
there,
we
can't
call
the
police,
because
they
can't
do
anything
and
I've
been
living
with
this
for
almost
two
years,
I've
had
23
situations
in
the
last
year
and
a
half
and
I
just
want
to.
L
Sorry,
that's
okay,
ken
Barrett's
I'm,
an
attorney
here
in
Philadelphia
I,
want
to
thank
councilman,
Oh
council,
councilman,
Toby,
burger
and
and
state
Rep
John
Taylor
for
finally
taking
some
action
to
address
this
issue.
Councilman.
Oh
you
referenced.
You
made
one
statement.
I
don't
want
to
hold
it
against
you,
but
you
made
a
mention
that
this
may
be
a
problem
that
has
lasted
approximately
a
decade.
L
I've
been
dealing
with
this
issue
for
many
decades,
I've
been
around
for
a
while
and
I
represent
landowners
who
have
had
to
suffer
through
this
problem,
people
breaking
in
to
an
unoccupied
property
and
setting
up
shop.
Anyone
who
breaks
into
a
property
has
committed
Clym
I
understand
your
ordinance
doesn't
address.
The
criminal
aspect
of
this
I
can
assure
you
that
these
civil
courts
do
not
adequately
address
this
issue.
This
is
not
a
situation,
and
your
ordinance
does
not
address
legitimate
tenants
who
occupy
a
property.
L
L
And
now
what
is
one
to
do
under
the
circumstances?
This
is
not
something
that
promotes
some
sort
of
unfair
action
or
tactics
against
legitimate
tenants.
It
does
not
protect
the
unscrupulous
owner
who
comes
forward
and
says:
hey
someone
broke
into
my
property
when
in
fact,
there
may
be
a
legitimate
tenant.
I
I
think
we
need
to
have
the
safeguards
that
have
been
suggested.
I
think
there's
a
procedure
that
needs
to
be
put
in
place.
L
A
A
K
I'd
like
to
thank
everyone
for
their
time
and
work
on
this
matter.
We
lived
in
our
house
on
her
Akron
Street
for
30
years.
Deb
and
I
finally
raised
our
kids
and
wanted
to
move
forward.
We
put
our
house
up
for
sale,
we
had
an
agreement
of
sale,
we
have
buyers
coming
in
doing
inspections,
they
go
to
our
house
one
day.
The
house
sign
is
kicked
down
door,
not
being
changed
as
we're.
K
K
K
K
K
K
There's
no
reason
the
burden
of
proof
should
be
put
on
a
legal
home.
I
had
my
license:
I
had
utility
bills,
I
had
to
deed.
I
was
the
owner
of
that
property.
No
one
else
was
given
permission
to
be
in
that
property
and
they
should
not
have
been,
and
when
the
police
were
there,
they
should
have
been
asked
to
leave.
In
my
opinion,.
I
So
my
situation
was
the
impetus
for
bringing
attention
to
this
situation.
I
prepared
a
few
slides,
I
shared
them
they're
now
part
of
the
record.
I'll
just
give
you
a
brief
summary
and
he
owed
a
couple
seconds
to
my
lovely
wife,
Karla.
Basically,
I
came
to
City
Hall
and
spent
a
day
knocking
on
doors
learning
the
process.
I
So
I
started
at
the
district
police
I
went
to
the
Northeast
Detective
Division
Court
of
Common
Pleas
profit,
Ori
I
learned
all
all
of
these
city,
employees,
22
of
them
in
the
end,
and
each
one
of
them
is
able
to
look
me
in
the
eye
and
sleep
at
night
and
say
that
you
know
I
was
doing
things
right,
but
it
at
every
door
that
I
knocked.
Nobody
could
tell
me
that
collectively
the
city
was
able
to
do
the
right
thing,
and
that's
that's
what
I'm
hearing
today
the
your
your
council
was
is
considering
responsibly.
I
What
can
we
do
differently
and
and
I
I
genuinely
applaud
that
and
I'm
willing
to
share.
From
my
experience,
all
of
the
the
steps
that
didn't
work
and
I
was
fortunate.
I
was
able
to
get
the
tenants
out,
but
it
wasn't
because
of
anything
that
the
city
did.
It
was
because
of
a
loophole
that
one
utility
company
was
able
to
to
bring
in
the
other.
M
Hi
I'm
Carla,
Wycoff
and
I'm,
also
the
owner
of
11:34
weakling,
Street,
I'm,
a
wife
I'm,
a
mother
and
I'm,
an
employee
who
does
home
care
in
Northeast,
Philadelphia
I
work
in
the
one
I
went
to
for
the
one:
nine
one,
thirty,
five,
the
one,
nine
one,
four,
nine
all
these
areas
that
we're
talking
about
I,
go
into
the
home
and
I
help
medically
disabled
I'm,
not
gonna.
Talk
to
you
like
a
lawyer,
I'm,
not
a
representative
I'm,
not
a
statistic.
M
I
experienced
this
I,
don't
have
to
imagine
showing
up
at
my
house
with
a
stranger
in
it
because
I
did
it.
I
stood
on
the
street
and
I
watched
the
police
officer
knocked
on
the
door
and
a
woman
come
out
and
say
here's
my
lease
I
live
here.
That
police
officer
didn't
ask
her
for
proof.
He
didn't
ask
her.
He
may
have
asked
her
for
her
driver's
license,
but
there
were
you
know
multiple
people.
There
were
children
in
this
home.
They
did
not
step
foot
into
that
house
to
see
the
broken
window.
M
The
broken
locks,
the
law,
the
broken
lockbox
that
were
in
that
home
two
weeks
later,
when
I
had
to
clean
it,
the
law
states
that
you're
not
allowed
to
self
evict.
Does
one
of
you
spoke
earlier
so
that
person
living
in
that
home
now
had
more
rights
than
I?
Did
my
husband
went
when
the
home
was
empty
and
tried
to
change
the
locks
back
and
the
people
staying
there
called
the
police
on
him
and
they
were
allowed
back
in
the
house
and
we
had
to
leave.
M
The
system
is
against
me,
but
I'm
not
allowed
to
take
matters.
I
don't
want
to
take
matters
into
my
own
hand,
but
I
have
been
I've
been
violated
by
these
people
that
came
into
my
home.
I
physically
been
violated
because
my
home
is
now
in
and
as
mr.
McGee
we
had
a.
We
had
a
contract,
a
sale
on
that
home
that
did
not
go
through
and
we
now
have
a
new
contract
to
sell
on
that
home
for
thirty
thousand
dollars,
less
thirty
thousand
dollars
less
than
what
the
original
contract
of
sale
was.
M
The
way
that
I
was
treated
by
the
Philadelphia.
The
tactic
Department
I
was
disconnected
from
a
call
after
I
was
asked
that
once
I
calmed
down,
then
they
would
talk
to
me
about
it
because
I
was
crying.
I
was
not
cursing
a
double
curse,
I
was
not
disrespectful,
but
I
was
crying
and
I
was
told
that
I
had
to
calm
down
before
he
could
speak
to
me.
I
asked
what
the
law
was.
Could
you
please
show
me
a
copy
of
this
law?
M
That's
keeping
these
people
in
my
home
and
I
was
told
to
google
it.
That
was
the
answer
that
I
received
from
the
detective
department
at
the
fit
city
of
Philadelphia
I
was
also
told
by
the
sergeant,
as
Matthew
said,
we
were
able
to
get
back
into
our
home
because
of
the
electric
company
came
and
I
asked
the
sergeant.
What
was
the
best
way
for
me
to
prevent
this
from
happening
until
I
sold
my
home,
and
he
asked
if
I
had
a
license
to
carry
a
gun.
M
If
this,
the
solution
that
the
Philadelphia
City
Council
wants
to
these
situations.
This
is
not
my
solution
and
just
to
give
you
a
little
picture
and
I
apologize
that
this
might
be
graphic,
but
the
things
that
I
found
in
that
home
there
were
used
birth
control
items
that
I
had
to
clean
up
off
of
that
home.
We
were
lucky
that
there
wasn't
physical
damage
that
financially
caused
damage
to
that
property,
but
having
to
go
into
that
home
and
clean
up.
This
mess
was
what
we
were
dealing
with.
M
I
just
want
to
thank
councilman,
because
your
statements-
Senator
John
Taylor
mr.
Barrett's.
They
really
explained
what's
happening
here,
and
there
is
a
clear
criminal
crime
happening
when
there's
a
broken
window
in
a
broken
door
and
I
think
that
the
the
purpose
of
this
hearing
is
to
provide
a
clear
indication
to
the
police,
what
they
are
allowed
and
what
they
are
not
allowed
to
do
so
that
people
like
mr.
Magee
and
myself
are
not
put
in
this
situation
that
has
affected
us
financially
and
emotionally
for
in
an
indeterminate
amount
of
time.
Thank
you.
Thank.
A
B
You,
mr.
chairman,
a
quick
because
I
think
the
testimonies
been
powerful.
Both
mr.
mrs.
McGee
have
been
in
my
office
and
mr.
Wyckoff
has
been
in
my
office
and
I
wanted
to
come
here
today
to
explain
in
their
how
they
saw
it.
The
difficulty
they
went
through
when
government
doesn't
work
and
to
be
very
direct
about
I'm
glad
you
came
because
in
the
future,
maybe
this
can
be
resolved.
B
I'm,
going
to
work
with
my
colleagues
to
get
something
that
works
for
the
homeowner,
the
person
that
put
out
over
the
equity,
the
sweat
equity,
the
dollars
keeping
their
home
up,
because
when
it's
all
said
and
done,
these
are
the
people
that
play
by
the
rules
and,
conversely,
the
rules
ought
to
be
there
to
protect
them.
So
I
can't
thank
you
enough
for
coming
for,
for
letting
us
know
of
your
frustration,
because
I
knew
it
was
a
great
one.
I
mr.
Wyckoff
would
write
in
your
home
when
the
police
were
there.
B
The
second
time
was
a
little
different
story
then,
but
quite
frankly,
that
was
nine
days
afterwards,
that
we
we
first
made
contact,
and
that
was
through
state
representative
Taylor.
Your
your
rights
have
not
been
upheld
and
have
not
been
listened
to
by
government,
and
it's
about
time
they
they
will
and
do,
and
you
have
my
assurance
that
we
were
going
to
craft
some
legislation
that
we
really
will
work
and
work.
Well,
thank
you
for
being
here.
Thank.
A
A
K
A
H
Councilman
padam-
I
am
not
aware
of
this
case
being
referred
to
us
I.
Actually,
as
his
testimony
was
going
on,
all
arrest
warrants
get
emailed
to
me.
So
I
searched
the
address
and
there
is
an
impending
warrant
for
it
right
now,
but
I
have
every
intention,
speaking
with
mr.
Magee,
as
we
leave
chambers
and
doing
what
I
can
to
get
this
resolved
as
quickly
as
possible.
H
Although
I
would
also
note
that
both
knowing
my
situation
with
councilman
l
and
the
situation
that
these
folks
went
through,
it
seems
to
only
get
resolved
with
so
many
liens
on
someone
and
I
again
that
sort
of
points
to
the
the
issues
at
hand
here
I'm
very
willing
to
help
mr.
Magee
on
his
way
out
of
here
and
speak
to
Northeast
affective
division
to
get
something
done
as
quickly
as
we
can.
A
C
C
You
very
much
mr.
Magee,
it's
been
over
five
months
since
someone
literally
kicked
in
your
door
change
the
locks
in
front
of
you
took
down
your
for
sale.
Sign
took
down
the
lockbox,
while
your
personal
items
were
in
the
home.
I
will
say
that
you
came
to
see
me
as
well.
Three
weeks
ago,
I've
put
in
a
request
to
meet
the
Commissioner
of
Police
and
the
District
Attorney
I.
Very
much
thank
the
District
Attorney
for
meeting
with
me
about
the
pastor's
case.
Unfortunately,
I
was
not
able
to
get
a
meeting
I
hope
through
this
process.
C
Burglary,
as
in
your
case,
is
not
pursued
within
a
matter
of
weeks,
it
becomes
a
civil
matter
and
I
said
Wow.
Could
you
tell
me
who
taught
you
that,
where
you
learned
that
and
the
officer
said
well,
actually
nobody
told
me
that
I
never
read
it,
it's
just
something
that
I
assumed
or
I
understood.
We
get
very,
very
little
instruction
and
I.
C
Let
her
know
a
crime
is
a
crime
until
the
statute
of
limitations
ends,
and
so
there
is
probable
cause
for
sure
that
a
crime
of
burglary,
criminal,
trespass
and
fraud
was
committed
in
your
case
and
that
an
arrest
warrant
should
be
issued
should
have
been
issued
five
months
ago.
The
police
should
have
come
out
to
your
home
and
arrested
the
people
in
your
home,
and
you
should
not
have
had
to
gone
through
this
process
at
all
and
the
same
for
for
you
as
well.
This
is
just
a
horrendous
dereliction
of
duty
and
I
hope.
C
Through
this
process
we
will
be
able
to
address
this,
and
I
would
say
that
there
is
no
reason
to
hold
this
bill.
My
bill
I
understand
people
want
to
do
good.
I
would
say
that
when
you
start
advocating
for
the
criminals
that
are
victimizing
the
homeowners
of
our
city,
you
do
a
great
disservice
to
those
innocent
people
and
you
do
a
tremendous
disservice
to
the
cause
of
helping
people
who
need
homes,
and
we
are
already
a
very
tenant
friendly
city.
C
A
You
councilman
on
behalf
of
the
city,
we
apologize.
What
happened?
We're
gonna
try
to
fix
this
going
forward.
You're
gonna
meet
with
the
representatives
of
the
city
after
this
hearing
I'd
like
to
hear
what
happens
about
that,
and
hopefully
your
sale
will
go
through
I'm,
sorry
for
that
loss,
I'm,
not
sure
what
we
can
do,
but
we
are
very,
very
sorry
to
hear
this
is
terrible.
This
is
not
a
shining
moment
for
Philadelphia
to
hear
these
stories,
but
thank
you
for
your
testimony
today.
I
just.
I
M
I
Wanted
we
wanted
to
make
that
part
of
the
record
and
then
another
aspect
that
hasn't
come
up
today.
That
I
think
is
worth
mentioning
is
my
particular
property
is
the
highest
property
value
in
the
zip
code,
and
so
when
I
do
sell,
it
will
be
the
comparable
for
the
foreseeable
future,
and
now
it
has
taken
a
10%
hit
and
it's
a
direct,
tangible
result
of
this
particular
situation,
and
so
that's
important
to
know.
Mr.
I
A
D
I
just
want
to
again
reiterate
the
Chairman's
remarks
about
how
sorry
we
are
for
what
has
happened
and
also
that
you
know
I
know
you
have
great
advocates
here
in
City
Council,
but
all
of
us
will
be
working
and
talking
with
the
police,
northeast
police,
district
and
certainly
with
the
DA's
office,
because
clearly
this
is
criminal
activity
that
is
we've
been
on
far
beyond
the
scope
of
that
should
be
covered
under
existing
legislation,
then
we'll
make
sure
that
it's
something
that
that
gets
addressed
right
away.
