►
Description
The Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and The Homeless of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Monday, June 4, 2018 to hear testimony on the following item:
180430 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, "Criminal and Defiant Trespassers," establishing and clarifying procedures to remove criminal and defiant trespassers from real property, all under certain terms and conditions.
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
is
now
called
to
order.
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
hear
testimony
on
bill
number
1,
804,
3,
0
I
recognize
the
presence
of
a
quorum
of
committee,
members,
members
in
attendance
or
councilman
Cheryl
Parker
to
my
immediate
left,
and
to
my
immediate
right,
councilman,
David,
oh,
and
to
his
immediate
right,
councilman
al
taubenberger.
B
Thank
you
very
much,
mr.
chairman,
when
homeowners
are
confronted
with
trespassers
in
their
homes
and
the
police
do
not
act,
the
homeowners
only
option
is
to
file
in
civil
court.
Homeowners
have
testified,
and
many
many
more
have
reported
that
this
process
takes
month
and
in
some
cases
years
to
finally
remove
the
trespasser.
The
critical
issue
is
time
getting
in
front
of
the
judge
within
5
days.
B
Well,
that
would
resolve
many
problems
at
homeowners
and
those
who
claim
to
have
been
scammed
faced.
This
also
discourages
trespassers
who
are
emboldened
because
they
can
be
in
a
home
for
months
without
any
consequence,
either
criminal
or
civil.
This
bill
not
only
provides
a
remedy
to
this
problem,
but
also
reduces
those
who
choose
to
target
homeowners
as
victims
I'd
like
to
thank
all
the
community
groups
and
civic
organizations
that
have
contacted
my
office
and
I
know
other
council
persons
office
as
well.
B
To
advocate
for
this
bill
the
witnesses
who
have
taken
time
out
of
their
busy
schedules
today
to
testify
and
those
who
wish
to
be
here
but
one
were
unable
and
therefore
have
sent
written
testimony,
I'd
like
to
thank
the
co-sponsors
of
this
bill.
Councilmembers
bobby
heenan,
jamie
blackwell,
Allen,
Dom,
Derrick,
green
Cindy
bass,
Brown
O'neal
and
Councilman.
B
Mark
Squealer
I'd
like
to
thank
councilman
Alton
burger
for
introducing
his
resolution
to
hold
hearings
on
this
matter
and
Councilman
Alan
DOM
for
bringing
all
parties
together
to
discuss
this,
including
the
city
law,
Department,
police
department,
office
of
homeless
services,
community
legal
services,
senior
law
center,
ten
philadelphia,
tenants
Union
among
others
at
this
point
in
time.
I
appreciate
everyone's
attention
to
this
matter
and
we
will
receive
the
testimony.
Thank
you.
C
You
chairman
DOM,
chair
of
this
committee,
I,
want
you
to
know
that
your
commitment
to
finding
a
solution
to
address
this
issue
has
been
well
documented.
The
commitment
that
you've
put
forth
in
the
spirit
and
intent
of
that
I
also
want
to
thank
the
the
sponsor
of
this
bill.
Our
colleague
Councilman
David,
o
for
finding
a
way
from
his
perspective,
to
generate
a
solution
to
this
problem
as
well
and
Councilman
Alta
Bamberger,
who
held
a
hearing
on
this
issue
in
November
and
who
has
also
remain
committed
to
addressing
it.
C
And,
although
I
don't
see
her
here,
I
want
to
thank
council
woman,
Helen
gam,
who
has
also
been
a
vital
voice
in
this
conversation.
And
finally,
I.
Don't
know
if
they
are
here,
but
I
want
to
say
to
the
advocates
at
community
legal
services
to
the
tenants
union
representative
network
turn
to
sing
your
loss
enter
into
the
public
interest
law
center
of
Philadelphia.
I
want
to
say
thank
you
for
your
efforts
to
vet
this
legislation
and
make
sure
that
members
of
council
knew
from
your
perspective
as
the
organizations
that
are
literally
on
the
front
line.
C
Addressing
these
issues,
when
our
Constitution
have
legal
concerns
and
challenges
that
we
as
council
members
can't
offer,
because
we
don't
provide
individual
legal
assistance
to
our
constituents,
we
do
our
best
to
direct
them
to
agencies
that
can
help
them
and
I
can
only
speak
for
the
ninth
counsel,
Matic
district.
To
say
to
you
I
know
you
could
have
a
division
for
the
ninth.
That's
how
much
we
refer
people
to
you.
So
your
opinion
and
perspective
is
important.
C
I
want
to
know
for
the
record
that,
while
respect
councilman,
OHS
effort
to
address
this
problem
legislatively,
the
fact
of
the
matter
is
that
he
and
I
simply
have
philosophical
differences
on
how
we
find
a
resolution
to
this
growing
problem
of
what
is
often
reference
and
I
believe
is
criminal
squatting
in
particular,
I'm
worried
about
and
I
just
want
to
be
real
clear
about
this.
As
you
do
you
all
come
forward
to
testify.
C
I'm
really
concerned
that
the
definition
of
criminal
and
defiant
trespasser
could
lead
to
innocent
victims,
such
as
seniors
being
deemed
criminal
and
potentially
being
penalized
with
a
$300
fine
and/or,
a
90-day
imprisonment
and
I'm
also
concerned
with
the
fact
and
I
will
ask
these
departments
about
this
as
they
come
forward.
Whether
or
not
this
City
Council
of
Philadelphia
does
have
the
power
to
dictate
to
the
Philadelphia,
Police
Department
procedure
and
procedure
for
the
courts
of
the
first
jewel
district.
First
Judicial
District
of
Pennsylvania.
C
So
on
one
hand,
while
I
feel
that
parts
of
this
bill
go
too
far
and
on
the
other
hand,
I
have
concerns
that
parts
of
this
bill
are
not
technically
enforceable
and
so
I
will.
You
know,
as
we
move
forward,
we'll
get
a
chance
to
hear
from
the
people
who
are
testifying.
But
I
want
to
be
very
clear
for
the
benefit
of
the
residents
of
the
ninth
Council
Matic
District,
who
are
watching
and
who
may
not
be
in
this
room.
C
You
know
that
in
Long,
Crest
and
Lawndale
in
Mount,
Airy
in
West,
Oak,
Lane
and
East,
Oak,
Lane
and
Allen,
E
and
Logan.
We
have
dealt
with
this
issue
on
many
occasions
and
when
you
have
come
to
us
to
tell
us
that
you
needed
help,
there
was
no
general
way
or
a
silver
bullet
that
we
had
that
the
city
of
Philadelphia
would
be
able
to
ensure
that
it
was
an
address
with
without
you're
having
to
be
engaged
in
a
long
litigious
process
and
we
did
not
have
a
solution.
C
So
from
that
perspective,
councilman,
oh
I
want
to
say
for
the
record.
I
do
thank
you
for
for
your
efforts
to
put
forth
a
solution,
but
I
also
want
to
note
that
we
have
started
working
to
put
together
a
task
force
to
address
this
issue.
We
do
not
want
to
delay
it,
but
when
we
do
it
we
want
to.
We
want
to
get
it
right.
C
I
don't
want
to
pass
any
legislation,
given
my
constituents,
the
perspective
that
I'm
giving
them
a
solution
to
address
their
problem
and
then
right
after
I
pass
it
and
they
say:
well,
city
council
passed
this
bill.
Let's
say
the
mayor
signed
it,
it
has
become
law
and
then
we
find
out.
You
know
what
you
pass
this
bill.
It
may
be
long,
but
it's
unenforceable.
That's
not
what
I
want
to
do
so.
C
I
know
the
process
is
a
much
more
strenuous
when
you
have
to
sit
down
and
do
the
work
and
bring
people
to
the
table
and
you
vet
a
bill
section
by
section
line
by
line
with
all
of
our
law
enforcement
agencies
from
our
district
attorney
to
the
police
department.
If
we
needed
to
bring
in
the
Sheriff's
Office,
we
need
to
First
Judicial,
District
and
I'm.
C
Sorry
that
I
am
NOT
going
to
be
here
today
advocating
for
what
may
appear
to
be
the
immediate
gotcha
solution
that
we
fix
this
problem
because
I'm
not
giving
my
people
any
false
hope
and
when
we
do
it
and
we
move
forward,
I
want
to
be
sure
that
this
is
the
process
and
that
they
will
have
some
recourse
and
right
now,
I'm,
not
certain
about
that.
So
mr.
Chairman
I.
Thank
you
very
much
for
your
Lee
Wei
I'm.
C
Looking
forward
to
hearing
the
testimony
throughout
this
process,
but
I
didn't
want
in
one
in
my
district
who
is
watching
or
sitting
here
in
this
room
to
be
unclear
or
think
that
there
is
any
gray
area
relative
to
where
Cheryl
Parker
stands
on
this
issue,
I
support
my
colleagues
effort
I
want
to
see
a
solution,
but
I
want
one
that
does
not
have
negative
unintended
consequences
and
one
that
is
wholly
enforceable.
Thank
you.
A
Thank
You
Councilwoman.
Thank
you.
We
have
over
30
people
here
today
to
testify
so
I'd
like
to
ask
everyone
to
hold,
if
possible,
your
comments
to
it.
No
more
than
two
minutes
your
testimony
has
been
received
by
all
of
us.
You
don't
have
to
read
it.
You
can
summarize
it
but
I
like
to
keep
those
boundaries
in
there,
because
I
think
this
room
is
in
demand
and
about
an
hour
two
hours
from
now
so
well,
like
the
clerk
will
now
read
the
title
of
the
bill
being
heard
by
this
committee
to
bill.
D
Number
1-800
for
300
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
criminal
and
defiant
trespassers,
establishing
and
clarifying
procedures
to
remove
criminal
and
defying
trespassers
from
real
property.
All
under
certain
terms
and
conditions.
A
E
Good
morning,
chairman
DOM
and
members
of
the
Committee
on
housing,
neighborhoods
and
development
and
homeless,
my
name
is
Francis
Healy
and
I'm
here,
on
behalf
of
Commissioner
Ross,
to
discuss
bill
number
one,
eight
zero,
three
zero,
which
is
introduced
by
Councilman,
o
first
on
behalf
of
Commissioner
Ross.
Thank
you
for
allowing
the
department
to
voice
its
opinion
on
this
matter,
as
I
mentioned
in
an
earlier
hearing
on
a
similar
bill
several
months
ago,
commissioner,.
E
A
policy
to
address
a
relatively
new
and
emerging
prime
R
offenders
are
illegally
entering
and
occupying
residential
properties.
These
offenders
and
produce
some
indicia
of
ownership
or
tenancy
rights
and
or
fraudulently
rent
these
properties
to
unsuspecting
renters.
These
are
criminals,
they're,
not
homeless,
individuals,
squatting
on
vacant
property.
To
get
out
of
the
elements
we
are
talking
about,
firmly
minded
individuals
who
have
an
express
intent
to
deprive
the
owner
of
his
or
her
property
had
to
use
the
property
to
intentionally
defraud
unsuspecting
victims.