So
thank
you
very
much.
D
A
You
for
coming
down
testifying
through
this
difficult
situation,
and
hopefully
your
sale
will
go
through
we're
gonna
work
to
get
these
people
out
of
there
for
you.
Thank
you
very
much.
Thank
you.
Thank
you
appreciate
your
time.
Our
next
panel
is
James
Walter,
Joseph's,
annuity,
Geoff,
Borg
and
Maria
Vicente.
A
N
You
good
morning,
council
members,
thank
you
for
inviting
me
to
testify
regarding
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero,
eight,
two,
seven
and
the
accompanying
resolution,
one
seven
zero,
eight
four
one.
My
name
is
James
D,
Walther
and
I'm
here
to
testify
about
the
inadequacy
of
the
judicial
process
to
eject
illegal
occupants
from
properties
in
Philadelphia,
well
background
I'm,
an
attorney
at
a
civil
litigation
firm
in
Center,
City,
killed,
L
Kramer
and
associates
our
office
handles
a
number
of
real
estate
matters
for
our
clients,
including
the
Jackman
matters
and
landlord
tenant
matters.
N
Recently,
we
were
working
on
an
attack
in
the
decnet
matter
and
we
became
aware
of
issues
with
squatters
of
trespass
and
used
forged
documents
and
other
methods
to
abuse
the
judicial
system.
These
squatters
can
live
rent-free
for
months,
sometimes
years
at
the
expense
of
taxpaying
property
owners.
Under
the
current
system,
civil
ejectment
proceedings
are
too
lengthy
to
adequately
address
these
situations
and
can
be
extremely
damaging
to
the
legal
owner
of
the
property.
In
the
situation
we
encountered,
our
client
was
in
the
process
of
selling
a
property
under
a
contract
to
sale.
N
The
sale
was
supposed
to
close
by
the
end
of
June
2017.
Our
client
received
a
letter
in
early
June
from
Peco,
saying
that
someone
changed
the
electric
service
from
his
name.
He
investigated
and
found
a
squatter
on
the
property.
Our
client
had
formed
the
squatter
they
weren't
permitted
on
the
property
and
they
needed
to
leave
the
squad
refused
to
move
our
client
called
the
police
who
arrived
while
no
one
was
home.
The
police
filed
a
brief
report
but
did
not
investigate
the
matter.
N
N
The
squatters
in
that
proceeding
then
sought
reconsideration
in
that
judgment
and
a
stay
of
execution
in
order
to
prolong
their
occupation
of
the
property
in
the
current
matter,
which
is
still
pending.
The
court
held
a
case
management
conference
at
which
a
date
for
trial
and
all
of
the
deadlines
were
set
because
the
serial
squatters
claimed
that
there's
a
lease.
In
our
case,
the
court
treated
this
case
as
a
contract
dispute
and
placed
it
on
an
expedited
non-jury
tract
for
8
months.
N
From
the
time
of
the
case
management
conference,
the
trial
scheduled
for
July
2018
over
one
year
from
the
unauthorized
occupation
and
the
property,
and
about
a
month
from
the
end
of
the
alleged
lease
term
in
the
least
with
the
forged
signature,
the
timing
of
the
judicial
process
in
ejectment
cases
is
inadequate
to
address
these
situations
of
protect
property
owners.
A
victimized
property
owner
has
to
wait
months
even
years
to
and
incur
significant
cost
access,
rent
or
sell
property
they
legally
own.
N
G
Yes,
good
afternoon,
my
name
is
Josephson
oudy
president
Taccone
Civic
Association.
In
testimony
for
resolution,
seven,
one,
seven,
zero,
eight
four
one
bill,
one:
seven,
zero,
eight,
two,
seven
as
I
said
I'm
the
president
of
County
Civic
Association,
which
was
started
in
nineteen.
Eighty
two
squatters
have
negatively
impacted
the
community
for
as
long
as
our
organization
has
existed,
if
not
longer,
when
squatters
illegally
occupying
there's
a
ripple
effect
which
takes
its
toll
not
only
on
the
property
itself,
but
an
entire
neighborhood.
G
The
safety
of
adjacent
properties
in
a
quality
of
life
on
a
given
block
or
immediately
compromise.
When
squatters
move
in
there
is
a
considerable
risk
to
the
owner
of
the
property
if
he
or
she
attempts
to
assert
their
rights
and,
more
so,
to
adjacent
occupants
who
have
to
deal
with
this
on
a
daily
basis.
Neighborhoods
like
Taccone,
are
especially
vulnerable
to
be
impacted
by
squatters,
as
the
15th
district
is
one
of
our
largest
and
busiest
districts
in
the
city,
police
districts
and
the
seams
Disick
exploited
them
by
those
who
want
to
occupy
a
property
illegally.
G
The
last
case
we
had
in
Taccone
was
on
Friendship
Street
forced
neighborhood
volunteers
to
seal
the
seal,
the
property
in
order
to
restore
a
decent
quality
of
life
in
the
immediate
area,
I
raised
my
hand,
there's
no
reason
that
we
should
be
expending
this
kind
of
time
and
resources,
not
to
mention
exposing
ourselves
to
considerable
risk
to
deal
with
the
problem
which
is
now
being
well
addressed
through
this
bill.
We
know.
Kony
are
also
subject,
especially
in
colder
weather,
to
a
heightened
risk
of
fire
in
homes
occupied
by
squatters.
G
Ours
is
a
densely
populated
area
with
a
large
percentage
of
it
attached
row,
homes,
many
of
which
were
built
prior
to
1900.
Some
neighbors
of
squatters
occupied
properties
grew
so
weary
of
coexisting.
With
the
situation,
they've
chose
to
move
from
the
neighborhood
and
many
in
cases
out
of
the
city
altogether.
In
order
to
maintain
neighborhood
staple
stability,
councilman
OHS
proposed
bill
should
be
passed
as
soon
as
possible
in
order
to
get
a
grip
on
the
squatters
problem.
G
Councilman
OHS
bill
will
allow
for
a
more
expedient
and
transparent
process
for
dealing
with
squatters
one
which
will
help
and
keep
good
who
are
working
families
in
the
neighborhood,
instead
of
being
forced
to
move
out.
The
misconception
that
there
are
squatters
rights
has
led
to
a
passing
the
buck
mentality
among
city
agencies,
which
are
better
equipped
to
deal
with
this
issue.
Then
community
activists
whose
time
can
be
spent
better
addressing
activities
and
programs
sponsored
by
their
respective
organizations.
G
Neighborhood
stability
is
directly
related
to
a
morale.
Many
of
us
in
Taccone
are
very
proud
of
our
rich
history
and
fine
architecture.
Pride
in
place
has
been
foster
through
many
years
of
events,
promotion
and
educational
relating
to
our
dust
oral
heritage.
I
have
one
question
for
councilman
toe.
We
spoke
about
people
who
landlords
who
own
these
properties
habit
vacant
properties
where
the
landlords
are
gone,
that
people
are
just
they
left
and
and
the
properties
is
sitting
there
in
blight
and
the
squatters
move
in.
But
there's
no
actual
owners.
What
happens
there.
C
My
bill
does
not
cover
that
situation.
That
is
a
situation
that
is
dealt
with
either
by
the
crimes
code
or
lni
my
bill,
because
that
is
an
abandoned
property.
My
bill
does
not
cover
that
situation,
so
my
bill
deals
with
a
situation
where
there's
a
lawful
home
owner
or
owner
of
the
property
that
has
not
a
band
the
property.
Although
it
may
be
for
sale,
it
could
be
a
developer
someone's
fixing
up
the
building.
C
O
Morning,
my
name
is
Maria.
Vicente
I
have
been
working
with
a
private
investor
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
for
the
last
17
years,
going
on
18
years
now.
Excuse
me,
we
deal
with
rentals
throughout
the
entire
city
of
Philadelphia.
Just
recently,
for
my
very
second
time
in
17
years,
I
discovered
a
squatter
situation
that
I
could
not
handle
on
my
own,
meaning
that
I
wanted
a
property.
I
told
them
who
I
was
what
my
position
was.
O
I
showed
them
documents,
including
a
deed
in
the
HUD
who
the
property
owner
was
I,
showed
them
a
copy
of
my
power
of
attorney,
showing
them
who
I
was
to
the
owner.
Normally,
when
I
come
across
a
squatter
I've
been
lucky
enough
that
the
squatter
actually
realizes
that
I'm
not
going
to
go
away
that
we're
going
to
take
action
and
within
a
few
days
they
vacate
the
property.
O
This
time
it
did
not
go
that
way
for
me
and
I
end
up
calling
the
police,
because
it
escalated
to
a
very
hostile
environment
where
I
felt
my
life
was
in
jeopardy.
When
the
city
of
Philadelphia
Police
Department
came
out,
we
I
had
a
woman
police
officer
answer
my
call
and
she
told
me
that
I
should
have
never
knocked
on
the
door
and
showed
them
anything
that
I
should
just
went
away
and
went
and
filed
them
in
a
simple
court.
O
I
informed
her
that
I
was
one
of
the
first
lay
people
to
be
picked
in
Municipal
Court
to
file
my
own
evictions
as
attorneys
do
the
electronic
filing
system
and
that
that
was
incorrect.
That
mean
a
simple
court
could
do
nothing
to
help.
Me
I
thanked
her
for
her
time
and
asked
her
if
she
could
possibly
bring
another
police
officer
to
the
scene.
She
did
another
police
officer
informed
me,
but
as
much
as
he
would
like
to
that,
there's
nothing
he
could
do
because
there
was
a
squatter
rights
law
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
O
I
assured
him
that
I
knew
a
fact
that
there
was
not
that
I
had
googled
and
did
all
of
my
research,
and
there
was
no
such
protection
for
people
who
object,
who
obtained
illegal
residents
in
someone
else's
dwelling.
We
had
another
15-minute
conversation
at
this
point.
The
property
owner
showed
up
because
he
happened
to
be
on
the
phone
with
me
and
was
concerned
for
my
safety
when
he
heard
the
change
of
conversation
a
background.
He
assured
them
that
he
was
the
owner.
O
He
showed
his
ID
and
he
thought
that
that
was
the
solution
to
the
problem.
He
was
also
informed
at
that
point
in
time
that
there
was
nothing
they
could
do
to
help
him
and
that
there
was
nothing
he
could
do
at
that
point.
Other
than
coda
Municipal
Court
at
1339,
Chestnut
Street,
which
again
is
incorrect.
It
would
be
an
ejectment,
it
would
be
through
the
Court
of
Common
Pleas,
the
very
following
day.
I
began
the
jackman
process.
O
The
complaint
is
quite
long
and
there
are
lots
of
procedures
in
time
they
have
to
be
filed
in
a
timely
manner.
Manner
to
even
accomplish
this
I
called
PGW
and
let
them
know
that
the
service
was
worn
illegally,
because
I
didn't
want
my
name
to
be
involved
in
the
fact
that
there's
a
property
that
my
name
is
attached
to
and
our
legal
services
I
did
the
same
with
Pico
energy
and
I
did
the
same
with
the
water
department.
They
all.
O
Let
me
understand
that
my
problem
was
one
that
needed
to
be
handled
at
me
in
a
simple
court
and
that
I
needed
to
go
file,
an
eviction
that
they
can't
turn
utilities
off.
They'd
have
someone
investigated
eventually,
three
weeks
to
the
date
of
the
final
of
that
actual
initial
complaint
and
filing
of
the
ejectment
I
served
all
the
paperwork.
Did
everything
I
was
supposed
to
do?
There's
a
detective
now
involved
because
the
person
claimed
that
they
were
scammed,
which
there's
been
no
evidence
to
justify
it.
O
Yet
I
went
back
out
to
the
property
three
weeks
to
that
date
and
I
knocked
on
the
door
again
hoping
to
be
able
to
reason
with
the
person
who
lived
there.
She
had
little
kids
in
there.
They
were
living
in
conditions
of
a
building.
That
was
under
construction,
it
wasn't
safe,
I
I
won't
want
to
see
any
human
being
live
like
that.
So
I
went
out
and
I
tried
to
speak
with
her
again.
I
was
pretty
much
told.
O
I
could
go,
take
a
flying
leap
over
a
building
and
that
she
knew
for
a
fact
that
it
would
take
me
months
and
maybe
a
year
before,
she'd
have
to
leave
there
and
good
luck
to
me
and
I
could
come
visit
whenever
I
wanted,
at
which
point
I
was
quite
heated
and
I
made
myself.
Leave
the
property
before
I
crossed
to
a
path.
I
didn't
need
to
go
to.
I
went
I've,
started
posting
notices
on
the
door
every
single
day.
By
this
time,
I
actually
gained
the
ability
to
have
utilities
legally
disconnected.
O
O
After
all
of
my
notices
and
my
I
guess,
as
she
put
it,
she
actually
told
the
police
officer.
I
was
harassing
her,
which
I
found
quite
interesting.
They
finally
left
the
premises.
I
got
lucky.
The
last
quarter
case
I
had
14
months
later
before
they
left
the
damage
to
the
building
was
so
bad
that,
a
year
later,
the
house
is
still
under
construction.
They
took
every
plumbing,
they
used
toilets
where
there
were
no
plumbing,
they
used
the
table
as
if
it
were
toilet.
O
The
place
was
flooded
right,
Eaters
were
caught,
gas
lines
were
caught,
I
can't
begin
to
tell
you
the
amount
of
damage
that
was
done
at
that
property.
We
absolutely
have
to
have
councilman
OHS
bill
put
into
motion
quickly
sooner
than
later,
because
I
am
a
reasonable
woman
and
I
do
this
to
make
a
living.
This
is
how
I
feed
my
family,
so
this
actually
inhibits
me
for
gaining
income
to
feed
my
family
when
we
have
squatters
be
able
to
have
this
kind
of
control
over
legal
owners
and
agents.
O
I
can't
stress
I
am
so
grateful
for
everyone
here
today,
even
taking
the
time
to
listen
to
all
of
us
and
knowing
that
our
city
is
finally
moving
in
a
direction
where
we're
noticing
what
a
serious
problem
this
is,
and
something
must
be
done
immediately.
Our
city
of
Philadelphia
police
department
does
not
know
how
to
help
us
because
they
don't
think
they
have
a
right
to
help
us.
The
first
thing
we
need
to
do
is
a
bill,
make
it
clear.
Yes,
this
is
trespassing.
No,
they
are
not
attending
they're
here
illegally.
O
A
O
O
I
Thank
you
good
afternoon,
councilman,
DOM
and
members
of
the
committee.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
for
the
up
for
the
up.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
offer
testimony
on
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero,
eight,
two
seven,
my
name
is
Jeff
bog
and
I
am
the
Associate
Director
of
Planning
and
external
policy
relations
for
the
non
profit,
Pennsylvania
Horticultural
Society
at
PHS.