E
The
department
was
initially
I'm,
sorry,
department
policy
was
initially
put
on
hold
with
the
hopes
of
the
Philadelphia
legislation
would
be
forthcoming
to
address
the
problem
when
those
negotiations
fell
through
a
couple
months
ago,
the
department
move
forward,
with
approving
our
new
policy,
to
address
this
emerging
crime
pattern
that
we
were
experiencing.
The
policy
has
been
approved
by
the
police
commissioner,
then
the
process
of
being
implemented
as
we
should
be.
That
said,
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department
supports
the
intent
of
bill
number
one,
eight
zero,
four,
three
zero
and
I'm
happy
to
answer
any
questions.
G
Good
morning
councilman
dom
and
fellow
members
of
the
Housing
Committee,
my
name
is
Mike
Lee
I'm,
the
interim
director
of
legislation
and
government
affairs
for
the
District
Attorney's
Office,
and
we
too
are
very
excited
and
happy
to
be
here
this
morning
to
testify
on
this
very
important
issue
concerning
potentially
all
property
owners
in
Philadelphia
County.
We
are
thankful
that
City
Council
continues
to
work
diligently
to
address
this
issue
from
the
multi-faceted
ways
in
which
it
arises
in
our
community.
G
G
We
are
a
little
concerned
that
there
may
be
double
jeopardy
issues
when
there
are
instances
where
someone
goes
through.
This
expedited
civil
proceeding
pays
a
fine
and
could
preclude
potentially
our
ability
to
prosecute
those
individuals
criminally
for
four
things
that
came
out
of
the
same
fact
pattern.
G
We
are
also
a
little
concerned
about
potential
Miranda
issues,
as
relates
to
when
someone
is
following
this
complaint
originally
and
filing
an
affidavit
that
they
are
aware
that,
speaking
with
an
officer
could
present
some
fifth
amendment
issues
and
that
they
are
properly
informed
of
their
Miranda
rights,
so
that
we
don't
have
to
deal
with
any
suppression
issues
should
it
turn
from
a
civil
to
a
criminal
matter.
Thank
you.
Thank.
A
A
H
Am
president
of
the
homeowners
association
of
Philadelphia,
commonly
known
as
HAP
care,
we
represent
low
and
moderate-income
property
owners.
Pop
goes
membership
consists
only
of
a
single-family
and
duplex
ownership
in
neighborhoods
of
Philadelphia
I
want
to
thank
City,
Councilman,
David
O,
and
when
Tom
and
the
rest
of
the
panel
for
letting
us
come
here
and
voice.
H
Our
support
Philadelphia
has
a
big
problem
with
defiant
trespassers,
who
are
commonly
known
as
squatters
today
when
someone
illegally
moves
into
a
property
and
refuses
to
leave
the
police
are
not
allowed
to
remove
that
person
and
the
owner
is
forced
to
endure
a
long
process.
The
owner
cannot
go
to
Landlord
and
Tenant
court,
because
these
people
are
not
considered
a
tenant.
In
fact,
the
illegal
squatter
has
more
rights
than
the
landlord.
The
tent
popco
applauds
this
bill
and
wishes
to
fix
the
injustice.
This
committee
has
to
pass
with
this
bill.
H
We
also
I
also
want
to
give
an
example
that
a
problem
with
this
bill
is
it
hurts
tenants
legal
tenants,
because
a
legal
tenant
can
rent
from
somebody
or
owns
a
property
at
sheriff,
sale
and
hasn't
yet
gotten
the
deed
or
permission.
They
may
think
they
have
a
lease
they
may
be
in
the
property,
and
that
problem
will
happen
that
the
tenant
may
be
paying
an
illegal
landlord.
H
A
I
I
just
want
to
thank
Council
in
ho
for
allowing
me
to
come
here
today
and
to
address
City
Council
I
didn't
actually
prepare
it
because
I
know
everything
is
from
my
heart,
so
I
kind
of
tried
a
couple
things
I'm
here
really
to
represent.
My
son-in-law,
who
couldn't
come
here
today,
he's
a
lieutenant
for
the
Philadelphia
Fire
Department,
and
my
daughter,
who
is
a
teacher
and
so
I,
have
actually
been
helping
them
to
this
all
ordeal
of
my
son-in-law,
who
it's
taking
a
toll
on
him
and
so
in
order
to
concentrate
on
his
job.
I
I
told
him
that
I
would
try
to
help
in
whatever
way.
I
can
so
give
you
a
little
bit
of
background
before
I
read
a
letter
that
he
wrote
the
judge
that
is
filed
on
that
case
that
we
actually
have
currently
trying
to
get
the
squatter
out.
Okay,
my
son-in-law
was
taking
care
of
his
father
that
had
no
kidneys,
people
can't
live
without
kidneys.
I
I
didn't
even
know
that,
but
he
was
taking
care
his
father
for
months
and
and
so
his
father
actually
passed
away
eventually
and
I
was
very
hurtful
to
him
because
he
wanted
his
father
to
live
so
much
longer.
That's
why
he
decided
that
he
would
allowed
of
the
teeth
put
the
kidneys
out
after
his
father
died.
This
was
very
upsetting
to
him,
so
I
actually
went
with
him
to
clean
that
house
out
and
and
to
see
what
was
there,
but
he
did
not
want
to
disturb
the
house.
I
He
said
it
was
just
too
soon
for
him
to
actually
do
that,
so
he
decided
that
he
would
go
there
every
now
and
then
pick
up
the
Mail's,
because
his
niece
in
law,
which
happens
to
be
my
daughter's
niece,
is
a
single
parent
with
two
little
kids
and
can't
afford
the
rent.
So
we
figured
that
we
would
let
her
when
her
lease
expire
to
move
into
that
building.
I
So
these
people,
because
I
research,
this
a
lot
I,
did
a
lot
of
research
in
it
and
found
that
there
they're
told
to
produce
fraudulent
leads
to
the
police
and
that
the
police
would
say.
Well,
we
don't
know
whether
it's
fraudulent
or
not.
So
anyhow,
my
daughter
spoke
to
her
and
exchanged
some
telephone
number
and
sick.
Please
could
you
go
and
she
said
well,
I'll
leave
it
to
the
month,
so
my
daughter
went
back
call
her.
She
didn't
move,
call
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department,
who
came
over,
took
a
police
report
and
said
well.
I
We
can't
make
her
leave
because
we
don't
know
whether
this
lease
that
she
has
is
as
a
good
lease.
So
then
I
decided
well.
Let
me
get
in
touch
with
my
counselor
and
for
that
area
who
happened
to
be
Kenyatta,
Johnson
I
got
no
help.
That's
the
truth.
No
help
out
of
that.
Oh,
we
sympathize,
but
City
Council
can't
do
nothing.
Why
can't
city
council
do
anything?
No,
we
can't
do
anything.
I
stopped
by
Jamie
Blackwell's
office
she's,
not
in
my
district,
and
they
were
very
sympathetic
and
say.
I
Well,
maybe
you
need
to
try
this
go
to
City
Hall
and
see,
if
they'll,
to
do
the
room
to
68
or
something
like
that,
but
it
wasn't
hard
district.
So
I
got
frustrated
very
frustrated.
I
called
the
DA
office.
The
DA
office
says
we
can't
do
nothing,
I
called
channel
6
and
10,
and
they
said
we
just
did
a
big
report
on
this.
We
can't
do
anything
anymore.
I
I
went
online
and
I
spent
hours
trying
to
figure
out
what
did
some
people
do
to
get
these
squatters
out
of
there
and
still
didn't
get
I
was
a
debt.
It
was
a
dead
end
with
every
single
thing
that
hours
that
I've
spent
trying
to
help
my
son-in-law,
because
we
noticed
the
effect
that
this
thing
was
taking
on
him.
So
eventually,
I
went
to
council
house
office
who
told
me
about
because
he
said
he
can
advise
me
what
to
do,
but
I
could
go
and
and
file
to
have
this
squatter
evicted,
so
I
went
down.
I
There
filled
out
the
forum,
they
told
me
it
would
take
30
days
and
20
days
and
then,
if
they
didn't
respond
and
then
we
filed
a
writ
for
possession
and
I
said
well,
we
could
live
with
30
days.
We've
been
living
with
this
tenant,
this
squatter
and
there
since
October
of
last
year
and
and
so
I,
said
well
30
days.
It's
not
that
long
I
can
live
with
that.
So
then
I
we
went
and
I
got
my
son-in-law
to
come.
I
Who
is
the
executor
of
the
estate
to
come
and
foul
that
play
it
took
30
days
and
we
still
didn't
get
anywhere
we're
into
June
right
now?
You
could
take
the
frustration
I've
been
to
that
depart
in
so
many
times.
I
said:
can
you
please
is
there
something
you
could
help
me?
This
is
affecting
my
son-in-law.
You
need
to
go
to
John
he's
a
city
employee,
you
know
my
daughter
is
a
city
employee
and
they
can't
even
get
any
help.
I
What
can
you
imagine
that
someone
doesn't
work
for
the
city
of
Philadelphia
cannot
even
get
any
help
at
all,
not
just
a
person
who's
working.
So
we
went
to
this
process.
We
are
waiting
on
the
judge
to
see
what
happens.
We
did
everything
they
tell
us
to.
Do.
We
fill
out
the
for
our
return
receipt
make
sure
she
signed
for
it.
She
got
it.
I
Can
you
imagine
anyone
in
city
council
that
has
a
property
paying
a
mortgage
on
a
property
and
a
squatter
has
more
rights
to
that
property
than
the
person
who
is
paying
it?
This
is
hard
because
my
satellites
pay
the
mortgage
of
almost
$2,000
a
month
and
still
pulling
a
more
for
all
these
months
and
a
squatters
in
there.
When
my
daughter
talked
to
her
try
to
be
nice
to
her,
she
said
you
know.
I'll
leave
to
borrow,
go,
bring
me
some
money.
My
daughter
said
we
are
not
landlord.
We
can't
take
money
from
you.
I
I
This
is
the
person
rap
sheet.
This
is
my
rap
sheet
right
now,
there's
an
arrest
warrant
for
her
we're
not
asking
for
that
arrest
word
to
be
to
be
on
thing,
because
we
don't
want
to
not
ask
why
to
get
in
there,
because
the
judge
wasn't
ruled.
When
we
asked
again
kid
the
judge
ruled
my
my
son-in-law
sent
him
a
letter
begging
him
please,
this
is
affecting
me.
Can
you
please
sign
this,
and
you
know
the
judge
did
not
sign
it.
I
He
denies
the
possession
deny
us
if
we
gave
him
all
the
paperwork
to
show
that
we're
entitled
to
that
golden.
He
deny
us
that
we're
at
the
point
right
now,
where
we're
totally
exhausted
I,
know
Kosovan
whole
office.
Diana
has
been
trying
to
help
me
to
go
through
this
and
said.
You
know
weird.
A
little
bit.
Councilman
hole
is
trying
to
help
I
said,
but
all
along
my
son-in-law
son
gotta
go
to
college.
You
gotta
pay
that
he's
paying
his
mortgage
and
paying
a
mortgage
for
a
tent
for
a
squatter
to
live
there.
I
This
is
the
latter.
It's
unfair
for
our
very
proud
of
the
judge
to
try
to
get
itself
I'm
gonna.
Try
to
read
this
I.
Have
a
bed
I
had
to
surgery
for
my
rector,
so
I'm,
seated,
only
with
one
eye
right
now
so
I'm
doing
the
best
I
can,
and
he
said
your
honor.
When
my
father
Robert
McNeel
ii,
died.
Last
year,
I
became
the
owner
of
21:20
cemetery
avenue,
with
both
of
my
parents
scoring
I
needed
time
to
grieve
and
to
choose
not
to
pack
up
their
belongings
right
away.
I
However,
I
did
stop
by
free
could
be
the
check
on
the
house
in
between
one
of
my
visit,
Kenya
Gillard
broke
into
the
house
and
began
living
there
when
I
informed
her
that
she
had
to
leave.
She
refused
to
do
so.
Not
only
has
she
moved
her
belongings
in
she,
but
she
also
changed
some
of
the
utilities
in
her
name.
That's
another
thing:
The
Electric
Company,
don't
care
about
who
is
the
owner
of
the
house
that
put
the
electric
car?
They
don't
care.
I
I
He
says
I'm
not
able
to
access
the
house,
so
I
don't
know
what
she
did
with
my
father's
furniture,
clothes,
confidential
papers,
mail,
identification,
pictures
and
other
items
which
hold
sentimental
value
for
my
family
and
I
I
also
do
not
know
what
condition
else
is
in
while
I
wait
for
this
situation
to
be
resolved.
I
have
to
continue
paying
my
father's
mortgage
utilities
and
other
expenses.
This
includes
and
miss
killer
excessive
use
of
water
each
month.
I
A
I
J
Good
morning,
chairman
members
of
the
committee,
my
name
is
Joseph
Frey
I
am
the
president
of
the
Greater
Philadelphia
Association
Realtors,
with
more
than
2,500
members.
We
have
served
as
the
voice
of
real
estate
since
1908,
we
advocate
to
protect
the
rights
of
property,
private
property
owners.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
regarding
bill
number
one:
eight
zero.
Four:
three
zero
Chairman
dom
councilman
owe
their
staff.
J
Sorry,
the
thought
of
your
Police
Department
and
the
District
Attorney's
Office
for
working
with
us
on
this
issue
since
2016.
They
have
thoughtfully,
listened
to
our
concerns
about
squatting
and
have
worked
together
towards
finding
problem-solving
measures.
Squatters
are
people
who
illegally
move
into
homes
without
permission
of
the
owner.
Today
we
ask
the
committee
for
help
to
protect
property,
a
property
right
property,
homeowners,
homeowners
and
and
not
squatters.
We
recognize
that
sometimes
people
are
victims
of
schemes.
J
We
also
know
that
most
squatters
are
complicit
in
their
legal
legal
activity,
refused
to
vacate
and
know
exactly
what
they
are
doing.
The
owner
is
victimized.
They
go
through
an
expensive,
tedious
process
being
denied
of
their
rights
to
access
or
sell
their
home.
A
survey
of
our
members
Illustrated
that
squatting
is
rampant
and
no
neighborhood
is
immune.
Members
have
relayed
stories
to
us
about
encountering
squatters.
These
interactions
put
our
members
and
clients
into
unsafe
situations.
J
The
only
recourse
is
to
contact
the
police,
who
have
limited
capacity
I
offer
a
few
brief
stories
on
the
sale
of
one
home.
A
final
walkthrough
was
scheduled
the
morning
of
settlement.
The
agent
and
homebuyer
were
greeted
by
squatters.
The
sale
could
not
take
place.
The
first
time
homebuyer
could
not
move
into
a
new
home
lost
their
inspection
fee
appraisal
fees.
The
hum-hum
seller
lost
a
sale
and
suit
a
nine-month.
Ejectment
process
made
repairs
clause
by
the
squatter
relisted.
It
sold
it
again
to
another
buyer.
J
Only
to
have
the
same
thing
occur:
the
squatter
tied
up
the
home
for
two
years.
Other
homes
have
been
left
stripped
of
copper
appliances,
plumbing
wiring
defecated
throughout
urinated
throughout
and
drug
activities.
Another
incident
near
my
own
have
the
squatter
pulled
out
an
obvious
fake
lease,
let
and
laughed
and
mocked
at
the
police
officer.
Knowing
nothing
could
be
done.
Gpr
supports
the
remedies
under
consideration
by
this
committee.
Council
should
also
consider
training
and
education
to
give
the
right
tools
to
the
proper
authorities
to
combat
this
dangerous,
costly
and
time-consuming
problem
created
by
squatting.
J
A
K
K
J
K
J
In
my
testimony,
I
just
told
you
about
the
story
at
a
property
right
near
my
my
own,
my
own
house,
and
where
it
was
again
right
before
settlement,
they
moved
they
moved
in
I,
don't
they
had
to
actually
cut
a
deal
with
the
with
the
squatters
again.
This
is
that
they
knew
exactly
what
they
were
doing,
because
they
they
settled
on
an
amount
to
move
out
and
it
just
like,
and.
J
K
A
Chairman,
thank
you.
Thank
You,
councilman,
toll
program.
I
do
have
a
question
two
questions
actually
well.
Actually,
once
the
statement
wants
a
question:
councilman
Tovar
I
have
a
list
from
a
Rosie
and
Connor.
It's
in
our
folder
there's
53
properties,
just
in
her
area
that
have
had
this
issue
I'm
happy
to
give
you
this
list,
miss
Singlish
I,
just
had
a
question
just
to
clarify
how
long
has
the
squatter
been
in
your?
Is
it
your
son-in-law?
How
long
has
it
been
in
that
home.
I
I
A
H
I
tried
to
summarize
as
much
as
I
could
and
I
just
want
to
say
good
morning
and
to
chairman
Tom
and
the
committee
members.
Thank
you
for
the
privilege
and
the
opportunity
to
address
this
committee
in
the
matter
of
public
safety
and
equity.
As
a
law-abiding
homeowner
in
Philadelphia
I.
Look
to
my
government
to
secure
my
safety
in
the
environment
in
which
I
live
and
to
receive
justice
when
I'm
wrong.
As
stated
my
name
is
Patrick.
H
Also
I
am
65
years
and
I
lived
in
the
Taccone
area
since
2006
after
much
consideration
their
perspective
of
the
crime
rate.
At
that
time,
I
chose
to
make
Philadelphia
my
home
and
to
make
an
investment
investment
in
Philadelphia
I
purchased
my
home
in
2012,
so
I'm
on
the
calendar,
as
a
member
of
the
Taccone
town
watch
I'm
here
today
to
testify
as
an
individual
and
to
relay
the
stories
of
two
friends
whose
properties
were
taken
over
by
trespassers
concerning
the
criminal
and
defiant
trespassers
built
before
this
committee.
H
How
would
you
feel
if
it
took
three
or
more
months
and
much
money
to
remove
them
from
the
property
I'm
sure
that
none
of
you
would
think
the
intruders
deserve
to
occupy
the
house
because
they
were
impoverished
or
because
they
stated
that
they
were
renters
when
indeed
they
weren't
and
having
the
trespassers
words
taken
over
were
above
that
of
your
parents
or
grandparents?
You
would
probably
feel
violated,
and
quite
angry
at
the
intruders,
and
even
more
so
at
city
government,
for
inadequately
protecting
your
rights
as
homeowners.
H
Mrs.
Fleming's
is
one
of
the
friends
whose
property
was
taken
over
at
the
age
of
76.
This
was
maybe
four
years
ago
it
took
nearly
a
year
to
get
them
out
during
the
process
of
getting
getting
them
out
of
the
property
they
trashed
and
they
stripped
the
property
after
the
eviction
she
had
the
property
secured,
but
other
trespassers
broke
in
and
took
up
residency
again.
It
took
more
than
six
months
to
get
them
out.
How
could
such
a
thing
happen
because
of
inadequate
protections
and
misinformation?
H
The
second
friend
Jacqueline
Wilson,
was
one
of
those
whose
mother
passed
away
on
a
mortgage
on
her
property
Jackie
hired
a
real
estate
agency
to
sell
her
property,
while
I
was
up
for
sale.
A
trespasser
entered
the
house,
Jackie
called
the
police
police
officers
arrived
at
the
house
and
was
told
that
the
trespasser
stayed.
H
I'm
not
leaving
I'm
claiming
squatter's
rights,
because
the
officer
didn't
know
any
better.
Jackie
was
told
to
go
to
the
ejection
office,
which
he
did
but
was
told,
since
the
property
was
not
in
her
name.
She
couldn't
do
anything
at
the
time
after
the
title
of
the
property
was
transferred
to
a
key
start
procedures,
which
was
in
February
2017
to
get
the
trespasser
out
of
the
property.
Jackie
said
no
one
would
buy
the
property
while
the
trespassers
were
still
in
the
location
on
location.
H
H
Had
an
incorrect
address
to
send
mortgage
notifications,
her
property
went
into
default
and
went
to
sheriff's
sale
without
her
notification
according
to
Jackie
the
last
day
that
she
received
judgment
in
her
favor
to
have
them
evicted.
Her
house
went
up
for
sheriff
sale
so
now
she's
dealing
with
trespassers
who
owned
her
house,
and
now
she
has
to
deal
with
the
mortgage
company
in
regards
to
it.
Many
people
I
spoke
with
about
the
situation
said
they
would
actually
go
into
the
house
and
shoot
the
people,
call
the
police
and
say
trespassers
were
in
my
house.
H
You
have
an
opportunity
to
prevent
such
tragedies
from
happening
to
other
law-abiding
homeowners
and
property
owners.
So
I
plead
with
this
committee,
my
representatives,
to
do
what
is
good
and
equitable
and
to
prevent
such
trauma
from
occurring
to
me
and
other
law-abiding
home
property
owners
in
Philadelphia
by
saying
yes,
the
bill
1-800
for
three:
oh,
the
criminal
and
defiant
trespasser
bill.
Thank.
L
Mary
Jo
Potts
from
elf
on
twisted
hick
and
Realtors
I've
been
an
agent
in
Philadelphia
for
over
30
years,
I
specialized
in
selling
primarily
vacant
properties.
Over
the
past
two
years
there
has
been
a
rash
of
unauthorized
persons
moving
into
these
properties,
now
keep
in
mind
a
lot
of
these
property
or
rehabbed
and
have
had
thousands
of
dollars
spent
on
them,
walk
up
to
the
property
one
day
and
there's
somebody
in
there.
They
have
a
fake
lease,
so
we
can't
do
anything
about
it.
L
They
extort
money
and
we're
not
talking
about
a
thousand
dollars
for
cash.
Our
keys
they're
saying,
if
you
give
me
five
thousand
ten
thousand
belief
and
then
we're
going
to
move
on
to
the
next
property.
Just
this
past
Friday,
we
walked
up
to
a
house
and
there
was
a
pitbull
in
it.