We
work
every
day
to
connect
people
with
horticulture
and
together
create
beautiful,
healthy,
sustainable
communities.
I
Today,
I
wish
to
solely
address
the
amendment
that
will
be
offered
by
Councilman
o,
which
stipulates
that,
in
the
context
of
this
bill,
Gardens
are
exempt
from
the
definition
of
quote
real
property.
Unquote.
We
support
this
amendment
because
we
believe
it
will
protect
community
gardeners
who
voluntarily
maintain
much
of
the
city's
vacant
land,
despite
not
having
official
land
tenure
in
neighborhoods
across
the
city.
Individual
and
community
gardeners
tend
land
produce,
healthy
and
nutritious
food
for
themselves
and
their
friends
and
neighbors
and
build
stronger
communities
through
gardening.
I
While
much
of
this
gardening
happens
on
land
owned
by
the
gardener's
or
by
affiliated
organizations,
often
gardeners
end
up
maintaining
vacant
land
that
the
city
is
unable
to
care
for
itself.
We
appreciate
the
measures
that
this
amendment
takes
to
ensure
that
gardeners
will
not
be
further
penalized
for
their
stewardship
of
vacant
land.
In
addition,
we
would
further
support
any
action
that
City
Council
can
take,
whether
through
the
land
bank
or
other
city
departments
and
agencies,
and
in
partnership
with
organizations
like
the
neighborhood
gardens
trust
to
fully
secure
land
tenure
for
our
city's
gardeners
and
growers.
A
A
P
You
chair
person,
Dom
counselman,
oh
I,
appreciate
the
opportunity
to
testify
here
today.
I
have
submitted
to
the
to
the
counsel
written
testimony
which
I
made
for
purposes
of
brevity
shorten
a
little
bit
here.
I
appreciate
the
opportunity
to
highlight
our
concerns
over
the
newly
proposed
legislation
governing
treatment
of
persons
classified
as
squatters.
Our
work
at
senior
law
center
is
protecting
the
rights
of
older
Pennsylvanians
located
here
in
Center
City
Philadelphia.
P
We
were
founded
in
1978
to
protect
the
rights
of
seniors
in
need
and
now
serve
over
5,000
seniors
each
year
between
the
ages
of
60.
All
the
way
up
to
over
a
hundred
we
save
homes,
prevent
homelessness,
fight
for
grandparent
rights,
stop
elder
abuse,
fraud
and
exploitation
and
promote
independence
and
dignity.
We
are
an
independent
nonprofit
and
the
only
nonprofit
organization
solely
dedicated
to
providing
legal
protection
to
Pennsylvania
senior
citizens.
Whether
more
seniors
will
be
protected
by
the
proposed
legislation
or
harmed
by
it
is
debatable.
P
Seniors
intimidated
by
persons
who
occupy
their
homes
without
permission
and
refused
to
leave
may
be
protected
if
the
police
come
to
the
home
and
order
the
squatter
to
leave.
However,
seniors
are
just
as
likely
to
be
on
the
receiving
end
of
the
police
order
if
the
property
has
been
stolen
from
the
senior
by
way
of
deed
fraud.
Currently
an
epidemic
in
many
Philadelphia
neighborhoods.
P
Once
the
thief
records
the
deed,
he
can
also
summon
the
police
to
order
the
senior
from
the
home
also
as
more
seniors
lose
their
lifelong
homes
as
the
result
of
mortgage
and
tax
foreclosure.
Under
the
proposed
legislation
of
purchaser,
the
property
at
sheriff
sale
can
have
the
senior
ordered
from
the
home
with
48
hours
notice.
P
48
hours
is
not
enough
time
to
find
a
senior
suitable
housing
in
a
safe
neighborhood
to
pack
up
a
lifetime
of
possessions
to
notify
friends
and
family
and
the
post
office
of
their
new
address
to
forward
prescription
medications
to
a
new
pharmacy
to
notify
banks
and
Social
Security,
and
the
list
goes
on
and
on.
These
seniors
will
also
need
help
from
the
city
funded
housing,
the
counseling
network,
to
find
housing
and
make
the
move.
The
build
ability
to
act
promptly
to
remove
an
interloper
or
squatter
is
important.
P
P
If
rent
is
paid
in
cash
without
a
receipt,
there
will
be
no
written
proof
that
the
occupant
is
a
tenant
if
the
tenant
does
not
live
in
the
property
long
enough
to
receive
mail
or
submit
change
of
address
forms
she
or
he
may
be
subject
to
being
labeled
a
squatter
due
to
the
inability
to
provide
proof
of
legal
residents
to
the
responding
officer.
Potential
gaps
exist
in
the
bill
at
is
written,
which
gives
us
pause.
P
We
welcome
any
opportunity
for
greater
collaboration
with
our
city's
leaders
in
law
enforcement
in
this
council,
with
the
mayor's
administration,
with
all
other
government
and
quasi
governmental
agencies
than
the
city,
as
all
should
be
highly
concerned
about
the
health
and
welfare
of
our
seniors.
Senior
law
center
would
like
to
work
with
City
Council
on
amendments
to
this
administration,
which
will
ensure
that
all
seniors
will
be
protected.
P
Senior
Law
Center
supports
the
protections
provided
in
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero.
Eight
two
seven
and
the
creation
of
a
rapid
police
response
in
the
limited
instance
where
a
threatening
person
occupies
another's
real
property
without
property,
proper
Authority.
However,
we
have
concerns
for
seniors
whose
homes
have
been
foreclosed
or
stolen,
and
for
those
seniors
who
are
rightful
tenants
but
may
have
an
oral
lease
and
the
effect
this
bill
will
have
on
them.
A
senior
homeowner
currently
must
file
an
ejectment
action
to
procure
the
proper
court
order
to
remove
a
third-party
trespasser
from
the
residence.
P
This
process
can
take
anywhere
from
three
months,
usually
when
a
default
judgment
is
procured
to
nine
months,
when
a
full
trial
is
required,
there
aren't
during
this
time
period.
The
third
party
remains
in
the
seniors
home
with
the
senior
present,
often
in
a
growing
number
of
these
scenarios.
The
illegal
occupants
are
intimidating
the
seniors
and
offering
exploiting
the
seniors
financially,
where
no
intimate
or
familial
relationship
exists
and
where
threats
of
violence
or
actual
physical
harm
has
not
yet
occurred.
The
senior
is
unable
to
file
for
a
protection
from
abuse
order.
P
The
senior
is
left
to
wait
in
the
same
hall
household
in
an
often
increasingly
unstable
and
unsafe
environment.
We
welcome
a
more
expedited
process
for
our
senior
homeowners,
which
would
protects
them
from
harm
from
unauthorized
persons
residing
in
their
home
without
their
permission
or
those
seniors
whose
homes
have
been
stolen
through
defraud.
However,
the
current
bill
paints
with
too
broad
a
brush
senior
homeowners,
whose
homes
have
been
foreclosed
and
seniors
who
are
rightful
tenants
need
the
protection
afforded
by
the
ejectment
and
the
invictus.
P
We
need
your
partnership
and
support
to
make
this
city
one
that
truly
demonstrates
respect
for
our
elders
and
their
safety,
dignity
and
well-being.
We
look
forward
to
working
with
you
to
make
the
Philadelphia
safer
home
for
our
senior
population
and
to
empowering
our
senior
citizens
in
their
fight
against
exploitation
and
abuse.
Thank
you.
Thank.
A
M
Good
morning
my
name
is
Rush
good
afternoon.
My
name
is
rashida
Phillips
and
I'm,
the
managing
attorney
of
the
housing
unit
at
Community,
Legal
Services
of
Philadelphia,
which
provides
free
legal
advice
and
representation
to
over
2,000,
low-income
tenants
living
in
private
and
subsidized
housing
and
Philadelphia
each
year.
We
are
grateful
to
have
worked
with
City
Council
for
several
decades
to
protect
tenants
and
promote
safe,
affordable
housing.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
on
bill
number
one:
seven:
zero.
M
Eight,
two
seven
and
resolution
number
one:
seven:
zero,
eight
four
one
at
this
public
hearing
just
a
few
months
ago,
in
March
of
this
year,
I
testified
in
this
chamber
regarding
Philadelphia's
eviction,
crisis,
we're
now
alarmed
to
see
proposed
legislation
that
threatens
to
increase
the
number
of
illegal
evictions
and
the
number
of
homeless
families
in
our
city.
The
resolution
is
clear
that
the
underlying
issue
of
concern
is
brazen
criminal
trespass
by
fraudsters
squatters.
We
agree
that
there
is
a
need
to
address
that
issue.
M
However,
the
proposed
bill
would
do
much
more
than
address
trespass
or
fraud
and
threatens
to
increase
the
number
of
illegal
lockouts
of
legitimate
tenant.
Tenants
CLS
supports
the
resolutions
recommendation
for
hearings
and
an
analysis
of
the
need
for
any
new
legislation
beyond
existing
laws
regarding
trespass
and
fraud
before
any
bill
moves
beyond
his
committee,
CLS
will
be
happy
to
participate
in
a
task
force
or
similar
effort
to
study
these
issues
and
to
recommend
solutions.
However,
we
urge
this
committee
to
hold
the
proposed
bill
until
the
issues
are
reviewed
further
in
our
daily
contact
with
tenants.
M
We
regularly
encounter
instances
when
an
unhappy
landlord
uses
the
word
squatter
to
describe
tenants
who
do
not
move
out
right
away
when
demanded
by
the
landlord.
The
lease
may
have
recently
expired,
which
creates
a
holdover
tenant
and
not
a
squadron
or
it
is
possible.
A
new
owner
has
entered
the
picture.
M
Having
purchased
a
property
along
with
the
lease
and
mistakenly
believes
that
the
existing
tenant
is
a
squatter
further
month-to-month
or
releases
are
very
common,
as
you've
already
heard,
leaving
the
tenant
with
no
document
to
prove
tenancy
or
a
tenant
is
legitimately
withholding
rent
due
to
conditions
in
the
property
under
this
bill.
However,
these
legitimate
tenants
could
be
characterized
as
squatters
and
put
out
on
a
street
if
written
leases,
rent
receipts
or
other
evidence
cannot
be
quickly
produced
enough
for
the
police
or,
if
they're,
locked
in
a
house
or
or
elsewhere.
M
A
typical
case
in
our
office
involves
a
tenant
who
has
paid
a
deposit
equal
to
two
months
or
more
of
rent
moves
into
a
property
and
then
soon
experiences,
plumbing
problems,
leaky,
roofs,
no
heat
or
other
need
for
repairs
that
are
the
landlord's
responsibility
under
Pennsylvania
law.
Tenants
may
withhold
rent
in
certain
circumstances
when
a
landlord
delays
in
making
needed
repairs.
These
vary
tenants
are
often
then
called
squatters
by
upset
landlords.
M
City
Council
has
proposed
or
enacted
a
number
of
important
provisions
to
protect
runners
under
these
circumstances,
and
this
bill
would
allow
unscrupulous
landlords
to
render
them
hollow
under
this
proposed
bill.
If
these
tenants
do
not
have
a
written
lease
or
rent
receipts
to
show
police
after
an
owner
calls
the
police
to
remove
them
for
being
squatters,
they
will
become
homeless.
The
bill
could
also
hurt
victims
of
domestic
violence
by
giving
abusers
a
way
to
assert
control
over
their
victims.
M
It
is
not
uncommon
in
situations
of
domestic
violence
to
have
the
property
in
the
name
of
the
abuser,
only
the
victim
may
have
few,
if
any
documents
linking
them
to
the
residence
which
is
a
symptom
of
the
abuse
itself,
perhaps
because
the
abuser
hid
or
destroyed
what
documents
existed
under
the
bill,
an
abuser
could
merely
call
up.
The
police
allege
that
the
victim
is
a
squatter
and
a
police
would
have
no
option
but
to
remove
the
victim
criminal
trespass
laws
and
common
law
fraud.
Claims
are
already
options
in
place
to
penalize
defroster
squatter.
M
The
bill
proposes
a
severely
expedited
law
enforcement
process
to
remove
so-called
squatters
in
place
of
a
legal
process.
With
due
process
protections,
the
police
are
unsuited
to
perform
what
is
essentially
a
judicial
role.
They
would
have
to
have
many
hearings
and
evaluate
testimony
and
documentary
evidence.
This
is
not
a
role
for
the
police,
it
is
a
role
for
our
courts.
It
has
been
suggested
that
the
current
procedures
for
ejectment
cases
are
too
cumbersome
for
parties
who
do
not
have
lawyers.
We
agree
that
litigating
a
case
without
an
attorney
can
be
daunting.
M
We
see
this
every
day
as
low
income,
people
from
all
over
the
city
apply
for
legal
services.
However,
this
is
is
to
help
to
make
the
court
process
more
user-friendly,
not
by
eliminating
due
process
and
relegating
tenants
rights
to
quasi
hearings
on
a
sidewalk
with
the
police.
Cls
is
eager
to
help
with
efforts
to
create
forums
or
other
educational
materials
that
would
make
the
courts
more
accessible.
It
has
also
been
suggested
that
the
legislation
be
enacted
to
prohibit
aural
leases
from
being
created
or
from
lasting
beyond
two
or
three
months.
M
In
order
to
address
the
difficult
oral
tenants
have
of
proving
their
tenancy.
We
believe
that
such
a
change
will
be
counterproductive.
Many
parties
will
still
enter
into
oral
leases
and
continue
with
the
oral
agreement
after
the
two
or
three-month
period
ends.
Notwithstanding
the
changes
in
the
law,
this
change
unfairly
skews
the
balance
of
power
between
landlord
and
tenant.
It
would
allow
landlords
to
deny
the
legitimacy
of
the
tenancy
if
there
is
no
written
agreement
and
claim
that
the
occupants
are
trespassers
or
squatters.
Even
if
the
occupants
took
possession
by
agreement.
M
At
the
same
time,
it
will
give
tenants,
no
ability
to
demand
a
written
agreement.
Finally,
we
believe
this
change
will
undermine
the
city's
illegal
lockout
ordinance,
often,
and
the
eviction
will
occur
by
the
landlord
threatening
a
tenant
so
that
they
move
out
changing
and
locks
without
a
sheriff
or
landlord
tenant
officer
using
force,
removing
the
tenants
possessions
turning
off
the
tenants
utilities
or
otherwise,
rendering
a
property
unlivable.
The
illegal
lockout
ordinance
prohibits
eviction
without
a
court
order,
imposes
a
civil
penalty
and
encourages
restoring
possession
to
the
tenant.
M
This
legislation
would
make
the
illegal
lockout
protections
more
difficult
to
enforce
and
puts
the
police
officer
in
a
position
to
have
to
determine
on
a
spot
whether
a
tenant
is
a
squatter
or
as
being
illegally
evicted.
We
should
review
these
issues
further,
as
recommended
in
a
release
resolution
and
not
move
forward
a
bill
that
could
exacerbate
an
already
troubling
homelessness
and
addiction
crisis.