This
was
a
vacant
house.
The
pitbull
almost
attacked
another
agent.
Our
safety
is
at
risk,
and
not
only
more
so.
The
people
who
rightfully
owned
these
houses
do
not
have
any
rights
when
a
stranger
can
move
into
your
house
at
any
given
time.
L
I
just
don't
understand
that
you
guys
could
go
on
vacation.
Somebody
could
move
into
your
house,
it's
it's
just
not
fair.
It
has
an
impact
on
the
economy.
It
has
an
impact
on
people
who
actually
want
to
purchase
in
Philadelphia.
Something
has
to
be
done.
There
has
to
be
a
quicker
resolution
than
sitting
in
eviction
for
a
year
why
this
person
destroys
your
property,
runs
up
exorbitant
bills
that
you
have
to
reconcile
once
you
get
possession
again
so
I
urge
you
to
pass
this
bill.
We
need
a
resolution
to
this.
L
I
can
give
you
more
examples.
I
had
another
house
where
they
were
in
there
for
a
little
while
go
for
our
weekly
inspection
and
all
the
windows
are
gone,
that
beautiful
rehabbed
house
had
feces
all
over
the
walls,
the
plumbing
stolen,
the
heater
stolen
cost,
our
clients,
thousands
and
thousands
of
dollars
to
restore
it
again.
A
H
N
Having
nothing
but
Department
on
our
backs,
no
possessions,
no
clothes,
no,
nothing!
So,
on
behalf
of
all
the
residents
of
West
pound
and
Saunders
Park,
we
urge
Council
to
find
a
solution
to
this
problem.
If
this
bill
is
not
quite
what's
needed,
there
has
to
be
a
solution,
so
people
can
be
secure
in
their
homes.
Thank
you
for
your
time.
Thank.
O
The
squatters
they
have
been
living
in
the
property
for
a
year
now
the
house
was
actually
foreclosed
on
by
the
time
this
the
seller
got
to
purchase
the
home.
The
squatters
had
already
moved
in
I've
tried
to
contact
the
bank
to
get
the
name
of
the
owner,
but
the
city
of
Philadelphia
took
forever
to
list
the
property
owner
on
the
internet,
so
it
took
me
months
to
get
to
him
by
the
time
I
got
to
the
owner.
The
squatters
had
already
moved
in
these
Squires
have
illegally
turned
on
our
electricity.
O
I
Piko
have
been
out
to
the
property
at
least
six
times
to
turn
the
electricity
off.
They
have
went
into
the
box
Jimmy
the
Box
opened,
which
can
cause
a
fire.
My
house
is
directly
next
door
to
this.
I
have
have
went
down
and
got
license
to
carry
a
firearm
and
I
have
gotten
surveillance
cameras
I
have
to
feel
like
I'm
living
in
a
prison,
because
I
have
people
next
door
who
do
not
belong.
There.
O
I've
talked
to
people
in
your
office,
councilman
diamond,
and
they
have
gave
me
information
to
pass
on
to
the
property
owner
which
I
did
he's
in
the
process
of
filing
an
ejectment.
He
spent
thousands
of
dollars
with
his
attorney
to
file
this,
and
yet
we
still
don't
have
a
court
date.
I
think
this
is
ridiculous.
It's
affecting
me,
I
am
a
property
owner.
O
I
have
lived
in
my
home
for
11
years,
and
I
should
not
have
to
live
next
door
to
this,
where
it
can
be
potentially
harm,
not
for
just
for
me,
but
the
rest
of
the
block
if
they
start
a
fire
because
they
turned
on
all
the
utilities
illegally.
So
I
urge
you
all
please
to
pass
this
bill.
It's
very
important.
O
A
P
P
P
P
P
P
She
knew
she,
wouldn't
they
or
she
didn't
she.
So
I
called
the
policeman
they
come
in.
Take
hold
halt.
She
not
answer,
and
after
that
happened
two
three
days
later,
Union
presentation,
woman
from
the
Kenyan
rice
opus,
called
me.
He
she
screamed
to
me
what
I
did
I
didn't
do
nothing.
I
did
not
commit
crime,
so
I
spent
I.
Hang
up
and
then
I
sent
a
letter
to
mail.
P
P
Nobody
stayed
just
wait,
wait,
so
they
are
3/4
hundred
the
South
Broad
Street.
So
I
went
there
things
of
all
you,
you
don't
have
any
delayed
till
you
do
research
talent,
so
you
could
go
to
Chester
Street
14,
something
like
putting
something
you
know
so
I
went
there
all
you
had
a
long
place,
go
to
senior,
so
fine
I
went
to
see
the
old
noon,
to
96,
I.
Think
and
then
I
try
feet
up
though.
P
P
He
gets
shown
something
like
that
and
then
he
said
it
is
nothing.
You
have
to
weigh
so
I
came
here
to
the
power
say:
Paco
or
pizza.
I
want
to
talk
to
Tyson
from
college,
say
Papa's
office.
She
called
me.
Let
me
try
her
for
you,
I
net
you
know,
but
she
never
called
so.
I
came
then
my
husband
to
me
thank
him
about
me.
Let
me
go
to
nach
Hause
a
David
Ortiz,
so
we
went
there.
We
saw
Opie's
people,
they
don't
do
nothing.
P
A
P
It
was
attend
myself
path
and
we
saw
how
out
September,
22
1917,
but
furniture
just
stayed
there.
Everyone
stay,
don't
touch,
it
don't
go
there.
So
we
can
go
anything
so
February,
17,
1920
via
police.
It
came
stay.
There,
I
stayed
there.
She
move
out
furniture
that
wouldn't
happen.
I
mean
now
commit
the
crime
crime.
P
P
P
A
Okay,
thank
you
for
your
testimony.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
I
like
to
recognize
at
this
point.
Councilman
Helen
game
who's
joined
us
Councilwoman
and
also
council
majority
leader,
Bobby
Heenan,
Emma
I.
Think
I
failed
to
recognize
them
to
my
immediate
right.
So
let's
go
with
the
next
panel.
Next
testimony.
Q
On
the
private
citizen,
Thank
You,
chairman
DOM,
Thank
You,
councilman
l.
Thank
you.
A
fellow
committee
members.
Try
to
keep
this
brief
in
to
the
point
again.
My
name
is
Martin
ward
I
grew
up
in
the
Mayfair
section
of
Philadelphia.
In
my
parents,
home
after
my
parents
passed
away,
I
became
the
executive,
their
estate
and
caretaker
for
their
now
vacant.
Home
I
was
preparing
the
house
for
sale
to
an
interested.
Buyer
I
actually
had
that
buyer
with
me
on
Tuesday
evening
August
the
22nd
2017.
Q
When
we
got
we
attempted
to
enter
the
house
on
that
date,
I
realized
the
house
was
occupied,
I
could
not
gain
access
because
the
locks
have
been
changed
and
there
was
actually
a
window
unit,
air
conditioner
and
in
the
the
residence
that
was
in
operation.
I
later
learned
that
the
the
couple
who
made
illegal
entry
into
that
house
that
occurred
sometime
during
the
weekend
of
August
19,
the
20th
2017
on
August,
the
22nd
2017
I
immediately
contacted
the
police
with
the
prospective
buyer
there.
Q
Q
Basically,
we
went
around
the
rear
of
the
home.
We,
it
was
obvious
that
the
police,
it
was
obvious
to
me
and
the
police
that
the
rear
door
was
tampered
with
and
it
showed
signs
of
forced
entry
upon
the
police
upon
my
authorization
said
if
you're,
if
you
authorize
this,
we
will
enter
the
property
and
we'll
see.
Q
What's
going
on
here,
I
gave
my
authorization
they
forcibly
open
the
rear
door,
which
was
already
already
showed
evidence
of
tampering
when
he
enter
the
property
they
were
met
by
occupants
who
basically,
they
questioned
the
occupants
produced
a
four-page,
a
lease
agreement
that
did
not
even
remotely
contain
any
of
the
required
clauses
that
you
all
know
we're
required
to
basically
rent
property
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
such
as
laid
paint
such
as
housing,
suitability
and
all
the
other
city
audiences.
To
go
with
it.
Q
They
were
unable
to
give
police
a
phone
number
of
the
landlord,
the
the
fictitious
landlord
they
were
unable
to
give
to.
Please
any
other
information.
The
police
took
myself
and
the
occupants
to
the
police
district
northeast
detective
headquarters.
We
filled
out
a
police
report
basically
and
the
police
privately.
The
detective
assigned
said
privately
there's
not
much.
We
can
do
here.
This
is
more
of
a
civil
matter,
not
a
criminal
matter.
I
granted
there
looks
like
there's
potentially
forced
entry,
but
we
can't
do
much
more
than
that.
Q
I
have
all
this
documentation
I'm
going
to
leave
it
here,
copy
of
the
fictitious
lease
agreement
copy
the
police
and
it's
an
incident
report.
So
again,
just
to
summarize
so,
despite
my
mother's
deep
proof
of
ownership,
the
police
felt
they
could
do
nothing
here.
I
consider
this
a
civil
matter,
an
email,
traffic
correspondence
with
the
assigned
detective
and
I'll
quote,
he
said:
hey
Mart
and
I
left
a
few,
discouraging
voicemails
with
the
occupant.
Q
Hopefully
he
realizes
it's
in
his
best
interest
to
move
on
this
is
the
police
detective
Brzezinski
from
the
northeast
detectives,
15th
district
to
summarize,
because
they
broke
in
unexpectedly
I.
Could
not
turn
off
the
utilities,
including
gas,
water
and
electric,
moreover,
I
paid
for
the
course
of
those
utilities
out
of
pocket,
I
pay
for
the
cost
of
the
other
real
estate
taxes
to
ensure
the
property
was
legally
basically
up
in
compliance
with
the
real
estate
I
paid
for
every
other
fee
that
was
associated
with
the
house.
Q
The
outside
maintenance,
the
lawn
care,
the
snow
removal
and
to
make
matters
were
worse.
The
two
residents
who
lived
in
either
side
of
the
property
that
I've
known
since
I've
been
growing
up.
Those
individuals
who
have
my
contact
information
would
correspond
with
me
via
text
messages
and
to
show
you
how
egregious
this
situation
is
one
of
the
occupants
in
the
neighboring
property-
and
this
is
a
row
home
middle
of
the
block.
Raoul
said:
hey
Martin.
Could
you
believe
this?
Q
The
occupants
are
having
a
mattress
and
a
refrigerator
delivered
and
here's
protects
pictures
which
I
have
on
my
phone,
which
I
can
leave
with
you
text
pictures
of
a
mattress
and
a
refrigerator
being
delivered
to
a
property
that
they
illegally
occupy?
Does
it
get
more
egregious
than
that?
So,
lastly,
the
prospective
buyer
obviously
went
away.
I
was
unable
to
gain
access
and
show
the
property
to
anybody
else.
After
going
through
the
court
process
and
engaging
mr.
Q
wall
here,
an
attorney
to
go
through
the
court
process,
it
was
the
spring
before
I
actually
got
a
court
order
to
evict
these
individuals
into
filing
all
the
legal
requirements
again
during
the
periods
of
occupancy.
This
was
March
in
2017,
when
a
formal
notice
for
the
sheriff's
department
was
pasted
to
the
door
of
the
property
and
they
moved
out.
The
sheriff's
was
going
to
evict
them
on
Monday
May,
the
12th
they
left
that
weekend
and
the
reason
I
know.
Q
That
is
because
the
residents
on
both
sides
of
that
property
basically
told
me
via
text
message
that
they
had
just
moved
out
so
again
during
periods
of
occupancy,
the
residents
were
complaining
to
me:
I
had
no
control
of
loud
noise
and
what
they
described
as
bad
and
possibly
criminal
behavior
demonstrated
by
the
people
who
live
there
again.
I
appreciate
the
your
ordinance
for
criminal
trespass
gives
the
police
more
authority
to
investigate,
wrecks
and
recommends
an
expedited
court
hearing.
Q
And
lastly,
just
put
a
make
a
final
point:
this
affects
not
only
the
individuals,
the
legal
owners
of
the
property,
it
affects
the
city
in
general,
it
affects
the
safety
and
well-being
of
the
residents
law.
Abiding
citizens,
city
of
Philadelphia,
affects
the
quality
of
life
of
the
community
at
large,
fix
the
neighbors
who
would
join
these
vacant
properties,
and
it
affects
your
constituents
and
it's
growing
mounting
rampant
problem,
and
it's
not
going
away
and
basically
there's
no
legislation,
that's
perfect.
Absolutely
everybody
circumstances
are
different.
Q
A
F
I
find
your
comment
about
having
a
task
force
is
irrelevant
and
will
not
do
anything
because
I
hold
you
know
what
we
do
is
as
a
as
a
body
here
as
we
determine
what
policies
you
know
we
said
for
our
communities
or
in
their
best
interests,
so
understand
your
frustration
and
know
that
it
is,
you
know,
a
significant
issue
and
problem
moving
forward.
All
right,
but
I
think
what
we
do
when
it
comes
to
committees
and
task
force
and
and
bringing
stakeholders
together,
is
extremely
important
to
address
the
issues
that
you
described.
F
But
I
would
think
that
you
would
hope
and
would
want
a
task
force
on
this
issue.
Moving
forward,
as
opposed
to
saying
it'll.
Do
nothing
so
I
just
want
to
state
that
for
the
record,
all
right
and
hope
that
you
would
understand
and
reconsider-
and
you
know
if
I
would
assume
that
you
just
you-
know
kind
of
kind
of
just
got
caught
up
in
the
emotion.
But
we
hear
you
thank
you
just.
Q
To
respond
to
the
council,
but
I
didn't
say
it
was
irrelevant
and
I
think
it's
always
good
to
study
an
issue
or
a
problem,
make
sure
you
make
it
a
form
decision,
but
I
wanted
to
say
that
action
needs
to
be
taken
now
sooner
rather
than
later
to
agree.
You
should
not
act
irrationally.
You
mentioned
that
just
knee-jerk
reaction.
You
should
have
all
the
facts
and
circumstances
at
the
time
to
act
is
now
so
that's
that's.
When.
F
And
we
do
we
always
reserve
the
right
to
you,
know,
add
and
change
things
and
tweak
things
as
we
move
forward.
I
mean
today
is
just
the
beginning
on
that
one.
This
issue,
so
more
will
be
revealed
just
one
of
the
state
that
for
the
record,
you
know
for
all
the
integrity
and
hard
work
that
our
colleagues
put
into
everything
that
we
do
here.
K
Question
has
a
number
in
a
quick
comment:
I
could
not
agree
more
with
Mike.
If
my
colleague,
counselor,
Heenan
I
will
have
to
say
and
I
sense.
Your
frustration
and
and
and
I've
been
to
three
different
matters
as
it
relates
to
illegal
trespassers.
I,
don't
even
call
them
squatters
anymore,
illegal
trespassers
and
it
can
be
very
emotional
and
it's
bad.
K
The
wheels
of
government
sometimes
move
very
slow,
sometimes
slower
than
we'd
all
like
it
to
be,
but
I
will
assure
you
one
thing
they
do
move,
so
you
have
everyone's
attention.
The
fact
that
this
is
a
bill
we've
had
hearings
and
we're
gonna
continue
to
meet
to
get
this
right
because
we
have
to,
but
I
do
want
to
go
back
to
your
testimony,
just
to
make
sure
I
got
it
right.
Q
K
And
and
mr.
Ward
I
will
have
to
say
that
is
way
way
too
long,
so
I
get
your
frustration
and
the
fact
that
you're
you're
very
upset,
because
that
is
ridiculous.
Actually,
so
mr.
Chairman
I,
thank
you
for
the
ability
to
ask
some
questions.
Mr.
Boyd,
thank
you
and
all
and
Miss
Lee.
Thank
you
also
for
your
testimony
and
that
you're
coming
out
today
to
speak
about
this,
because
we
need
to
hear
this
I'm
hearing
it
firsthand
from
you.
It's
very
important
and
I.
Thank
you.
E
Thank
you
for
this
opportunity.
If
my
name
is
she
when
law
I'm
a
real
estate
attorney
here
in
the
Commonwealth
of
Pennsylvania,
my
practice
is
primarily
real
estate
here
in
Philadelphia
County
I
get
many
of
my
referrals
on
these
types
of
cases
and
I
have
a
50-percent
practice
on
ejectment
actions,
which
is
expanded
over
the
last
several
years,
because
the
number
of
ejections
that
are
involved,
the
I,
want
to
acquaint
you,
with
to
two
of
my
I,
had
asked
invited
two
other
clients
to
come
here.
To
testify.
E
E
E
But
they
take
these
cases
out
of
the
trial
pool
and
set
a
date
certain,
and
that
adds
another
30
days
delay.
So
we're
talking
five
months
and
that's
why
my
client
was
stuck
until
May
February
first
before
she
could
legally
take
all
the
all
the
junk
that
this
person
had
accumulated
out
of
the
properties
to
settle.
These
affairs
of
her
father's
estate
had
another
case
where
there
was
a
legitimate
purchase
at
a
real
estate.
Closing
of
the
estate
of
the
owner.
E
In
other
words,
the
son
was
appointed
the
executor
he
was
selling
his
mother's
property
and
a
client
bought
it
an
arm's-length
transaction.
He
went
out
and
there
was
a
woman
there
who
had
occupied
the
property
turned
out.
She
was
the
sister
of
the
executor
of
the
estate.
She
refused
to
leave
the
property.
She
called
the
police
when
he
went
out
there,
police
found
out
that
they
checked
with
L&I.
The
property
was
condemned
because
it
had
to
collapse,
roof
in
a
collapsed
wall
and
they
escorted
her
out.
E
He
boarded
the
place
up
and
about
a
few
weeks
later
he
came
back.
She
had
removed
the
boards,
she
had
reentered
the
property.
This
is
a
property
that
had
no
plumbing,
no,
no
kitchen,
no
bathrooms
or
anything.
It
was
impossible
to
live
in.
She
actually
turned
out.
She
was
living
somewhere
else.
She
would
come
every
day
to
sit
in
this
house
for
two
years.
She
sat
there
until
we
were
able
to
get
an
executive
execution
order,
a
writ
of
execution
to
grant
possession
to
my
client
two
years
while
he
was
paying
insurance.
E
She
actually
interfered
with
his
ability
to
maintain
his
insurance
on
the
property
because
he
bought
general
liability,
believing
that
it
was
a
risk
with
roof
and
L
and
I
refused
to
take
any
action
to
get
her
out
saying.
It
was
not
imminent
danger
to
her,
even
though
the
building
itself
could
have
collapsed.
He
had
the
insurance
company
required
him
to
set
up
some
railings
outside
in
order
to
maintain
his
insurance.
When
it
came
time
to
renew
he
put
the
railings
up,
she
took
them
down.
E
E
I
ask
you
to
consider
a
broader
can
definition
of
or
that
the
because
in
one
case,
the
case
in
which
the
the
client
couldn't
come
today,
the
the
son,
the
person
who
was
the
squatted
legal
trespasser,
claimed
that
he
had
right
from
his
stepmother
to
stay
in
the
property
and
that,
of
course,
that
dragged
out
for
a
year
proving
that
he
had
actually
put
in
the
property
entitled
it
to
himself
illegally.
Contrary
to
the
law,
the
states
and
fiduciaries
law,
which
it
requires
that
it
be
approved
by
the
orphans
court.
E
He
never
went
to
Wharf
ins
court
to
have
it
approved.
He
appointed
himself
the
executor
of
the
estate
and
then
put
the
put
the
put
the
deed
in
his
own
name,
even
though
legally
as
a
stepson,
he
was
not
entitled
to
do
so.
So
these
kinds
of
relationships
and
they
so
he
claimed,
of
course,
that
he
was
entitled
squat
in
the
property
when
he
was
not
so
I
asked
you
to
consider
that
aspect
of
the
bill.
Okay,.
A
To
thank
miss
Li
mr.
warden
there's
the
law
for
your
testimony.
Is
there
any
questions
by
the
panel
also
want
to
recognize
Councilwoman,
Cindy
bass.
Thank
you
for
joining
us
Thank
You
councillor
any
questions.
Okay,
thank
you
for
your
testimony.
The
clerk.
Please
call
the
panel
number
five
Katerina.
R
Good
morning,
my
name
is
George
school,
that
I'm
going
to
senior
attorney
at
community
legal
services
in
Philadelphia
I've
worked
in
the
area
housing
for
most
50
years,
I'm
very
grateful
to
have
worked
with
City
Council
for
decades
to
protect
the
rights
of
tenants
and
to
promote
decent,
safe
and
affordable
housing.
In
this
city
we
recognize
that
Philadelphia
is
facing
a
serious
problem
of
criminal
trespass
by
those
who
have
no
legal
right
to
occupy
the
property.
You
have
heard
much
of
that
testimony
today.
However,
with
all
due
respect,
we
submit
that
bill.
R
Number
1,
804
300,
is
not
the
appropriate
mechanism
at
this
point
to
deal
with
this
problem.
The
bill,
while
well-intentioned,
fails
to
protect
tenants,
equitable
owners,
people
trying
to
repay
taxes
after
their
home
were
sold
at
sheriff,
sale
and
victims
of
elder
and
domestic
abuse.
Well,
certainly
not
intended.
It
will
allow
scam,
artists
and
unlicensed
landlords
to
one
flea
obtain
possession
of
a
property
through
an
expedited
court
procedure.
R
It's
important
to
note
that
section,
10
8
405
in
the
bill
creates
a
five
day
emergency
court
process,
which
we
believe
clearly
violates
the
Penn
State
Pennsylvania
Constitution
separated
powers
by
imposing
procedures
on
the
courts.
It
also
sets
procedures
for
the
police
department
to
follow,
and
we
also
believe
that
is
clearly
improper,
I
think
councilman
Parker
elegantly
stated
the
police
problems
and
other
problems
with
the
bill.