Thank
you
very
much
for
the
opportunity
to
testify.
We
look
forward
to
working
with
City
Council
to
further
address
these
issues.
Thank.
E
E
To
reiterate
what
my
colleague,
Miss
Phillips
said:
CLS
supports
resolution,
one
seven
zero,
eight
four
one,
but
we
also
urge
the
committee
to
hold
on
the
proposed
bill
one:
seven,
zero,
eight,
two:
seven
until
the
issues
are
reviewed
further
in
our
daily
contact
with
homeowners,
we
routinely
encounter
instances
where
an
unhappy
party
in
a
dispute
uses
the
term
squatter
to
describe
a
person's
whose
rights
they
choose
not
to
recognize.
We
see
people
who
will
even
go
further
and
make
false
statements
and
sworn
documents
in
courts
to
try
and
further
their
position.
E
They
will
often
seek
to
enlist
the
police
in
their
efforts
to
accomplish
a
self-help
ejectment.
Fortunately,
current
policies
and
practices
prevent
the
police
from
getting
entangled
in
a
civil
dispute.
The
proposed
bill
would
upend
this
process
and
could
leave
many
legal
and
equitable
owners
being
forcibly
ejected
from
their
properties
by
the
police,
with
practically
no
notice,
and
many
of
the
homeowner
victims
who
testified
here
today
would
not
be
protected
by
the
proposed
bill,
because
a
forged
lease
would
overcome
the
presumption
of
a
squatter
as
a
situation.
E
The
bill
also
oversimplifies
the
concept
of
ownership
and
equates
of
recorded
deed
with
complete
and
legitimate
ownership,
along
with
the
immediate
right
to
possess
a
property.
None
of
these
ideas
is
correct.
Deeds
can
be
forged
long
before
the
current
criminal
trespass
problem,
Philadelphians
have
faced
the
problem
of
fraudulent
conveyances
forged
deeds
are
regularly
filed
with
the
recorder
of
Deeds
office.
Our
current
legal
system
provides
a
fraud
victim
with
the
right
to
challenge
the
legitimacy
of
a
deed
in
court
before
they
are
removed
from
their
house.
Rights
of
possession
can
remain
after
sheriff's
deeds.
E
The
existence
of
a
recorded
deed
does
not
mean
the
record
owner
has
the
right
to
possess
the
property.
When
a
house
is
sold
at
sheriff
sale
for
unpaid
property
taxes,
the
former
owner
retains
a
right
to
redeem
or
buyback.
The
property
for
nine
months
after
the
sheriff's
deed
is
created
during
this
Redemption
period.
The
former
owner
also
retains
the
right
to
possess.
The
property
deeds
can
also
transfer
less
than
full
ownership.
Ownership
is
a
bundle
of
Rights
which
can
be
parsed
up
a
parsed
out
and
divvied
up
among
people.
E
A
deed
can
convey
less
than
full
ownership
of
the
property.
An
in
an
individual
color
nur
can
transfer
their
portion
of
the
property
without
other
co-owners.
The
most
recently
recorded
deed
would
only
show
one
of
the
owners
of
the
property.
A
full
title
search
is
required
to
understand
the
full
ownership
picture
in
real
property
rights,
and
real
property
can
also
transfer
without
a
deed.
Approximately
14,000
homes
in
Philadelphia
are
titled
in
the
names
of
dead
people.
These
people
still
appear
as
the
record
owners,
but
the
legal
owners
are
their
heirs.
E
Pennsylvania
law
has
codified
this
principle
that
is
existed
for
centuries
in
title
22
of
the
consolidated
statutes.
Section
301
B,
where
it
says
quote
legal
title
to
all
real
estate
of
a
decedent,
shall
pass
at
his
death
to
his
heirs
or
devise
ease
in
heated
disputes
of
families.
It
is
not
uncommon
for
warring
sides
in
an
inheritance
to
throw
around
the
term
squatter
and
seek
assistance
of
the
police
to
remove
family
from
a
house
gathering
documents
to
demonstrate
home
ownership
can
take
time.
How
does
one
prove
that
they
are
an
heir?
E
It
requires
documentation
of
the
familial
relationship
at
its
simplest
that
would
require
the
long-form
birth
certificate,
showing
the
parents
name
plus,
plus
a
death
certificates,
demonstrating
that
that
person
is
deceased
in
more
complex
cases.
It
could
require
dozens
of
births
and
death
certificates
to
fully
connect
an
error
with
their
deceased
relative.
It
is
not
common
for
people
to
have
these
documents
readily
available.
It
can
take
weeks
to
obtain
copies
from
the
department
of
vital
records.
E
We
have
clients
that
have
faced
each
of
the
challenges
that
have
listed
above
and
the
complexity
of
these
rules
of
ownership
often
escaped
laypeople,
just
as
it
is,
as
it
has
been
suggested
that
the
current
court
procedures
for
ejectment
are
complicated
for
parties
who
do
not
have
attorneys
expecting
late
people
to
formulate
their
own
defenses
is
even
more
challenging,
especially
when
the
party
leveling,
the
accusation,
has
had
an
unlimited
time
to
formulate
their
accusation,
but
the
person
was
under
the
bill.
The
person
defending
against
the
accusation
would
only
have
48
hours.
E
A
Savi
accuser
would
merely
wait
until
4:30
on
a
Friday
afternoon
to
call
the
police
the
opportunity
to
seek
legal
counsel
at
places
like
community
legal
services
and
our
sister
organization.
Philadelphia
legal
assistance
is
key
to
the
people's
ability
to
effectively
present
their
ownership
claims
and
secure
supporting
documents.
E
Improving
access
to
justice
is
an
issue
that
all
members
of
the
legal
community
take
very
seriously.
Efforts
are
underway
each
day
to
make
the
system
more
navigable
for
lay
persons
just
last
week,
in
collaboration
with
the
Court
of
Common
Pleas
I
trained
over
100
attorneys,
who
will
be
volunteering
their
time
at
the
Civil
Resource
Centre
in
the
coming
months
to
assist
individuals
dealing
with
the
judgments.
E
Thank
you
for
your
opportunity
to
testify
today,
and
we
look
forward
to
working
further
a
City
Council
to
address
these
problems
and
in
closing,
I
would
like
to
leave
you
with
a
recent
quote
from
council.
President
Clarke
government
should
be
in
the
business
of
ending
forced
displacement
and
homelessness,
not
contributing
to
it.
Thank
you.
Thank.
C
Certainly
I'll
address
all
three
simultaneously
I
appreciate
your
advocacy
for
the
homeless,
the
low-income
and
the
tenants.
However,
you
have
crossed
into
advocating
against
innocent
homeowners
who
are
being
victimized
by
criminals,
the
police
every
day
the
police
are
the
only
entity,
the
only
officials
who
are
authorized
to
determine
probable
cause
that
a
crime
has
been
minute.
I'm
a
councilman
I
can't
do
that,
and
you
can't
do
that.
The
police
determine
probable
cause,
they
don't
know
all
by
themselves.
C
They
determine
probable
cause
in
conjunction
with
detectives,
and
then
they
submit
it
to
the
district
attorney's
office
that
District
Attorney's
Office
has
a
charging
unit.
The
district
attorney's
office
may
decline,
charges
or
may
approve
charges.
Then
the
court
has
to
determine
whether
the
charges
are
sufficient
to
bring
a
trial,
and
then
it
is
beyond
a
reasonable
doubt.
This
bill,
however,
doesn't
have
to
do
with
any
of
that.
C
C
The
only
thing
that
happens
if
a
police
officer
finds
that
there's
probable
cause
to
arrest,
they
don't
arrest,
they
could,
but
this
bill
gives
them
the
opportunity
much
like
the
executive
order
we
have
regarding
marijuana
rather
than
to
arrest
the
person,
which
is
the
state
law
to
offer
them
a
$25
fine
here
this
bill
simply
provides
that
the
police,
instead
of
arresting
them,
can
simply
give
them
24
hour
48
hours
to
vacate.
Otherwise,
if
they
don't
get
arrested,
they
begin
to
accrue
a
$300
a
day.
Fine.
C
Now,
if
they
are
found
in
this
expedited
process
or
in
a
criminal
court
to
have
violated
the
criminal
laws
to
have
committed
fraud.
So
while
they
do
appreciate
the
examples
you're
giving
the
presumption
that
you
are
taking
is
in
favor
of
the
criminal.
In
other
words,
you
have
such
an
extent
of
precautions
that
in
the
Magee's
case
or
the
white
coughs
case
or
past
Early's
case,
you
would
have
the
police
not
take
any
action
and
there'd
be
no
remedy
other
than
going
to
16
months,
possibly
of
a
process
that
is
hugely
expensive
and
prohibitive.
C
Too
many
parties,
I
am
fortunate
to
speak
with
I've
visited
about
thirty-five
senior
homes
and
and
providers.
Two
years
ago,
I
will
be
going
to
Texas
to
talk
to
AARP.
The
issue.
I
can
assure
you,
at
least
from
my
anecdotal
perspective.
It's
not
any
data
is
that
seniors
are
by
and
large
a
victim
of
these
type
of
issues
and
it's
unfortunate
because
they
are
easy
targets,
because
they
are
unable
to
speak
for
themselves
after
themselves.
C
They
just
had
to
say
we're
tenants
now
I'm,
not
saying
that
the
deed
and
lawful
ownership
ownership
record
trumps,
everything
I'm
just
saying
the
police
officer,
the
detective,
the
DA,
the
courts
will
weigh
the
evidence
that
they
have
against
the
evidence,
even
if
it's
oral
testimony
corroborated
by
a
relationship
of
being
a
tenant.
If
at
any
point
these
issues
indicate
you
should
be
in
regular
court,
you
will
go
to
regular
court,
but
that
woman
passed
away
and
her
family
came
to
her
home
to
find
15
people
living
in
her
house.
I
guarantee
you.
C
She
did
not
die
in
peace.
It
took
16
months
to
remove
those
15
people
from
this
poor
woman's
home
and
she
was
a
senior
I
am
sure
she
didn't
appreciate
all
these
people
in
her
refrigerator
in
her
own
watching
her
television
and
so
a
the
balance
that
you
see.
I
I
appreciate.
However,
this
issue
has
been
around
a
long
time.
I'm
gonna
push
for
my
bill
to
be
passed,
I'm
happy
to
work
with
anyone.
As
we
sit
heard
from
the
horticultural
folks,
they
told
me
hey.
This
might
involve
gardens
we're
not
after
gardens.
C
Nor
are
we,
after
any
of
these
situations,
there
will
be
have
to
be
a
sign
of
a
break-in.
There
will
have
to
be
signs
that
this
was
a
criminal
act
and
if
the
police
do
not
act,
the
court
will
have
the
opportunity
to
weed
out
those
cases
that
should
be
in
regular
civil
process
and
listen.
If
a
landlord
wants
to
try
to
use
this
process,
they
subjects
themselves
as
well
to
fraud,
charges.
C
If
you
have
a
rebuttal
that
you'd
like
to
give
me,
that's
fine,
on
the
other
hand,
we've
had
people
come
in,
I've
had
a
probably
over
300
phone
calls
and
communications
on
Facebook
and
others.
I
mean
it's
conservatively
300,
probably
over
50,
real-life
stories
of
abuse
and
frustration,
and
so
to
the
extent
that
that
you
are
advocating
for
a
group
of
people
that
you
need,
you
believe,
should
be
protected.
C
I
appreciate
that,
once
you
start
crossing
over
into
the
fact
that,
in
order
to
protect
them,
you're
saying
the
police,
don't
have
the
wherewithal
or
the
ability
to
do
their
traditional
job
and-
and
that
is
part
of
this
problem-
I
am
clarifying
for
them
and
giving
them
procedures
in
a
civil
context
that
there
will
not
be
confusion
over
this.
Thank
you.
Thank.
B
Yes,
thank
you
very
quick
to
the
panel
and
I.
Thank
you
for
your
your
opinion
and
and
your
thought
and
you
actually
coming
down
so
miss
Phillips,
musholt
service
goldberg.
You
you've
heard
the
way
coughing
mcgee
testimonies
and
they
are
probably
only
the
tip
of
the
iceberg.
There,
probably
others
that
we
have
not
heard
of
that,
may
not
even
know
that
they
could
come
here,
but
I
was
going
to
ask
you
because
I
think
you
have
a
sense
of
everything.
You
certainly
put
up
valid
viewpoints.
B
E
E
What
we're
asking
is
that
any
solution
should
be
narrowly
carved
so
that
it's
not
stepping
on
the
rights
of
people
who
are
legitimately
in
properties.
One
of
the
things
that
I've
heard
over
and
over
today
is
this
idea
of
a
forcible
breaking,
but
that
is
not
mentioned
anywhere
in
the
bill.
The
idea
that
there
should
be
a
demonstration
of
forcible
breaking
I
think
things
like
that
could
be
important.
E
What
I
would
suggest
is
that
this
is
a
complex
problem
that
involves
many
different
players
in
the
governmental
system
and
having
a
task
force
in
place
where
we
can
all
sit
in
a
room
and
talk
about
this
and
think
it
through
and
come
up
with
measured
and
thoughtful
solutions
that
involve
all
the
players:
the
sheriff's
office,
legal
services,
the
DA's
office,
the
police.
All
of
those
players
really
should
be
consulted
and
come
up
with
a
with
a
shared
effort
in
terms
of
the
individuals
who
spoke
today.
E
B
P
P
My
specialized
I'm,
the
director
of
Victim
Services
and
much
of
the
work
I
do
has
to
deal
with
those
seniors
who
are
abused
and
exploited.
We
do
do
ejectment
actions
in
matters
where
the
safety
is
at
issue
with
the
seniors
and
we
cannot
find
protections
elsewhere.
What
I
would
like
the
council
to
be
aware
of
is
the
law
that
it
stands
and
even
in
those
cases
where
the
Defiant
trespass
is
charged,
the
system
is
still
very
slow
and
is
not
resulting
in
the
type
of
order.
P
The
court
a
court
order
that
is
required
to
have
that
person
removed
by
the
sheriff
or
the
police
department.
The
police
are
confused
by
the
legislation
that
we
have
currently
and
I.
Do
applaud
counsel
for
taking
up
this
issue
to
address
a
more
expeditious
manner
of
having
illegal
persons
removed
from
a
property.
P
However,
we
do
not
want
to
sacrifice
what
we've
worked
so
hard
in
this
city
to
build,
which
is
proper
protections
for
people
that
are
rightfully
in
a
in
a
home,
and
in
this
regard,
we
as
a
senior
law
center,
see
both
sides
of
the
issue
we
have
seniors
on
both
sides.
I
have
seniors
that
are
being
exploited,
whom
we
can't
get
out
for
about
a
year
to
get
the
illegal
persons
out,
but
on
the
same
hand,
we
have
unscrupulous
persons
using
these
bills
to
try
to
get
the
seniors
who
are
properly
in
a
property
out.