R
We've
read
that
there's
a
serious
problem
and
we
submit
that
the
appropriate
way
to
deal
with
this
is
to
rest
solution
sponsored
by
council
persons,
Parker
Jim
and
dumb,
which
deals
with
criminal
trespass
and
was
passed
by
City
Council
on
May
3rd.
The
resolution
calls
for
the
convening
of
a
taskforce
of
interested
parties,
including
the
police,
district
attorney
City
Council,
the
courts
and
advocates
to
deal
with
this
issue
is
our
understanding
that
invites
have
been
sent
out
by
Councilwoman
Parker's
office,
and
a
meeting
of
the
SAS
force
is
scheduled
for
the
middle
of
June.
R
In
the
midst
of
mortgage
foreclosure
prices
almost
10
years
ago,
or
even
longer,
City
Council
passed
a
resolution
calling
for
the
courts
to
create
a
program
to
deal
with
this
serious
problem.
A
group
was
formed
out
of
this
made
up
of
the
court
foreclosure
lawyers
and
advocates
for
homeowners.
Out
of
this,
the
mortgage
foreclosure
diversion
program
was
created.
It
was
the
first
in
the
country
and
the
most
accessible,
thousands
and
thousands
of
home
have
been
saved
from
foreclosure.
R
This
is
an
excellent
example
of
what
can
happen
when
interested
parties
sit
down
in
a
room
and
worked
together
to
help
resolve
a
serious
problem.
Bill
1,
804,
3
Oh,
as
previously
mentioned,
has
serious
problems
on
May
2nd.
We
sent
a
letter
to
the
committee
members
outlining
some
of
the
specific
problems
with
the
bill.
I'll
just
highlight
these.
R
The
bill
will
allowed
unscrupulous
landlords,
often
without
rental,
license
to
avoid
the
standard
eviction
process
and
have
tenants
removed
within
5
days.
The
only
requirement
is
to
sign
an
affidavit
stating
the
tenants
have
no
right
to
live
in
the
property.
Tenants
may
not
even
know
there's
a
hearing
in
five
days.
Moreover,
tenants
often
lack
proof
they
have
the
lease,
because
oral
leases
happen.
There
would
leak
they're,
illegal
and
Philadelphia
in
Pennsylvania,
and
it
may
be
difficult
and
the
landlords
collect
cash,
and
it
may
be
difficult
for
tenants
to
prove
in
fact
their
legal
occupants.
R
R
Every
legal
service
attorney
in
the
city
has
come
across
cases
by
these,
where
someone
says
they
own
a
vacant
property
and
meted
out
to
an
unsuspecting
tenant
who
thinks
it's
legitimate.
This
bill
will
criminalize
people
who
have
been
victim
of
this
sort
of
fraud
by
placing
them
squarely
within
the
category
of
criminal
and
defiant
press
passes.
The
bill
could
also
hurt
domestic
violence
and
victims
of
elder
abuse
by
giving
abusers
away
to
assert
economic
control
over
them,
often
in
situations
of
domestic
violence
and
elder
abuse.
R
The
abuser
will
sure
that
his
or
her
name
is
the
sole
name
on
the
deed.
Another
form
of
control
the
victim
may
have
any
a
few
documents
linking
them
to
the
right
to
live
in
the
residence,
the
definition
of
criminal
and
defiant
trespassers.
It
is
so
broad
that
includes
many
people,
with
legitimate
ownership
or
occupancy
rights
to
the
property.
A
good
example
as
home
owners
who
fell
behind
on
their
taxes
and
the
property
has
been
told,
sold
to
sheriff
sale
in
Pennsylvania.
R
R
R
At
which
this
legislation
is
owned,
these
individual
families
would
be
classified
as
criminals
and
forcefully
removed
from
their
homes.
Homeless
list
continues
to
be
a
serious
problem.
Council
is
also
aware
that
we
are
facing
a
severe
eviction
problem.
We
should
not
take
steps
which
will
exacerbate
this
problem,
as
we
believe
this
is
what
the
bill
will
do.
This
bill
should
be
put
on
hold
and
allowed
the
task
force
created
by
City
Council
resolution
the
opportunity
to
appropriately
address
this
problem.
Thank
you.
Thank.
O
Good
morning
my
name
is
cataria
McCabe
I'm,
director
of
veterans,
kinship
care
and
tenant
rights,
set
senior
law
center,
Thank
You
councilman
Donna
members
of
City
Council
for
another
opportunity
to
provide
a
response
to
the
proposed
legislation
governing
treatment
of
persons
classified
as
criminal
and
defiant
trespassers,
and
in
divinity
ler
squatter's,
a
senior
Law
Center.
We
protect
the
rights
of
older
Pennsylvanians.
O
These
seniors
are
made
vulnerable
longer
because
the
process
for
removing
these
trespassers
can
take
three
to
six
months
for
an
ejectment.
Additionally,
the
police
and
district
attorney's
office
often
refuse
to
bring
trespass
and
charge
just
against
the
perpetrators.
For
a
variety
of
reasons,
we
too
would
like
to
see
a
process
whereby
these
trespassers
are
removed
more
quickly,
thus
securing
the
seniors
safety,
and
we
applaud
the
attempt
to
ensure
that
dangerous
trespassers
are
removed
more
simply
from
properties
under
bill.
O
The
perpetrator
could
sign
an
affidavit
file,
an
ejectment
and
force
the
senior
out
of
their
home
additionally
as
more
seniors
lose
their
lifelong
homes
as
the
result
of
text
foreclosure
under
the
proposed
legislation,
a
purpose
sure
a
purchaser
of
the
property
at
sheriff
sale
could
have
the
senior
removed
from
the
home
and
potentially
arrested,
even
though
that
senior
may
have
a
right
of
redemption
under
the
law.
Similarly
attend
it
with
an
oral
lease
who
has
no
written
proof
of
a
contractual
relationship
or
even
payment
of
rent
may
be
arrested
and
removed
from
their
home.
O
We
are
deeply
concerned
about
situations
where
bad
actors
will
make
false
affidavits.
The
danger
is
great:
the
perpetrators
currently
preying
on
vulnerable
seniors
will
use
the
provisions
of
this
bill
to
complete
their
attempts
at
gaining
control
of
the
seniors
residence
and
rendering
the
senior
homeless.
O
We
would
like
to
see
the
current
criminal
trespass
statutes
more
widely
enforced
in
Philadelphia
and
would
like
for
an
expedited
process
for
removing
the
illegal
trespassers
when
such
changes
are
pursued
where
such
charges
are
pursued.
However,
we
do
not
want
to
risk
innocent,
Philadelphians
being
removed
from
their
homes
or
charged
criminally,
where
they're,
rightfully
in
a
property.
Our
senior
population
in
Philadelphia
is
particularly
at
risk,
as
we
have
the
largest
percentage
of
seniors
of
the
10
largest
cities
in
the
country
nearly
20%.
O
Additionally,
nearly
50%
of
seniors,
aged
60
and
older
in
Philadelphia
are
defined
as
poor,
meaning
they
live
at
or
below
the
poverty
level.
For
many
seniors,
their
greatest
asset
is
the
home
for
which
they've
worked
their
entire
lives,
unscrupulous
actors
recognizing
the
gaps
in
our
system
can
utilize
these
gaps
not
only
to
gain
unlawful
entry
to
homes,
but
also
to
try
to
steal
the
homes
of
seniors
or
force
them
out
illegally.
O
We
need
to
draft
the
legislation
carefully
so
as
not
to
provide
these
perpetrators
with
additional
tools
for
seniors
unlawfully
from
their
homes.
We
agree
that
with
our
colleagues
that
providing
a
more
user-friendly
court
process
and
access
to
legal
assistance
should
be
a
priority
to
encourage
more
efficient
and
timely
resolution
of
ejectment
matters.
We
applaud
the
provision
of
information
about
legal
and
housing
resources
as
well
as
fact
sheets
to
be
developed
by
the
city.
O
Moreover,
the
fact
that
a
similar
bill
was
voted
down
in
November
emphasizes
the
need
to
proceed
with
caution
in
an
effort
to
protect
citizens.
We
must
not
make
the
era
of
causing
harm.
It
is
important
to
carefully
to
be
committed
to
carefully
weighing
the
options
and
reaching
found
resolutions
that
would
accomplish
the
goal
of
evicting
trespassers
within
the
law,
while
protecting
those
who
could
be
victimized
by
an
unscrupulous
perpetrators
seeking
to
take
advantage
of
the
vulnerable.
We
therefore
support
the
pragmatic
approach
of
creating
a
task
force.
O
The
members
would
include
stakeholders
dedicated
to
evaluating
the
policies
in
place,
exploring
the
need
for
systemic
changes
and
determining
ways
to
make
impactful
changes
for
the
protection
of
Philadelphia
citizens
with
trespassers
in
their
homes.
We
stand
ready
to
serve
on
that
task
force
if
it
is
created
as
the
primary
provider
of
legal
services
for
Philadelphia's
seniors
and
the
nonprofit
throughout
the
Commonwealth
protecting
elder
rights.
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
timing.
Your
attention
thank.
F
Thank
you.
My
name
is
Phil
Lord
I'm,
the
executive
director
of
turn
we-we,
advocating
on
behalf
of
tenants,
and
we
provide
counseling
and
classes
and
educate
tenants.
This
issue
is
very
real
for
us.
We
see
tenants
all
the
time
who
are
victims
of
scam
artists
who
put
them
in
places
that
they
are
then
found
not
to
have
the
right
to
be
in
and
they
wind
up
having
to
move
out.
We
see
this
all
the
time.
F
I
talked
to
a
young
man
just
a
couple
months
ago
who
paid
rent
for
a
year
I'm
one
of
four
closed
property
being
foreclosed
and
to
someone
didn't
have
any
relationship
with
the
owner.
I've
seen
young
people
a
couple
had
twin
little
infant
children
and
they
move
into
a
property
and
they
found
out
after
moving
in
and
buying
furniture
and
paying
deposits.
The
person
they
dealt
with
had
no
right
to
give
them
the
right
to
that
property.
So
scam
waters,
Hearst
tenants
as
well
as
owners
and
landlords,
and
we
want
to
do
something
about
it.
F
I'm
gonna
be
brief,
because
I
don't
see
how
this
legislation
helps
anybody
I'm
meeting
it
and
I,
don't
know
what
we're
talking
about,
because
all
it
really
does
is
say:
okay,
the
police
have
to
be
with
the
police
to
which
they
do.
Anyway.
We
can't
control
the
police.
The
courts
have
to
go
forward
and
provide
better
procedures.
They're
working
that
alone.
That
already-
and
we
can't
tell
them
what
to
do
about
that.
So
that's
not
very
constructive.
F
It
redefines
criminal
trespass
and
the
Defiant
trespasser,
which
I
don't
think,
is
possible
to
do
because
that's
criminal
state
criminal
law
and
this
definition
doesn't
even
require
mens,
rea
or
criminal
intent,
or
anything
like
that.
So
this
definition
is
not
a
criminal
definition.
It's
a
civil
definition
that
doesn't
make
sense,
but
the
bottom
line
is
what
this
bill
does
do,
which
I'm
trouble
with
is
allow
a
private
party
to
go
to
the
police
station.
F
F
All
personal
stuff
and
make
a
record
and
reported
that
that's
very
intimidating,
that's
an
invasion
of
people's
privacy
if
there's
no
basis
for
it
other
than
someone
selling
out
a
form,
that's
downright
illegal,
it's
not
even
probable
cause,
so
my
understanding
is
that
this
whole
system
is
that
it
opens
the
door
to
harassment
by
people
to
get
people
out
and,
if
you're,
an
immigrant,
if
you're
returning
citizen,
if
you're
low
income
person
doesn't
stand
to
live
very
well.
You're
gonna,
wind
up
being
harassed
by
this,
because
it's
law
based
that
possibility.
F
But
in
terms
of
situations
that
we've
heard
about
today,
there
were
situations
where
police
already
informed
where
courts
were
involved.
Nothing
happened.
This
bill
is
not
going
to
change
that.
Any
way
that
I
can
see,
and
so
I
would
like
to
solve.
The
problem.
I
think
the
task
force
is
a
solution,
a
possible
way
to
do
that.
I
appreciate
councilman,
Parker's
words.
We
need
to
come
up
with
a
real
solution
to
address
a
real
problem
and
not
just
do
go
through
these
motions
that
really,
in
fact,
only
open
the
door
up
to
abuse
and
I.
F
Think
the
abuse
can
be
serious
because,
frankly,
from
our
viewpoint
on
self-help
evictions,
the
illegal
evictions
are
a
much
bigger
problem
than
squad.
Even
though
squatting
very
serious
and
I
know
it
hurts
a
lot
of
people
and
it
hurts
their
economic
situation,
which
is
serious,
but
we
have
to
find
a
comprehensive
solution
that
doesn't
blame.
Take
one
party's
rights
away
to
give
it
to
somebody
else.
Thank.
K
First
of
all,
thank
you
for
being
here.
You're
working
on
this
matter
has
helped
me
personally
and
I
think
it
helps
the
process,
but
mr.
Gould,
the
question
I
have
for
you.
You
had
stated
in
your
testimony.
In
the
midst
of
the
mortgage
foreclosure
crisis,
City
Council
passed
a
resolution
calling
for
the
creation
of
a
program
to
address
the
issue,
which
was
a
task.
How
long
did
that
take
approximately
actually.
R
Would
say
in
a
couple
months,
several
meetings
were
put
together.
We
judge
Rizzo,
of
course,
was
involved.
There
were
several
lawyers,
foreclosure
lawyers,
and
there
were
several
advocates,
and
obviously
you
know
on
the
surface.
We
had
competing
interests
because
they
were
interested
in
foreclosing
and
we
were
interested
in
protecting
homeowners,
but
by
sitting
down,
even
though
there
were
very
diverse
views,
we
came
up
with
the
mortgage
diversion
program.
R
It
was
in
it
literally
in
a
couple
months,
and
the
program
came
operational
at
the
10-year
anniversary
is
coming
up
fairly
soon
and
we're
going
to
have
a
big
celebration
with
all
interested
parties
and
what
it
did
by
having
us
sit
down
in
the
room
with
the
foreclosure
lawyers
and
the
court.
We've
really
were
able
to
come
to
a
resolution.
Even
what
people's
concerns
were
here,
what
they
could
do
and
not
do,
and
quite
frankly,
it
created
what
all
consider
to
be
the
best
program
in
the
country
and.
R
K
R
K
You
very
much
and
and
mr.
Lord
I
do
have
a
question
for
you.
You
had
talked
about
unscrupulous
landed
meat.
Now
let
me
get
this
right.
People
are
giving
out
fake
leases,
more
I.
Think
you'll
get
my
drift.
If
you
have
questions
of
me
on
this
and
will
define
it
better,
but
to
your
knowledge,
this
is
where
I'm
asking
the
people
that
have
been
involved.
K
F
That's
the
problem,
no
I
think
you
focus
right
on
it,
there's
nobody
being
prosecuted
for
anything
in
regards
of
this
issue
and
as
long
as
that's
the
case
we'll
be
done
with
impunity.
It's
not
enough.
Just
to
get
somebody
out.
You
have
to
make
sure
that
the
person
who
put
them
in
there
fortunately
has
some
consequences.
There
are
no
consequences,
and
so
and
I
don't
see
the
consequences
this
Bill's
gonna
generate
so
I
think
we
have
to
figure
out.
How
do
the
police
have
these
blanket
exclusions
that
are
more
or
less
their
own
policy?
K
F
Well,
you
know
what
happens
these
people
these
the
tenants
when
they
find
out
something
Lots
and
don't
say,
you're,
not
you
didn't
deal
with
the
owner,
they
call
the
owner
who
doesn't
give
them
an
address
and
they
can't
get
an
answer
so
that
these
people
will
give
them
these
leases
disappear.
Once
something
happens,
that
significant
and
in
the
tennis,
of
course,
very
often
they
they
have
to
move
out
right
away.
They
don't
go
through
camera.
It's
not
going
to
go
to
court
to
defend
what
they're
doing.
Okay.
K
F
I
think
there
is
I
mean
if
folks
will
be
seriously
enough,
you
could
have
sting
operations,
use
private,
little
complaints
to
intervene
quickly.
There
are
ways
to
go
and
you
can
track
down
based
on
phone
numbers.
What's
going
on
there
investigative
techniques
that
can
be
done,
but
you're
going
after
the
person
in
the
building
who
then
moves
out
and
then
you're
done
you're
not
going
to
get
there
and
you're
gonna
wind
up
having
had
happen
over
and
over
again.
Thank.
S
S
This
is
totally
separate
from
what
we're
talking
about
here
today,
but
I
do
want
to
talk
about
the
importance
of
the
task
force,
which
is
that
we're
dealing
with
an
extremely
complicated
issue
around
evictions.
It
involves
multiple
parties,
including
lni,
and
includes
housing.
It
includes
our
courts.
It
includes
access
to
counsel
certainly
includes
our
advocates
and
one
of
the
things
we're
trying
to
what
we
were
trying
to
understand
through
the
eight
months
that
the
task
force
was
all
the
different
ways
in
which
all
of
us
have
to
work
in
unison.
S
How
is
it
that
so
many
parties
coming
together
as
Councilwoman
Parker
has
proposed?
How
will
that
actually
move
us
towards
smart
solutions?
That
may
be
legislative
and,
in
other
cases,
may
require
action
by
the
courts?
That's
what
we
certainly
got
from
the
anti-eviction
task
force.
We
got
action
by
the
courts
that
could
not
have
come
through
legislative
action.
So
could
you
talk
just
a
little
bit
about
how
you
see
task
force's
actually
being
extraordinarily
effective
ahead
of
legislation?
You.
R
R
Said
I
was
very
involved
in
the
foreclosure,
the
creation
of
it
and,
quite
frankly,
after
Council
passed,
a
resolution.
I
was
a
little
skeptical
because
the
parties
were
really
pretty
opposite
to
foreclosure
lawyers
and
the
advocates,
and
we
weren't
exactly
sure
where
the
courts
were,
but
by
sitting
down
in
the
room
and
everybody
speaking
freely
and
candidly
of
the
issues
we
were
able
to
come
to
a
resolution
very
quickly.
Actually
I
was
I
was
just
impressed
and
through
that
process,
I
think
having
everybody
in
the
room
and
I
think
with
this
task
force.
R
We
have
everybody
on
the
same
page
that
is
they're
all
interested
in
dealing
with
the
problem.
They
want
to
have
criminal
trespassers
dealt
with
in
an
appropriate
way.
So
we
don't
really
have
that
conflict
which
is
quite
frankly
existed
in
the
foreclosure.
So
I
think
you
know,
reaching
a
resolution.
I
think
could
happen.
Everybody
could
set
forth
what
their
proposals
are,
what
they
want
to
do
and
we
can
hear
from
the
courts
what
they
think
is
appropriate.
R
D
D
Nobody
told
them
get
a
lawyer,
go
to
the
courts
and
had
they
done
that
more
quickly,
this,
what
they
would
not
have
suffered
as
long
and
making
sure
we
get
that
information
out
there
and
that
it's
clearly
and
consistently
the
same
information
and
it's
the
correct
information
I
think
is
what's
crucial
and
the
task
force
will.
Let
us
fix
that
in
a
way
that
legislation
will
not
thank.
F
I
can
add
harvey
spear
who
I'm
have
co
spoke
earlier,
and
I
really
respect
what
his
working,
what
he's
done,
and
he
said
that
he
wanted
to
make
sure
that
we
make
sure
that
we're
considering
tenants,
rights
in
this
process
and
I
appreciate
that
and
I
think
from
my
viewpoint,
we're
not
in
trying
to
get
squatters
or
people
who
commit
fraud
to
be
able
to
do
that
against
the
law.
We
want
to
make
sure
that
gets
dealt
with,
and
so
we
have
a
common
ground
here.
F
It's
not
as
though
we
have
an
adversarial
relationship
around
this.
We
have
to
figure
out
what
the
limits
are.
Why
police
have
the
policies
they
have
why
the
course
is
not
moving
as
quickly
as
they
should
and
if
we're
all
in
the
same
room,
we
can
do
that.
Everybody
asks
us
individually
to
like
this
bill.
Don't
we
like
the
bill?
That's
a
different
conversation.
We
bounce
off
each
other
different
ideas
and
different
approaches.
We
get
to
a
solution,
I
think
it's
what
we
need
to
do
here
and.
F
S
R
R
S
So
you
had
not
had
a
chance
to
sit
around
the
table
with
all
the
parties
effectively.
What
what
I'm
trying
to
understand
is.
Has
there
been
a
table
where
you've
sat
down
with
the
police
with
the
district
attorney's
office,
with
our
courts
with
our
other
members,
impacted
stakeholders
prior
to
the
Councilwoman,
inviting
you
to
a
task
force.
I
O
I
believe
that
was
a
meeting
but
I
believe
what
councilwoman
Ginn
is
talking
about
as
a
task
force
where
the
important
stakeholders
sit
down
and
participate
to
have
productive
discussion
about
how
we
should
productively
move
forward.
I,
don't
believe
what
you're
talking
about
councilman.
Oh,
is
the
task
force
that
we're
speaking
of,
and
they
were
all
in
support
of
at
this
time,
yeah.
B
S
That's
not
correct,
so
a
point
of
information,
councilman
DOM
or
mr.
chairman.
What
I
asked
was:
has
there
been
an
opportunity
for
you
to
be
part
of
a
table
in
which
all
the
impacted
stakeholders
are
present?
It
is
not
whether
you've
had
a
chance
to
meet
with
the
sponsor
of
a
specific
bill
of
legislation.
I
believe
that
that
has
occurred.
F
I'd
like
to
end
I
thought
that
was
going
to
come
out
of
that
meeting.
I
thought
the
end
of
that
meeting
were
supposed
to
have
a
follow-up
where
everybody
would
be
at
the
table,
and
that
did
not
happen,
but
I
do
think.