P
B
P
I
think
I
would
like
to
have
a
dialogue
if
possible,
so
if
it
could
be
tabled
for
I
can't
give
you
an
exact
amount
but
I
think
an
appropriate
dialogue
would
be
to
bring
the
parties
together.
Have
a
dialogue,
propose
the
amendments
and
then
come
back
before
they,
the
council.
With
those
amendments
we.
C
C
Suggestions,
I
am
fully
open
to
making
whatever
amendments
would
make
the
bill
protect
the
interests
that
you're
trying
to
protect
without,
at
the
same
time,
watering
down
the
the
goal
that
I'm
trying
to
achieve
so
I
certainly
welcome
your
involvement.
I
will
certainly
urge
that
we
do
not
postpone
this
bill,
but
I
am
certainly
happy
to
work
with
you
before
we
come
to
a
vote.
It
can
be
amended
between
now
and
then.
D
D
I
think
that's
a
really
great
example
of
a
situation
where
there's
clearly
criminal
activity
and
behavior.
There
are
breaks
in
the
system
that
are
not
working.
We
need
to
figure
out
where
those
breaks
are
and
then
go
in
with
a
target
approach,
as
opposed
to
a
blanket
one.
Does
that
sound
like
that's
something
that
you
were
thinking
through.
E
Absolutely,
and
and
having
all
of
the
relevant
parties
in
the
room
and
thinking
through
these
problems,
as
we
discover
them
and
then
coming
up
with
solutions
trying
those
solutions
and
then
coming
back
to
the
table
when
they're,
not
successful,
I
think
is
really
what
makes
for
a
measured
response
that
addresses
all
of
the
concerns
of
the
parties
involved.
Rather
than
simply,
you
know,
here's
what
I
want
and
that's
the
end
of
the
conversation.
Thank.
D
You
just
on
behalf
the
city
of
myself,
I
apologize
for
an
earlier
statement
that
was
made
and
feel
very
strongly
about
the
work
that
CLS
senior
law
center
and
pill
cop
had
done
on
behalf
of
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
It
is
this
is
a
bill
that
the
legal
department
has
said
violates
the
Pennsylvania
state
law.
Around
landlord-tenant
Act
does
not
provide
adequate
due
process
protections
and
subjects
the
city
to
substantial
liability.
D
The
fact
that
people
raise
questions
about
such
a
bill
that
is
being
proposed
does
not
automatically
put
anybody
in
the
camp
of
defending
criminal,
behavior
and
I
think
that
it
is
highly
inappropriate
for
my
counsel
colleague
to
have
accused
anybody
who
comes
before
this
body
to
testify
about
legitimate
concerns
that
are
made
with
a
history
that
all
of
you
have
had
around
this
work
and
I'm,
trying
to
figure
out
a
way
to
make
this
better.
So
to
me,
it
is
very
important
that
you
don't
feel
like
you,
leave
this
council
in
any
way.
D
Thinking
that
you
have
not
been
heard
that
we
do
not
take
your
issues
seriously,
that
we
do
not
respect
you
at
the
highest
level
and
that
we
do
not
in
any
way
believe
that
you
do
anything
else
except
stand
up
in
the
best
interests
of
Philadelphia
and
our
city
and
I'm
grateful
to
you
for
that.
It
is
very
important
to
me
that
we
think
through
a
lot
of
these
issues
and
problems,
it
is
essential
that
we
do
it
with
people.
Who've
been
doing
this
work
for
a
very
long
time.
D
We
heard
earlier
from
our
DA's
office,
obviously
their
representative
and
from
our
representatives
from
the
police
department
that
they
do
not
have
specific
experience
around
tangled
titles,
Forge,
deeds
or
releases.
They
are
not
experts
around
landlord-tenant
issues,
thus,
having
the
three
of
you
here
who
represent
decades
of
work
around,
that
exact
process
is
an
essential
component
and
you
should
not
be
critiqued
simply
for
bringing
up
those
concerns.
D
Your
comments
are
welcomed
and
embraced
by
myself
on
city
council
I'm
sure
by
many
others,
and
you
know
we
do
not
appreciate
anybody
who
would
in
any
way
accuse
somebody
of
siding
with
criminal
behavior
I.
Just
don't
think,
that's
appropriate.
It
doesn't
belong
here
and
you
know
we
we
would
like
to
move
forward
in
a
collaborative
manner.
So
thank
you
very
much
for
your
time
and
testimony
Thank.
A
C
You
very
much
on
I,
speak
plainly,
I,
don't
think
I've
said
anything
out
of
order.
However,
I
clearly
have
stated
my
position:
I've
drafted
a
bill
and
I
put
it
forward
regarding
whatever
positions
you
take,
you
are
here.
It's
appreciated
to
my
colleague
councilman
again.
I
would
say
that
you
are
entitled
to
have
your
opinion
to
make
your
statements.
However,
this
bill
moves
forward.
C
You
can
vote
against
it
if
you,
like,
certainly
I,
will
say
again
that
separating
and
distinguishing
criminal
action
from
complex
legal
manners
are
something
that
our
system
needs
to
provide
and
has
done.
The
police
are
trained.
They
are
appropriate
for
this
process
and
they
are
the
only
entity
that
citizens
can
rely
on
and
they
should
handle
this
process
and
in
between
that
process,
as
there
is
confusion
for
some
reason
and
a
failure
to
act.
My
bill
addresses
that
with
a
civil
process.
Thank
you.
A
Thank
You
councilman,
thank
you
for
your
testimony
today
and
thank
you
for
your
patience
too
I
like
to
call
the
next
panel
I
believe
evany
Griffin,
Harvey,
spear
and
Francis
Rose.
So
beyond,
oh
I
just
want
to
reiterate.
If
it's
possible,
we
keep
the
testimony
to
two
minutes
and
it's
20
of
one.
So
I
just
want
to
keep
that
in
everybody's
mind.
We
still
have
about
eight
or
nine
more
people
to
testify,
so
everybody
Griffin
when
we
store
with
your
testimony,
tell
me.
Q
Q
Afternoon
my
name
is
ebony
Griffin
I'm,
a
staff
attorney
with
the
public
interest
law,
Center
I
work
to
promote
environmental
justice
and
also
leave
our
garden
justice
legal
initiative,
which
provides
pro
bono,
legal
support,
advocacy
and
policy
research
to
community
gardens
and
urban
farmers
and
Philadelphia's
communities
of
colors
immigrant
refugee
communities
and
historically
disinvested
neighborhoods
I
planned
initially
to
come
and
offer
my
support
for
resolution.
One
seven
zero,
eight
four
one-
and
to
talk
about
some
of
the
concerns
that
I
had
that
about
that.
Q
Excuse
me
that
bill
number
one,
seven
zero,
eight
two
seven
could
potentially
pose
for
urban
gardens.
Upon
my
arrival
this
morning,
I
learned
that
councilman
Oh
plan
to
amend
that
bill
to
include
an
exemption
for
garden
space,
so
that
really
addresses
a
lot
of
my
major
concerns
with
with
that
portion
of
the
bill.
So,
in
the
interest
of
time,
I've
already
submitted
my
written
testimony,
I'm
not
going
to
waste
things.
One
time,
I
want
that.
Thank.
K
Thank
you
for
allowing
me
to
testify
on
behalf
of
hopko.
My
name
is
Harvey
Speer
I'm
president
and
homeowners
association,
which
is
known
as
hopko,
with
the
largest
Organization
for
the
provider
of
low
and
moderate
income,
private
rental,
housing,
HAP
COEs
membership,
primarily
single-family
and
duplex
rentals
on
the
streets
in
the
neighborhoods
of
Philadelphia.
As
we
have
seen
reported
in
the
news,
the
problem
with
squatters
keeps
growing
and
Philadelphia
squatters
currently
occupy
properties
without
rights
or
title,
but
very
little
consequence
for
doing
so.
K
Oftentimes
if
their
property
becomes
vacant,
an
opportunist
squatter
breaks
into
the
property
and
begins
to
live
there,
although
they
have
no
legal
right
to
stay,
that
police
will
not
enforce
them
to
leave,
will
not
force
them
to
leave.
The
owner
has
to
hire
an
attorney
and
file
an
ejectment
action
and
the
Court
of
Common
Pleas.
It
may
take
many
months
and
sometimes
years
to
go
through
the
legal
process
as
it
stands
today.
Essentially,
the
squatter
has
more
rights
than
a
tenant
with
a
valid
lease.
K
Councilman
OHS
bill
is
a
step
in
the
right
direction
and
hopko
supports
it.
We
applaud
both
councilman
Owen
councilman
Alton
Berger.
In
taking
the
lead
on
such
an
important
issue,
one
minor
request
would
be
to
amend
the
bill
to
allow
the
owner
of
a
property
to
immediately
be
able
to
file
an
expedited
hearing
without
first
going
to
the
police.
There
are
many
situations
where
an
owner
keeps
the
squatter
when
and
where
owner
knows.
K
The
squatter
is
not
going
to
leave
and
requiring
the
police
to
go
to
the
property
before
being
able
to
file
in
court
and
they
may
escalate
the
tension.
Thank
you
for
allowing
me
to
speak
on
this
important
issue
and
I'm
available
for
questions.
I
just
want
to
add
that
personally,
I
have
not
had
a
problem
with
squatters
and
my
ownership
of
properties,
except
for
25
years
ago,
where
literally
it
was
a
disaster.
K
I
owned,
the
property
on
Vine
Street
I
walked
in
and
there
must
have
been
20
people,
lighting
fires,
I
walked,
then
I
got
chased
down,
eventually
the
property
caught
fire
and
we
had
the
demolish
it
and
I
I
think
anybody
got
hurt
or
one
or
anything
like
that.
But
my
experience
is
one
that
I'll
never
forget
from
25
years
ago.
Thank
you
for
allowing
me
to
testify
thank.
R
Name
is
Victor
Pinkney
I
am
first
vice-president
of
Pafko.
Originally
I
was
not
going
to
speak
today,
but
after
hearing
testimony
from
both
sides,
we
all
seem
to
be
after
the
same
thing,
but
one
thing
that
nobody's
addressing
the
time
period
that
it
takes
to
get
a
property
back.
That
means
that's
one
more
house,
that's
Parkers
most
this
takes
place
and
low
to
moderate
income.
Neighborhoods
city
of
Philadelphia
has
a
shortage
of
low
and
moderate
these
decent
housing.
So
now
and
these
squatters,
don't
generally
they
don't
take
the
border.
R
K
Want
to
add,
if
it's
possible,
that
it's
not
an
easy
solution,
and
we
are
not
here
to
advocate
anything
to
City
Council,
we're
here
to
to
accommodate
you
and
to
try
to
come
to
a
solution.
I
know
it's
a
difficult
one,
because
the
police
have
no
way
of
knowing
who
somebody
is
my
leases
are
all
written
leases.
I
know
it's
an
orally
something.
You
know
it
could
be
ambiguous,
so
we're
not
here
advocating
to
throw
this
bill
down
everybody's
throat.
We
would
like
to
see
a
solution
where
benefit
fits.
Everybody
thank.
L
Good
day,
my
name
is
Francis
Rose
subianto
been
a
resident
of
Southwest
Philadelphia
for
the
last
six
years.
I
came
here
also
today
to
testify
I'm
in
support
of
community
gardens
hearing
the
amendment
that
gardens
will
be
emitted
from
the
resolution.
Thank
you,
I'm.
Also,
thank
you
for
hearing
my
testimony
today.
L
First
I
want
to
extend
my
gratitude
for
the
decades
of
work,
research
and
experience
that
went
into
the
last
panels.
Testimonies,
research,
the
research
and
testimony
of
all
witnesses
here
today
truly
much
appreciated
and
concept
council.
Member
again,
thank
you
for
speaking
truth
that
bringing
forward
real
concerns
about
who
is
omitted
from
this
legislation
ought
not
be
attacked
by
a
council
person
as
in
support
of
criminal
behavior.
This
is
your
bill.
The
council
member
Oh
as
you've
stated
many
times.
Please
it
can
be
worded.
L
Twenty-One
years
is
being
overwritten
in
this
policy
there
there
are.
All
that
has
happened
today
is
that
windows
have
been
open
to
show
exactly
how
many
situations
can
be
erroneously
passed
through
this
bill.
No
one
I've
heard
is
offering
testimony
that
this
criminal
behavior
ought
not
be
able
to
be
rectified
efficiently.
L
C
Won't
have
to
make
one
point
of
correction:
we
are
talking
about
civil
procedures,
we're
talking
about
criminal
procedures.
There
are
civil
and
criminal
procedures,
there
are
legitimate
tenants.
There
are
tenants,
there
are
adverse
possessors
that
have
rights
under
the
state
law.
Those
are
all
things
that
we're
talking
about.
C
What
I
will
clarify
is
that
when
we
talk
about
where
I
talk
about
crossing
over
into
defending
or
helping
by
limiting
the
discussion
or
the
bill
in
an
effort
to
protect
low-income
people
into
creating
a
process
that
is
so
obstructionist
and
so
difficult
for
the
lawful
homeowner,
who
has
all
the
evidence
against
someone
who
has
who
occupies
a
building
without
any
evidence
without
paying
rent
with
doing
damage
to
a
building
with
having
broken
into
the
building?
That
is
not
at
this
point
in
time.
Talking
about
protecting
low-income
people.
C
Now,
that's
a
legitimate
discussion
that
we
can
have
well.
The
the
issue
that
I
have
to
correct
is
that,
if
you
want
to
win
an
argument,
you
can
just
change
what
the
person
is
saying.
I've
at
no
time
made
any
accusations
and
to
say
that
I'm
making
accusations
is
incorrect.
I
certainly
appreciate
your
testimony.
I
am
open
to
any
intelligent
offer
of
an
amendment
to
solve
the
solution.
C
I
will
say
this,
however,
that
up
till
today
and
I've
been
office
for
six
years
and
over
the
past
couple
decades,
no
one
has
offered
a
bill
or
an
amendment,
no
one
and
as
much
as
we
are
talking
about
the
possibilities
of
being
overly
broad,
which
I
do
not
see.
I
believe
that
the
homeowners,
the
ones
who
came
and
testified
today
do
need
the
protection
of
the
police
and
the
courts.
C
The
McGee's,
and
so
many
other
people
that
have
spent
over
16
or
14
months
in
this
process,
so
a
bill
in
my
opinion
is
being
offered.
It
can
be
amended,
but
I
don't
want
to
delay
it
for
the
fact
that
someone
doesn't
have
an
idea.
What
to
do.
They
had
an
idea.
They
could
present
it
today,
but
they
don't
because
they
never
thought
about
it.
I
want
it
dealt
with
today
and
we
can
amend
it
later.
Thank
you
so
much
to.
L
M
C
You're
not
incorrect,
let
me
say:
there's
two
matters
here
today:
a
resolution
for
discussion
that
is
councilman
Tom
burgers
resolution
I
offered
a
bill
which
is
very
specific,
which
will
be
voted
on
and
some
people
requested
to
be
held
or
vote.
No
or
you
know
I
request
it
be
voted
yes,
but
they're
kind
of
simultaneously
two
things
going
on
today,
so
I
apologize.
It
may
be
confusing.
We
have
a
hearing
on
kind
of
like
what
are
the
different
points
of
discussion
and
we
have
a
bill.
Two
things:
the.
A
A
S
You
hello,
everyone.
Thank
you
for
allowing
me
to
speak.
My
name
is
Tyrone
Smith
I'm,
the
chairman
founder
CEO,
with
Laura
C
Milner
foundation,
out
of
New
York
I
have
a
property
here
on
a
northeast
side.
Error
I,
think
you
guys
call
it.
Parkwood
I
took
it
over
from
my
grandmother
that
has
dementia
and
she
was,
you
know,
wasn't
in
a
good
state
of
mind,
so
I'm
helping
her
and
but
the
thing
is,
you
know
she.
She
actually
did
go
through
anything
like
this.
My
great
aunt
Alice
Johnson.
S
She
has
a
beautiful,
had
a
beautiful
home,
around
Ithaca
was
23
East,
most
pleasant
and
Germantown
Avenue.
So
as
I
think
David,
a
wandering
councilmember
said
we
were
talking
about
bad
neighborhoods,
and
but
this
was
actually
a
good
neighborhood
and
it
was
the
worst
way
some
people
befriended.
My
great
aunt.
My
great
aunt
has
no
children.
S
I've
been
fighting
for
her
since
I
was
a
little
kid,
so
we've
always
been
close
and
my
family
is
not
really
close
together.
They
don't
believe
in
taking
care
that
elders
and
stuff
like
that,
so
I'm
I'm,
one
of
I'm,
the
one
as
it
always
posted
me.
I
found
people
living
in
my
great
aunt's
home.
She
had
Alzheimer's
I
tried
to
talk
to
my
aunt.
She
would
not
let
me
in
Oh.
Actually
she
would
not.
Let
me
get
her
out
of
that
home.
S
She
was
abused
by
these
people.
She
was
scared.
She
was
physically
and
mentally
abused.
I've
called
the
police
I'm
an
ex-police
officer,
and
so
I
did
everything
I
thought
that
I
could
do
under
the
Rights
of
the
law.
So
I
wouldn't
put
myself.
You
know:
cuz
I'm
furious
she's,
telling
me
that
she's
being
abused
and
she
prevented.
Actually
these
people
was
watching
her.
She
goes
to
the
store,
a
lot
they
befriended
her.
Let
me
carry
your
groceries
in
the
house.
This
is
how,
from
what
I
can
give
once
in
it
was
a
done
deal.
S
They
basically
moved
in
forced
a
way
in
had
fake
documents
printed
up.
That
saying
today
was
her
caretakers
I've
been
through
all
of
that
the
police.
Wouldn't
let
me
get
the
get
these
peoples
ID.
I
was
upset,
I
got
it
anyway,
and
they
said
you
can't
do
that.
I
said
I
need
to
know
who
these
people
are.
So
the
worst
thing
happened.
She
lost
her
home
she's
living
around
the
corner
in
a
nursing
home
matter.
S
Of
fact,
I
was
at
the
you
guys
had
a
festival
in
Cheston
Hill
some
time
ago
and
I
went
to
visit
her
cuz,
it's
in
the
same
neighborhood
almost
and
I
just
I
looked
at
her
and
nobody
fought
for
her.
But
me
nobody,
the
city,
couldn't
help
her.
The
police
can
help
her
and
what
really
hurts
me
is
she
lost
her
home.
She
doesn't
know
she
has
Alzheimer's.
S
She
doesn't
remember
I'm,
the
one.
That's
remembering
everything
you
know,
I'm
the
one
that
remember
what
she
went
through
I'm,
the
one
that
remember
she
was
abused.
She
remembers
nothing
of
nothing
close
to
her
getting
her
out
of
house
and
she
wouldn't
leave
the
house
because
she
was
afraid
to
I
got
I,
think
you
guys
have
a
PCA
or
something
like
that.
Where
do
you
guys
come
out
and
I
tell
them
to?
Please
take
my
grandmother
into
there.
S
Okay,
well,
prior
to
that,
neighbors
called
me
told
me
that
the
lady's,
the
lady,
it
was
a
lady
and
a
gentleman.
They
were
cleaning
out
our
house.
They
took
all
her
expensive
furniture
and
she
had
nice
stuff.
This
lady
were
part
she
worked
hard.
Her
husband
is
a
retired
vet.
He
passed
away.
She
worked
in
the
garment
district
for
years
she's.
You
know:
she's
worked
from
nothing
with
a
5th
grade
education.
She
used
to
pick
cotton
down
in
the
south
when
she
was
a
little
girl.
S
She
got
tired
of
it
left
and
moved
to
Philadelphia,
and
this
is
where
she,
you
know
she
still
she's
91
today
and
you
know
I
try
not
to
get
too
emotional
up
here,
but
I.
Just
don't
understand
like
where
was
the.
Where
is
the
the
love
of
a
senior
citizen
to
help
in
this
time
of
need?
You
know
we
help
our
children.
You
know
if
you
do
anything
wrong
to
a
kid.
S
You're
done
and
I
understand
that
you
know,
but
like
words
to
help
like
when
somebody's
up
in
age
and
they're,
not
thinking
clearly
and
then
I
point
out
to
the
police
officer.
I
was
like
she's,
saying,
she's
being
abused,
the
police
officer
took
her
down
she
and
to
decide,
and
a
police
officer
asked
her.
Are
you
being
abused?
She
says
everything
that
they're
doing
they
did
not
do
anything
and
I
want
to
talk
to
the
supervisor.
The
supervisor
didn't
want
to
talk
to
me.
I
was
so
upset
and
come
on.
S
I've
been
a
police
officer
in
two
great
states,
Oklahoma
and
South
Florida,
and
you
know
I,
just
I
believe
in
justice.
You
know
on
the
campaign
adviser
for
birth,
Grossman
I
mean
I
believe
in
the
law
and
I
believe
in
the
will
to
help
the
people.
I
have
a
foundation
that
I
created
that
that
does
just
that.
You
know
and
I.
Just
don't
understand
why
my
analysis
failed.
She
has
to
be
not
in
her
home,
but
in
a
you
know
in
a
nursing
home,
and
she
has
no
idea
what
happened.
No
idea
and
there's
nothing.
S
I
could
do
so.
Basically,
they
stole
everything
out,
cleaned
it
out
and
then.
Finally,
when
everything
comes
around
and
finally
starts
to
move,
you
know
her
clothes
is
gone.
We
had
to
buy
her
new
clothes.
Everything
is
done,
everything
is
done,
so
I
mean
I'm
with
Councilman.
Oh
I
didn't
know
anything
about
it,
but
his
social
media
is
kicking
pretty
good
and
then
Beth
told
me
about
it.
Grossman
and
so
I
was
like
I
have
to
say
something.
You
know
I
was
born
and
raised
here.
S
You
know,
you
know:
I
am
a
New
Yorker
now
I'm
still
in
Philly,
because
I
take
care
of
my
grandmother
and
then
another
thing,
real
quick.
What
happens?
What
happens?
If
I
take
my
grandmother
on
a
vacation
to
fill
it
excuse
me
to
New
York.
She
always
wanted
to
go
there
and
I'd
say
I'm
gonna
take
her
what
if
I
spent
a
week
there,
people
know
that
area
of
Parkwood
is
this
Mario.
They
know
that
she
lives
alone.
S
What
if
they
break
into
her
home,
do
the
same
thing,
change
them
or
a
difference,
change
the
locks
on
the
doors.
Then
I
come
back.
So
what
a?
What?
What
a
it
makes?
No
sit.
This
is
a
common-sense
thing.
As
a
common-sense
thing.
You
know
my
grandmother
bought
this
house
cash
money
and
now
some
because
I
took
her
away
on
a
vacation.
I
come
back
and
I
got
a
fight
to
get
her
back
in
her
home
this.
That's
all
what,
if
you
know
so,
I
really,
you
know
hope
you
guys
could
come
together.
S
I
respect
for
everyone
up
there
and
especially
David
Oh
cuz
he's
right
he's
addressing
something,
and
this
happened
on
Alice,
maybe
like
I
think
maybe
two
or
three
years
ago
and
I
came
from
New
York
I
stopped
everything.
I
was
so
upset,
I
couldn't
even
dry.
My
on
driving
me
down
here
and
I
could
not
do
nothing.
I
went
back
to
New
York
with
these
people
in
her
home
abusing
her
abusing
her,
and
it
was
nothing
nobody
could
do
not
even
the
law.
S
But
let
me
go
out
here
and
a
senior
citizen
and
Street
non
slapper
slap,
her
person
or
push
them
I'm
going
to
jail,
but
this
lady's
telling
you
she's
been
violated.
They
put
their
hands
on
me.
It
just
happened
not
too
long
ago
before.
Please
help
me
and
I.
Just
look
and
I
ain't
know
when
I
try
said:
listen,
I've
been
in
law
enforcement
long
time,
but
I
saw
tell
you
this.
If
this
was
your
great-aunt
it'll
be
different
and
they
just
looked
at
and
as
somebody.
B
A
S
S
Now,
oh
I've
skipped
that
big
thing
they
sold
the
home
illegally
to
someone
else
got
the
cash
money.
Okay,
the
guy
come
back
and
this
guy
was
a
legitimate
guy.
I,
don't
know
his
name,
but
when
he
found
out
what
was
going
on,
then
finally
the
wheels
started
turning,
but
they
took
the
money
and
they
cleaned
out
her
house.
They
took
her
clothes,
she
had
nice
clothes,
mink
coats,
she
saved
every
penny.
She
had,
she
had.
No
kids
I
mean
you
know,
she's
saved
a
lot
of
money,
and
so
that's
that's
the
outcome.
S
She's
in
a
nursing
home
now-
and
you
know
if
even
if
she
refused
to
let
me
take
her
out
it
at
home,
but
I-
think
law
enforcement
should
it
is
something
to
stop
that
they're
abusing
her
they're
there
physically
and
mentally
abusing
her,
and
nobody
did
nothing.
They
had
these
fake
papers
drawn
up
and
and
I
do
believe
what
councilman
Jim
was
talking
about.
Some
listen
police
officers
are
very
professional,
but
it's
like
some
things
like
you
know,
critical.
S
Some
things
where's
a
lot
more
paperwork
and
like
they
really
don't
understand,
they
do
have
a
lot
on
their
plate,
but
I
do
believe
that
there
are
the
ones
that
could
have
stopped
my
grandmother
from
being
a
victim.
Excuse
me,
my
great
aunt,
Alice
Johnson
from
being
abused,
because
what
if
they
went
too
far,
she
wouldn't
been
91
a
day.
It
would
have
been
on
a
news
clip
and
who
would
have
cared.
But
me,
I
got
a
couple,
other
great
cousins,
that
kind
of
care
and
when
he
wants
you,
you
know.
A
S
Know
just
I
thought
the
only
thing
I
remember
up
I,
remember:
I
did
reports
with
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department
and
I've
called
on
these
people
several
times
they
get
amount.
They
was
not
scared
and
they
look
like
they've
done
this
before
they've
done
this
before
and
that's
the
only
thing.
There's
probably
some
reports,
lingering
I,
don't
know
how
to
get
to
him.
I
guess
you
by
using
my
grandmother's,
address
the
23
eastbound
Pleasant
Avenue.
S
Maybe
it'll
show
something
that
I
was
there
and
I
was
complaining,
but
you
know
so
the
only
thing
I
was
forced
to
do
was
to
go
to
I,
think
you
guys
call
it
can
PCA
or
whoever
the
seniors
they
handle
seniors
and
to
get
her
at
least
added
there.
Let's
say
if
they're
gonna
take
the
house
if
it
was
all
gonna,
go
I
just
want
her
safety,
and
so
that's
what
I
was
thinking
because
I
was
making
so
many
phone
calls.
You
would
not
believe
you
know.
S
So
that's
why
she's
in
a
nursing
home
now
at
least
she's
safe
but
I
would
I
wouldn't
want
this
to
happen
to
anybody
Cheryl,
it's
a
common
sense.
It
seems
like
it's
a
common
sense
thing
and
and
I
know:
I
mean
come
on
up
and
I.
Don't
know
police
have
enough
dealing
with
laws
on
this
and
that,
but
you
know
what
we
can't
ignore
this.
You
know
and
you
know
I
guess:
people's
lives
are
a
state
people's
lives
because
they
could
go
either
way.
You
know
thank
God
that
I'm
a
level-headed
try.
M
S
T
Good
afternoon,
thank
you
for
allowing
me
to
speak.
I
am
presently
going
through
the
situation
with
Scott
squatters.
It
has
been
three
years.
Three
years
ago,
I
was
getting
my
house
renovated
to
move
in
with
my
mother,
who
was
diagnosed
with
dementia.
My
father
had
passed,
I
hadn't
been
there
for
maybe
ten
days
around
the
holidays.
The
work
had
stopped.
The
only
thing
left
to
be
done
on
the
house
was
to
put
pipes
and
we
were
changing
from
copper
to
PVC.
There
was
a
tentative
agreement
of
sale
for
one
hundred.
Ninety
nine
thousand
dollars.
T
I
lost
that
when
I
went
on
the
house
went
to
the
house
to
check
on
it.
There
was
black
material
covering
all
the
windows
they
had.
The
windows
open
with
black
material
I
called
the
police.
There
was
a
woman
in
her
40s
and
a
young
kid.
Maybe
in
his
twenties
she
said
when
the
police
came.
She
said
she
had
a
lease
I
never
got
to
see.
It
was
a
crumpled
piece
of
paper
from
what
I
could
see
the
police
said.
They
couldn't
do
anything.
T
I
said
well,
I
can
get
the
deed
to
my
house
and
it
was
so
obvious
that
didn't
belong
there.
The
back
door
was
kicked
in,
the
other
locks
were
changed,
there
were
air
mattresses
in
the
house,
there
was
no
water,
they
had
gallons
of
water
and
that's
in
the
refrigerator
the
house
smelled
like
a
urinal,
and
there
was
used
condoms
all
throughout
the
house
and
outside
on
the
property.
Now
this
has
been
going
on.
I,
you
know
tried
to
get
them
out
myself.
A
couple
of
times.
T
I
went
like
with
my
family
and
the
police
came
and
said:
I
had
to
leave
that
people
laughed
me
off
and
you
know
they've
been
there,
I
hired
an
attorney
on
March
15th
of
2015,
and
since
then
we
have
been
trying
to
get
them
out.
They
have
stolen
my
identity
utilities,
I
have
a
tenant
of
sale
of
agreement
and
I'm
trying
to
have,
because
the
house
is
up
for
sale
because
I
did
not
pay
the
taxes
which
I
am
and
chaning
to
pay,
but
it
was
pending
the
removal
of
the
squatters
they.
T
You
know:
I
just
got
a
call
again
last
week
that
they
try
to
transfer
funds
into
one
onto
a
credit
card
of
mine,
they've,
compromised
bank
accounts.
I've
went
to
the
postmaster
with
proof
that
mail
had
been
going
there
and
they
had
taken
it.
Basically,
they
said
you
know.
Whoever
is
in
the
house,
has
a
right
to
take
them
out.
There's
a
story
of
the
story:
I
did
the
service
department
I,
believe
did
come
out
and
I
was
not
notified.
T
My
attorney
said
he
got
it
after
the
fact
of
notification,
so
they
got
an
emergency
stay,
which
is
where
we're
at
now.
My
lawyer
file
I
mean
this
has
been
thousands
and
thousands
of
dollars.
My
lawyer
filed
a
writ
for
possession
to
get
it
back
to
stop
this
emergency
stay
so
I'm
waiting
to
hear
what
happens
next.
I,
don't
know
where
else
to
go.
T
I've
made
endless
calls
all
over
the
city,
Ellen
I,
there's
liens
from
the
water
department,
the
PGW
I'd
never
even
know
about
them,
because
they
were
able
to
change
everything
out
of
my
name.
I,
don't
know
how
I
even
went.
We
were
trying
to
find
out
what
was
owed,
so
the
tentative
buyer
would
know
what
to
expect.
I
wasn't
able
to
get
any
information.
They
said
it's
HIPPA
now
I'm
a
pediatric
nurse
I
understand
HIPAA,
but
everything
was
changed
without
my
permission
or
authorization
I,
don't
know
it's
three
years,
I'm
almost
giving
up.
T
You
know,
but
I'm
gonna
lose
everything
over
this
and
I'm
trying
to
stop
the
sheriff
sale
and
my
eternity
sent
the
sale
of
agreement
to
I
believe
mr.
Lola,
the
city
attorney
and
he's
we're
waiting
to
hear
back.
He
said
the
city
is
not
obligated
to
stop
the
sheriff
sale
but
I'm
trying
to
stop
foreclosure
or
service
he'll
pay
the
taxes
and
get
rid
of
the
squatters
and
I
am
at
a
standstill
and
I.
Don't
know
what
else
to
do.
Let.
T
T
As
correct
my
neighbors
are
so
furious,
that's
unacceptable.
It
is
unacceptable,
I'm
afraid
they
only
live.
I
mean
we
live
a
few
blocks
away.
They
know
where
I
live,
they
they
are
not
afraid
and
oh
I
also
detectives
notified
me.
Oh
I
got
us
about
a
year
ago
saying
there
was
a
person
of
interest
living
in
the
house
using
my
address.
T
There's
like
15
different
people.
Using
my
address
they
came,
they
showed
me
pictures
and
they
said
it's
a
group
of
chant
transgenders,
which
does
it
that
doesn't
make
a
difference.
They're
squatter,
so
I
don't
care
what
they
are.
They
said.
I
should
not
go
over
to
the
house
at
all.
They
fear
for
my
safety,
like
do
not
have
any
contact
with
them.
So
I
have
not
been
there.
I
just
heard
all
the
screen
doors.
A
T
R
You
for
give
me
the
chance
to
do
this.
I
know
it's
been
a
long
day.
My
name
is
Phil
Lord
I'm,
the
executive
director
of
the
tenant
union
representative
Network.
We
assist
thousands
of
tenancy
cheer,
we
see
them
in
our
classes
and
at
one-on-one
counseling,
and
we
see
this
problem
from
a
different
viewpoint,
as
you
can
imagine,
first
of
all,
instead
of
context
and
I'll
try
to
be
brief.
Philadelphia
is
on
its
way
to
being
the
eviction
capital
of
the
country.
R
It
has
the
highest
eviction
rate
except
for
Miami,
and
that
means
that
we
put
more
people
out
than
any
other
major
city
around
except
Miami
and
with
this
law,
I'm
convinced
we'll
be
way
ahead.
Everybody
else.
Let
me
tell
you
why,
according
to
Matthew
Desmond,
who
was
a
scholar
on
the
evictions
who
wrote
the
book
on
it,
literally
two-thirds
of
the
evictions
that
take
play
for
sea
vixens
in
the
city,
his
City
Davis,
lagann,
Milwaukee
buddy,
says
this
is
true.
The
country
generally
are
not
going
to
court
right
now.
24,000
cases
are
in
court.
R
R
This
is
going
to
hurt
a
lot
of
people
they're
going
to
go
down
to
the
landlord's,
go
down
the
police
station
say
I
didn't
put
this
person
in,
they
could
have
given
the
person
permission
to
go
into
property
yesterday
and
go
to
the
next
day
down
to
the
police
station
said
I
didn't
do
it
and
persons
on
the
street.
You
may
think
that's
far-fetched,
but
we
see
people.
For
example,
young
women
were
moved
into
properties
and
because
they
won't
provide
sexual
favors.
The
landlord
says
get
out.
R
Okay
get
out
now
the
people
that
were
referred
to
earlier,
who
were
and
I
think
they
were
people
for
a
driller,
came
to
our
office.
Long
after
they
were
in
trouble.
They
were
tenants,
they
came,
they
paid
$4,200
at
somebody.
Craigslist
person
gave
money
moved
in
had
two
little
kids.
What
that
was
their
home.
When
you
get
four
thousand
to
somebody,
you
have
no
money
to
move
anywhere
else.
They
found
the
name
on
Craigslist
they
found
out
later
on,
according
to
people
that
that,
in
fact
they
shouldn't
be
there,
we
told
them
you're
in
trouble.
R
You're
gonna
get
put
even
get
arrested.
There
is
no
one
saying
here
today
that
the
police
can't
arrest
all
the
sad
stories
we've
heard
the
police
can
go
even
after
the
court
case
has
gone
through
Common
Pleas
everything
else.
They
can
still
arrest
those
people
and
lock
them
up.
We're
not
saying
you
shouldn't
do
that.
We
think
you
should
anyone
is
stealing
property
or
abusing
elders
or
or
taking
advantage
of
women
and
doing
sexual
violence.
R
R
This
is
based
on
an
assumption
that
the
police
don't
know
what
they're
doing
I
don't
believe
that,
but
that's
the
rationale
for
this
bill
and
then
it
goes
on
to
say
that
that
there's
going
to
be
a
rebuttable
presumption,
how
in
the
world
can
police
who
are
having
trouble
figuring
out
what
to
do
any
Queen
enforcing
a
criminal
statute,
a
third
degree
misdemeanor,
which
is
called
trespass,
which
is
clear
as
day
if
you're
breaking
their
property,
you
go
to
jail
for
up
to
a
year.
It's
that
simple!
Okay,
it's
not
if
it's
not
complicated.
R
Okay.
How
can
please
so
you're
saying
having
trouble?
Do
that
resolve
property
issues,
title
issues,
issues
around
lease
for
it
and
on
a
street
curb
corner,
okay
and
resolve
that
fairly
and
equitably.
These
things
are
in
court
because
they're
complicated
and
that's
why
and
if
their
lawyers
don't
know
how
to
get
injunctions,
get
people
out
right
away.
That's
their
lawyers
problem.
They
really
know
ways
to
deal
with
this
problem.
R
Police
can
go
in
there
and
arrest
people
and
they
should
be
able
to
do
that
and
we
think,
as
we
support
that,
but
this
law
doesn't
add
a
thing
to
that
power
and
creates
a
lot
of
confusion
around
what's
what's
sibling
was
criminal.
This
that's!
This
law
provides
90
days
in
jail.
You
don't
think
that's
criminal,
then
you
have
different
concept
of
criminal
than
I
have
90
days
in
jail.
If
that
police
officer
says
get
out
48
hours
and
you
don't
you're
in
jail.
What's
not
criminal
about
that?
R
So
let
me
say
this:
you
may
disagree
with
me
and,
like
I
said
I've
seen
I've
seen
the
other
side
I've
seen
like
a
young
couple,
20
in
early
20s
had
two
twins
beautiful
young
couple.
It
gave
all
their
money
to
someone
to
rent
a
property,
and
then
they
found
out
the
person
didn't
own
the
property,
and
now
they
had
to
leave
right
away
of
us
get
arrested.
There
is
nothing
in
this
city
that
enables
a
person
who's
being
tripped
and
coag's
list
to
find
out.
Who
is
the
right
agent
for
the
property?
There's?
R
No,
letting
there's.
No,
there's
no
way
to
find
out
this
person's
talking
to
you
is
real
relationship
with
the
owner,
and
so
you
are
vulnerable
because
there's
no
system
to
being
tripped
and
scammed
that
way-
and
that's
what's
happening
a
lot.
Okay,
but
let
me
say
this
bottom
line
is
this
is
a
this
is
a
complex
problem.
The
resolution
about
this
conversation
says
that
if
you
rush
this
thing
through,
you
can
be
making
a
big
mistake,
because
believe
me,
this
is
complicated,
has
backlash
that
we
can't
even
understand
right
now.
Alright,.
A
Q
My
name
is
marilyn
chicago.
I
represent
the
north
of
Washington
Avenue
coalition.
It's
a
community
organization
I'm
here
today
who
speak
on
behalf
of
squatters
I.
Doubt
there's
a
squatter
in
this
audience.
They
too
probably
have
their
sad
stories
too,
but
you're
not
hearing
them
because
they're
not
hearing
I'm
starting
out
with
a
cartoon
I
saw
and
Mother
Jones
magazine.
Q
Q
Because
you're,
assuming
that
all
these
quadrants
are
people
unemployed,
miscreants,
don't
have
no
job,
not
even
looking
for
a
job,
not
as
homeless
people.
I'll
have
you
to
know,
have
degrees
lost
their
job
because
of
downsizing
lost
their
home
because
the
foreclosure
an
idea
treating
them
like
they
dirt,
because
you
hear
homeowners
complaining,
though,
that
we
got
the
highest
rate
in
terms
of
poverty
the
highest
and
we're
not
even
addressing
that
problem,
giving
very
little
attention
to
it.
So
what
do
these
folks
people
supposed
to?
Do?
You
don't
have
enough
housing?
Q
You
don't
have
enough
places
for
them
to
go
to
stay
so
they're
on
the
street,
so
they
find
a
place.
They
can
stick
not
to
say
his
leg
or
anything
like
that,
because
I'm,
a
homeowner,
so
I
understand
that
perfectly
clear,
but
you
gotta
find
a
problem.
Kicking
them
out
is
not
solving
the
problem,
he's
just
pushing
it
aside
somewhere
else.
Okay,
we
have
unemployment.
Millions
yesterday
had
a
job
before
oh
we're
going
to
create
200,000
jobs.
What
if
200,000
jobs
got
5
million
people
unemployed
at
the
top
in
a
bucket?
Q
And
it's
going
to
increase?
Why
cuz
they've
only
trace
those
robots
and
then
what
are
these
people
gonna
find
a
job?
The
homeless
situation
is
not
going
to
go
down
home
with
this
law.
It's
going
to
get
bigger
and
bigger
and
bigger.
Until
we
come
up
with
something
that's
more
suitable
than
what
you
have
come
up
with:
okay,
you're
you're,
creating
to
me
a
debtors
prison
here
you
want
them
to
pay
a
fine
or
go
to
jail.
Q
Then
got
no
money
to
pay
a
fine,
so
we're
trying
to
keep
them
until
until
you
find
a
fine,
then
what
your
barrel
doing?
That's
what
it
sounds
like.
If
you
ain't
got
no
money
and
you're
suing
these
squatters
can't
afford
to
pay.
You
$300,
I,
think
that's
kind
of
stupid.
To
me.
I
would
be
a
squatter
Pasadena's
on
dollars.
Q
Yes,
there
is
a
criminal
element,
I'm,
not
denying
that,
but
that's
a
small
element
wherever
you
got
people
having
problems,
you're
going
to
find
crime
and
gonna
find
somebody
who's
going
to
exploit
it,
but
don't
blame
the
masses
for
that
exploitation.
It's
like
people
aren't
mafia
one
or
two
people
sit
up
there
and
they
run
away
with
the
welfare
system
and
then
you're
gonna
bring
the
man's,
who
are
honest,
living
people
for
the
possibility
of
a
few
crooked
folks,
okay,
so
this
bill
has
to
have
some
safeguards.
Q
They
don't
have
any
safeguards
for
the
legitimate
people
who
are
sweating:
okay,
you're
giving
people
48
hours
and
give
them
two
business
days,
at
least
if
they
had
two
business
days,
they
can
contact
a
lawyer
or
something
I
think
they'd
be
said
coming
in
on
Friday
and
you
out
on
my
Sunday
that
idiot
in
there
okay,
so
like
I
said
this
is
a
rush
to
judgment.
I
think
the
bill
needs
to
be
more
thought-out
and
that's
why
I
support
the
resolution.
You
need
to
have
more
thought
on
this.
Q
You
know
right
now,
you're
looking
at
expensive
for
the
homeowners.
Okay,
mostly
people
have
homeowners
that
they
can't
afford
the
expense
I
understand
that
nobody
can
I'm
dealing
with
on
it,
but
they're
out
of
the
home
for
the
other
person
expensive
for
the
squadron,
it's
an
incarceration
or
pay
a
bill
that
you
don't
have
the
money
for
and
still
you're
incarcerated.
Okay,
you
have
to
think
this
out
and
a
rush
to
judgment
to
satisfy
all
these
homeowners
is
not
going
to
be
the
answer.
Q
Q
Not
been
solves
and
stuff
like
that,
but
their
problem
has
been
ongoing
for
a
while,
okay
and
you
rushing.
The
pastures
is
not
going
to
create
any
solving
for
the
problem
with
this
man
ready
for
you
here
with
his
mom
or
somebody
else
for
three
years,
bang
on
solve
it
either.
Why
are
you
rushing
this
bills
through?
Okay?
So
don't
act
like
that's
gonna
be
a
panacea,
because
it's
not
so
I.
You
know,
like
you
rush
something
in
you
know
you
you
got
to
back
it
up
and
finish
the
oh
yeah.
Q
R
Name
is
Barry
Thompson
I'm
vice
president
of
the
Philadelphia
tenants,
Union
I'm,
very
sympathetic
to
the
homeowners
in
this
situation,
but
there
the
Vicki
crisis
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
at
the
end
of
the
day,
I
they
meet.
You
think
we
should
step
back
and
take
a
moment
and
look
over
this
bill,
because
at
the
end
of
the
day,
even
there
is
criminal
charges
and
even
after
the
day,
even
after
being
put
in
jail.
R
The
eviction
crisis
is
still
there,
because
the
the
criminal,
whoever
is
still
coming
home,
being
displaced
I
felt
a
little
uncomfortable
with
being
as
a
squatter,
because
I
once
was
a
squatter
and
being
considered
as
a
criminal
was
very
unjust.
For
me,
Tony
my
thing
is
like
the
councilman
I
can't
talk.
Talking.
Berber
is
too
to
come
up
with
the
solution,
because
Squad
has
been
in
effect
in
the
city.
I
felt
awful
for
years.
It
just
didn't
happen.
R
When
you
came
in
office,
you
know
cuz
when
I
was
ready
from
a
squatter,
a
landlord
who
was
squat
in
the
house,
but
the
city
continued
to
give
him
license
to
wind
to
continue
to
rent
property
out
in
the
city,
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
even
after
knowing
that
he
was
doing
things
illegally.
That's
when
the
crisis
came
about
so
me
to
thinking
that
this
bill
should
be
step
back
and
take
a
moment
and
let's
come
up
with
a
resolution
and
for
me
I
think
good
cause
is
the
only
solution
to
this
to
this
problem.
Thank.
J
So
hi,
my
name
is
Stephanie
L
tamari
I'm
here
with
the
Philadelphia
tenants,
Union
mm-hmm,
so
I'm
gonna
keep
it
brief.
First
of
all,
I'd
like
to
say
that
I'm
morally
offended
by
the
language
being
used
today
referring
to
homeless
people
as
criminals
and
people
that
owned
properties
that
they
don't
even
live
in
its
victims
when
the
balance
of
power
is
so
obviously
skewed
at
a
homeowners.
J
This
bill
does
nothing
but
criminalize
homelessness.
You
seek
to
arrest
those
who
are
merely
trying
to
stay
alive
literally,
it
does
nothing
to
attack
the
root
of
the
problem,
which
is
a
lack
of
affordable
housing
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
This
bill
will
only
place
tenants
on
verbal
lease
in
a
more
precarious
situation
as
sir
other
people
have
stated.
This,
though,
merely
serves
the
interests
of
people
to
seek
to
further
gentrify
our
city,
which
will
do
nothing
except
to
swell
the
ranks
of
the
homeless.
J
People
on
our
streets,
whom
I'm
sure
you'll
seek
to
hide
out
of
sight
in
prisons
in
jail
as
a
2015
there
about
25,000,
yeah,
25,000,
abandoned
properties
in
Philadelphia
and
probably
an
equal
amount
of
homeless
people,
they
all
seek
shelter
and
they
all
deserve
shelter.
It's
often
conveniently
forgotten
that
homeless
people
are
citizens
too,
there's
no
reason
those
properties
cannot
be
turned
into
designated,
affordable
housing
rather
than
a
profit
mill
for
developers.
The
only
way
to
solve
the
squatter
crisis
is
to
provide
free
or
affordable
housing
for
all.
Thank
you.
Thank.
F
Councilman,
my
name
is
rule
and
ow
I'm.
The
executive
director
of
the
Fair
Housing
Commission
I,
wasn't
originally
planning
to
testify
today.
But
after
hearing
so
many
compelling
people
speak,
I
wanted
to
make
sure
to
lend
our
voice
as
well
so
I,
the
Fair
Housing
Commission
was
established
to
enforce
9
chapter
9
800
at
the
Philadelphia
Code.
We
deal
with
unfair
rental
practices
in
rental
housing
and
tenants
file
complaints
with
our
office.
F
We
often
see
the
cases
that
don't
go
to
Municipal
Court
and
don't
go
to
that
Court
of
Common
Pleas.
We
see
landlords,
we
see
about
350
cases
a
year.
We
see
landlords
without
licenses,
without
certificates
of
rental
suitability
and
oftentimes.
We
will
also
see
people
who
are
posing
as
landlords
who
do
not
in
fact
own
the
property
but
have
been
receiving
rent
from
tenants
for
years
and
years.
We
see
many
oral
leases,
we
see
many
cash
payments
and
no
receipts.
F
We
see
very
complicated
cases
and
even
though
those
cases
are
complicated
and
it
is
hard
to
establish
a
landlord-tenant
relationship
of
sort,
our
Commission
listens
provides
a
forum
in
order
to
have
some
due
process
to
hear
from
both
sides
and
to
see
whether
or
not
a
relationship
exists.
But
as
the
folks
who
were
just
on
my
panel
said,
this
is
not
a
fast
process.
This
is
a
slow
process
in
which
we
have
to
listen
and
do
our
best
to
see
if
we
can
find
evidence
to
see
which
way
the
cases
go.
F
But
instead
he
chose
to
call
her
squatter
to
try
to
say
that
she
had
no
rights
to
be
in
a
property
to
move
on.
These
are
very,
very
complicated
issues.
Each
case
is
individual
and
specific
on
its
own
and
needs
the
time
for
all
of
us
to
come
together
to
come
up
with
some
answers
and
some
solutions
to
the
problem,
but
absolutely
without
a
rush
to
judgment.
The
mayor,
along
with
you
know,
an
initiatives
sparked
by
Councilwoman
Kim
has
created
an
eviction
task
force
of
which
I
am
a
park.
F
That's
a
great
place
for
us
to
start
looking
at
some
of
these
issues
as
well.
These
are
serious
issues.
There
is
no
doubt
there
are
some
people
who
are
getting
harmed
and
some
people
who
are
getting
scammed
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
but
I
would
really
urge
you
to
vote
to
hold
bill
one
seven,
zero,
eight,
two,
seven
so
that
we
can
have
a
thorough
review
and
much
more
conversation
and
dialogue
about
this
I
can't
thank
Council
enough
for
taking
these
issues
up.
Now,
it's
been
a
long
time.
F
I
spent
10
years
at
community
legal
services
before
my
nine
years
now
at
the
Fair
Housing
Commission.
The
issues
that
have
been
persistent
throughout
the
city
are
finally
getting
the
focus
that
they
deserve,
and
it
includes
us
collectively
trying
to
deal
with
the
problem
of
our
poverty
for
low-income,
tenants
for
a
lack
of
affordability
and
a
lack
of
of
high-quality
housing
in
our
city
and
I.
Think
now
is
the
moment
that
we
can
find
the
solutions
to
their
problems.
Thank.
D
I
just
wanted
to
say
thank
you
again,
miss
Linda
for
the
work
that
you're
doing
that
the
Fair
Housing
Commission
and
just
clarifying
again
that
the
it
looks
like
the
law
department.
I
know.
It's
been
said
before
that
the
police
are
the
determiners
are
on
this,
but
it
looks
like
the
amendment
put
forward
by
the
law.
Department
would
like
to
see
the
Fair
Housing
Commission
also
be
a
significant
determiner
around
whether
properties
are
appropriately
being
handled
and.
F
Absolutely
and
want
to
help
in
any
way,
I
mean
I.
Think
the
law
department
has
done
an
excellent
analysis
of
the
build
in
the
time
that
they
had
the
Fair
Housing
Commission.
We've
got
five
commissioners
who
preside
over
hearings
and
multiple
commissioners
who
are
lawyers.
They
take
their
time.
We
always
have
a
court
reporter
at
our
hearings.
We
are
established
in
a
way
for
many
trials
and
can
handle
these
cases.
Thank.
C
C
Everything
is
transcribed
and
it
is
being
broadcast,
and
there
have
been
statements
made
on
behalf
of
various
people,
the
issues
of
poverty,
poor
education,
those
are
issues
we
deal
with
and
we
address
them.
Evictions
are
certainly
a
simple
problems
that
exist.
However,
solving
them
by
allowing
people
to
live
in
somebody
else's
house
to
break
in
with
impunity
is
not
a
very
good
solution.
C
This
issue
has
been
unaddressed
not
addressed,
and
a
lot
of
the
sympathetic
people
who
I
respect
and
I
appreciate
your
work
are
certainly
not
the
people
who
have
had
their
homes
broken
into
or
their
family
members
abused.
They
are
champions
of
letting
people
live
in
a
house
whether
it's
somebody
else's
house
or
not.
C
This
process
is
long
overdue
and
the
issue
is
I
put
forward
a
solution.
I
don't
know
what
discussion
needs
to
take
place
over
a
very
simple
issue,
breaking
into
a
home,
claiming
to
be
a
tenant
without
any
evidence
of
it
when
the
homeowner
has
the
witnesses,
the
evidence
and
the
documentation
that
this
home
is
not
rented
or
leased
the
police
don't
act
and
I
wish,
as
the
Lord
said,
they
would
arrest
where
arrest
is
needed,
but
then
somebody
will
oppose
that
as
well.
C
C
A
C
A
D
It
doesn't
and
it
subjects
the
city
to
substantial
financial
liability.
In
addition,
none
of
the
amendment
has
been
discussed
with
the
administration
or
the
city
departments
and
commissions
that
have
responsibilities
under
the
bill,
as
provides
to
determine
that
the
provisions
of
any
amendment
are
practical
or
advisable,
nor
the
policy
matters
addressed
in
the
amendment
did
been
discussed
with
the
relevancy
departments
and
offices.
D
A
T
A
C
This
time,
chairman
might
answer
the
Councilwoman
sure.
Yes,
so
I
did
review.
I
did
read
the
city
law
departments.
Memo
I,
don't
find
credibility
in
it
at
all.
Very
similarly,
I
would
say
that
in
the
history
of
our
city,
for
example,
the
law
department
seems
it's
okay
for
the
police
to
enforce
L&I
rules
that
don't
even
have
regulations
that
have
targeted
the
closing
of
Chinese
takeout
restaurants,
96%
I
think
that's
illegal
and
unconstitutional,
but
the
law
department
doesn't
have
much
to
say
about
that.
Stop
and
frisk
is
unconstitutional
and
illegal.
C
The
law
department
didn't
have
much
to
say
about
that
either.
I
think
that
is
a
problem
and
when
it
comes
to
the
core
fundamental
thing
that
the
police
do
and
force
the
criminal
laws
of
which
they're
trained
to
do
the
law
department
says
the
police
are
not
equipped
or
capable
of
doing
that.
I
would
have
to
reject
that.
Thank
you.
D
They
are
also
very
clear
that
in
this
particular
memo
that
they
were
not
consulted
ahead
of
time,
I
think
it's
important
that
anytime
any
bill
gets
substantially
rewritten
that
there
is
some
consultation
with
the
law
department
and
that
they
are
very
clear
that
the
ordinance
could
be
in
violation
of
the
Pennsylvania
landlord-tenant
Act,
which
has
been
in
place
for
over
70
years.
I
believe
and
does
not
provide
adequate
due
process
protections
and
again
subjects
the
city
to
financial
liabilities,
so
they
recommended
eight.
They
have
an
eight-page
mem
five
pages
of
amendments.
C
Respect
your
opinion
and
you're
free
to
do
that.
I
choose
not
to
I,
am
very
comfortable
with
the
law
in
this
area.
I
will
say
that
I
do
disagree
with
the
law
department
at
times,
including
the
fact
that
they
believe
that
the
parking
authority
is
properly
taken
over
by
the
state.
I
have
introduced
bills
to
take
it
back,
I
believe
it's
unconstitutionally
taken
I,
think
the
money
is
improperly
used
and
I've
said
so
time
and
time
again,
but
that
law
of
your
department
disagrees
with
me
on
that.
That
doesn't
stop
me
from
introducing
bills.
C
A
A
C
A
B
A
point
of
order
is
I'm
gonna,
be
very
blunt
and
tell
the
folks
that
are
here
and
anyone
else
it's
listening.
Look
I
saw
two
break-ins
myself,
but
I
also
listened
to
testimony
today,
and
that
was
the
reason
for
this
and
the
reason
we
have
testimony
I
like
the
read
things,
I,
don't
like
to
be
like
some
people
in
Congress
and
say
we'll
read
about
it
after
we
pass
it
well,
I
want
to
read
about
it
before
we
passed,
so
what
the
law
department
has
written
I
want
to
digest.
B
D
Chairman
I'd
also
like
to
make
a
statement.
It
is
also
my
opinion
that
I
will
vote
no
on
this
bill
moving
forward
as
well.
It's
the
housing
committee's
responsibility
to
ensure
that
any
bill
that
moves
forward
is
solid
and
has
the
committee's
fullest
confidence
before
anything.
Miss
Ford,
representative
Taylor,
is
moving
rapidly
on
a
bill
that
gives
us
much-needed
clarity
and
will
done
be
done
by
the
end
of
the
calendar
year.
I
trust
him
to
do
this
and
I
do
not
believe
that
council
needs
to
move
ahead
of
state
law.
That
is
already
in
motion.
D
Department
has
not
sought
their
opinion
on
it
and
is
now
asking
the
committee
to
take
in
to
consider
in
consideration
an
eight
page
memo
with
five
pages
of
amendments
that
really
could
have
and
should
have
been
worked
out
ahead
of
time.
I
look
forward
to
supporting
councilman,
talbin,
burgers
hearings
on
this
and
continuing
for
their
dialogue
and
discussion.
D
A
You
Kelsey.
Well,
nobody
give
you
my
reason
why
segment
of
the
motion,
though
I
feel
for
the
victims,
but
by
the
same
token
I'll
be
very
honest.
I
asked
the
councilman
Oh
to
give
30
days
for
discussion
of
this
and
include
all
the
parties,
but
I
want
to
set
a
deadline
because
I
don't
want
to
be
visit
revisiting
this
in
May
of
next
year
and
hear
more
about
more
people
that
have
been
broken
into
and
squatters
and
so
forth,
so
I'm
in
favor
of
moving
it
forward.
A
But
with
a
30-day
discussion,
I
don't
want
to
be
hearing
about
this
in
February
or
March.
We
need
to
act
on
this
now.
I
need
a
commitment
from
all
the
people
in
this
audience
that
within
30
days,
we're
gonna
get
this
resolved
with
both
councilmen
we're
a
team
I
like
to
see
us
work
with
Councilman
Todd,
burgers
resolution
and
councilman
OHS
bill
together.
We
are
here
together
to
help
everyone
in
this
city.
So,
as
my
colleagues
pointed
out,
that
was
my
reason
for
some
second
emotion:
I'm
not
going
to
vote
for
it,
but
I.
A
Don't
I
want
to
tell
you
that
this
is
important,
I'm
glad
the
councilman
Obrador
forward
and
where
the
councilman
Tom
brought
the
forward.
It's
important.
You
hear
the
victims,
you
heard
what
the
150
days
or
at
somebody
three
years
with
someone
in
their
home.
You
imagine
your
own
home.
You
go
home
and
someone's
in
your
own
home
and
you
can't
get
back
in
for
three
years
unacceptable.
So
I
just
wanted
to
put
that
on
the
record.
Anyway,
it's
been
moved
and
properly
seconded
and
that
bill
number
one
708
to
seven.
A
J
A
Opposed
no
I
believe
it's
four
to
one.
The
noes
have
it
and
the
motion
will
not
carry
and
the
motion
fails,
but
with
the
caveat
I
just
want
to
say,
as
the
Chairman
I
would
like
us
to
come
back
within
30
days,
revisit
the
issue,
all
the
groups
that
testify
with
issues
we
get
it.
We
hear
it
but
wanting
to
meet
with
both
council
people
and
get
this
resolved
and
maybe
jointly
we
can
have
something
that
solves
the
issue.
Thank
you.
Everyone
for
your
time
today.
Thank
you
very
much.