Whenever
it
does
happen,
it's
gonna
produce
good
results,
because
people
really
want
to
see
the
problem
solved
for
real
okay.
F
R
May
just
comment:
councilmen
always
correct.
There
were
a
meeting
with
some
advocates
with
him
about
the
bill.
However,
as
you
stated
clearly,
the
court
was
not
there.
The
DA
was
not
there,
the
police
were
not
there
and
there
the
parties
we
believe
who
have
to
be
involved
to
set
up
a
system
to
deal
with
this
problem.
We
think
there
is
an
issue,
a
serious
issue
of
City
Council,
trying
to
tell
the
court
what
procedures
to
follow
and
also
to
tell
the
police
what
they
have
to
do.
C
You
I
want
to
thank
each
of
you
for
your
testimony.
I
also
want
to
say
special
thank
you
to
councilman
Heenan
who,
during
one
of
the
previous
panels,
provided
a
little
clarity
relative
to
I,
think
the
substance
of
councils,
ability
to
create
task
forces
I've
been
in
this
building,
I'm
ashamed
to
say
it
now,
because
I'm
getting
older
when
I
was
seventeen
I
didn't
feel
like
that.
C
But
I've
been
here
long
enough
to
remember
that,
even
before
the
foreclosure
crisis,
we
were
defining
predatory
Lindon
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
in
an
order
for
mortgage
pride
products
like
fill
loan,
many
feel
loan.
The
bill
that
was
passed.
We
had
a
predatory
lending
task
force
that
worked
with
the
industry.
C
But
what
you
have
heard
today,
I
think
from
each
of
you
who
have
testified-
is
that,
if
we're
going
to
proffer
a
solution,
it
should
be
done
with
all
stakeholders,
those
who
are
engaged
in
this
process
to
have
a
voice,
those
who
were
acts
and
I'm,
not
sure
in
the
meeting
that
you
referenced
mr.
Gould
or
that
you
reference.
C
If
these
people
were
there,
because
when
we
talked
about
a
table,
which
is
what
I
thought
was
happening
in
November,
when
this
issue
was
addressed,
I
thought
you
were
meeting
with
these
people,
the
courts,
because
we
have
said
in
this
legislation
that
the
courts
will
have
five
days
to
respond.
But
I
have
not
heard
from
the
courts
that
the
five
days
that
they
are
being
given
to
respond
is
in
accordance
with
their
abilities
there
process
what
it
is
that
they
do.
C
So
what
we've
done
is:
we've
invited
the
president
judge
Court
of
Common
Pleas
and
share
of
the
administrative
Governing
Board
copy
went
to
the
district
court
administrator
Kiera
Bradford
gray,
chief
defenders
defenders,
Association
district
attorney,
Larry
Krassner,
our
Commissioner
Richard
Ross,
our
L&I
Commissioner
Dave
Perry
Tom
Conway
from
clip
Commissioner
David
Jones
from
D
bids.
Elizabeth
Hersh
won
the
office
of
homelessness,
Deborah
McCarty
from
Philadelphia
water
department.
Why
we've
heard
these
heartaches
these
stories
about
utilities
along
with
pico
along
with
PGW?
C
In
addition
to
that,
we
have
correct
the
president
of
PGW
James
Leonard
from
records,
a
Cynthia
Figueroa
from
DHS
Michael
Pratt,
the
city
solicitor,
a
George
Gould
Snyder,
Phillips
Els
in
law,
Public,
Interest,
turn,
G
par,
have
Co
and
all
members
of
council
so
I
again.
I
just
wanted
to
note
for
the
record
that
when
you
are
talked
about
I,
remember
the
hearing
in
November,
because
I
had
an
emergency
and
couldn't
attend
I.
Remember
the
issues
that
were
raised.
C
This
is
about
quality
of
life
in
neighborhoods,
at
home
ownership
and,
as
I
just
said,
the
Councilwoman
Cindy
bass
in
the
ninth
council,
Matic
district
city
has
a
52
percent
home
ownership
rate
and
the
nine
council
Matic
district
I
have
64
to
67
percent
and
in
some
neighborhoods,
almost
74%
home
ownership,
so
Councilwoman
as
I
just
mentioned,
I
get
this
the
councilmen
down,
councilman
talbin,
burger
and
councilman
old.
Because
of
your
leadership.
You
are
right
on
this.
These
horror
stories
we
heard
they
are
wrong.
I,
just
beg
of
you
all.
C
Please
allow
us
to
go
back
to
the
table.
Councilman
Oh
allowed
the
stakeholders.
We
just
mentioned
the
ability
to
hammer
out
a
compromise
on
the
powers
associated
with
the
courts,
the
powers
associated
with
the
police
department,
the
powers
associated
with
our
city
and
if
they
can't
get
it
done,
councilman
on
that
first
day
that
that
we
meet
to
say
that
okay,
here's
the
past,
we
can
get
it
done.
C
We
know
that
story,
and
that
is
wrong,
but
we've
gotta
cross
our
T's
and
dot
our
eyes
and
so
I
just
wanted
to
say
a
thank
you
and
Councilwoman
Jim.
Thank
you
for
outlined
and
I
thought
that
this
meeting
had
already
occurred.
Forget
the
task
force,
but
I
thought
that
there
was
a
meeting
because
I
remember
asking:
can
you
just
meet
with
all
of
the
stakeholders,
so
I
thought
that
everybody
from
the
group
that
I
just
mentioned
were
apart?
What's
a
part
of
that
meeting,
but
unfortunately
that
that
did
not
occur?
A
C
A
A
N
A
T
N
Is
Margaret
Murray
I
live
in
North
Philadelphia
I
was
in
a
bad
situation
at
a
time
the
guy
proposed
to
me
it
was
his
house
in
the
Sun
house
and
they
rented
me.
The
house
I
started
having
issues
about
the
water,
so
I
called
them,
because
I
was
in
the
process
of
making
repairs
myself
as
a
part
of
the
agreement
and
be
moving
it
and
when
I
called
it
something
with
the
water
department
said:
I've
never
heard
from
nobody
again.
I
moved
in
his
property,
2015
I've
been
here
up,
and
so
recently
I
went.
N
I
got
a
letter
in
the
mail
from
City
Hall
stating
that
it
was
a
far
german
document
was
submitted
today
record
room
I
came
down
here.
Bob
was
down
here,
trying
to
find
out.
What's
going
on,
the
guy
from
the
neighborhood
was
banging
on
the
door
telling
my
some
people
at
my
house
to
share
herself,
and
basically
he
just
want
to
come
in.
He
want
to
fix
it.
I
can
give
him
rent
and
things
of
that
nature
and
I'm
just
in
a
lose-lose
situation.
Basically,
because
I
don't
have
no
rights,
I
tried
to
do
everything.
N
I'm,
just
applying
what
L&I
trying
to
keep
the
house
I
tried
to
pay
the
back
taxes.
I
didn't
have
no
rights,
I
still
maintain
the
property,
there's
no
living
ears.
No,
nothing
I've
been
in
this
property
since
2015
and
now
how
he
trying
to
take
it
over
ain't
as
Gary
go
to
share
yourself.
So
I'm
gonna
lose
lose
situation
and
me
and
my
children
about
the
Street
has
been
taken
of
granny
all
the
way
around
the
boy.
D
You
both
mr.
Simpkins
and
Ms
green
also
have
a
written
testimony
that
flushes
out
the
facts
of
their
cases
a
little
more
if
I
can
provide
a
little
clarity.
Ms
green
is
currently
dealing
with
the
deed
fraud.
You
later,
he
claims
that
he
owns
the
property,
the
deed
that
he
has
is
dated
April
of
this
year
and
was
purportedly
signed
by
two
women.
Who've
been
dead
for
over
ten.
D
P
D
Ten
years,
so
that
gentleman
is
not
somebody
who
has
legal
ownership,
because
it's
a
fraudulent
deed,
but
he
has
record
ownership
and
she
miss
green
has
been
having
great
difficulties
interfacing
with
the
legal
system,
with
the
police
to
get
them
to
address
the
harassment
and
intimidation
that
he's
been
engaging
against
her.
Mr.
Simkins
lost
his
house
first
property
taxes
at
a
sheriff
sale.
He
had
the
right
to
redeem
the
property
and
he
was
able
to
successfully
redeem
and
now
owns
the
property
in
full.
D
But
during
that,
when
he
was
getting
the
money
together
to
complete
that
right
of
redemption,
the
sheriff
sale
purchaser
engaged
in
a
very
hostile
campaign
to
try
and
get
him
out
of
the
property.
She
tried
to
shut
the
utilities
off.
She
had
the
police
come
out
to
the
house
multiple
times
claiming
he
was
a
squatter.
She
even
attempted
to
evict
him
through
the
landlord
tenant
courts
by
signing
false
documents,
saying
that
there
was
an
oral
lease
when
no
agreement
had
ever
been
made.
D
The
reason
that
I
have
my
two
clients
testifying
here
today
is
because,
under
this
bill,
1804
30
they
would
both
be
criminals
and
they
would
both
be
facing
up
to
three
months
in
jail,
and
that
is
why
these
compelling
stories
demonstrate
the
complexities
of
these
property
cases,
and
that
is
why
I
urge
you
to
vote
no
on
this
bill.
It
does
not
protect
previous
owners
of
properties
in
the
after
share
of
sales.
D
It
does
not
protect
victims
of
domestic
violence,
it
does
not
protect
other
people
who
did
not
have
tenancy
relationships
with
an
owner,
and
it
does
not
protect
victims
of
scams.
We
agree
that
Philadelphia
needs
to
address
the
problem
of
criminal
trespassers.
We
need
a
system
that
can
easily
be
accessed
by
victims,
one
which
will
be
responsive
to
complaints
and
one
which
is
capable
of
careful
and
complete
review
of
accusations
to
determine
the
merits
of
these
accusations
of
criminal
activity.
Councilwoman
Parker's
taskforce
is
the
right
approach
to
achieve
this
goal.
Thank
you.
Thank.
C
C
D
Yes,
so,
unfortunately,
we
we
don't
have
any
clients
that
we
have
permission
to
share
their
stories,
but
I
think
mr.
gold
and
the
previous
testimony
alluded
to
this
problem
where
an
acute
an
abuser
may
have
a
lot
of
economic
control
and
they
may
be
the
sole
owner
of
the
property
that
they
may
have
been
sharing
as
a
domestic
residence
for
may
years
and
may
even
have
had
children
in
common
and
then
when
he
decides
he
wants
the
woman
out
and
she
refuses
to
leave.
D
There
may
be
a
call
to
the
police
saying
I
want
this
woman
out
of
my
house.
I,
don't
know
her.
I
have
had
clients
with
that
story,
and-
and
there
are
many
many
different
examples
of
economic
abuse-
that
a
part
of
a
larger
pattern
of
domestic
violence.
I
think
the
senior
loss
center
also
talked
about
elder
abuse.
D
Examples
where
you
may
have
coercive
deeds,
giving
properties
to
other
family
members,
and
then
they
say
I
want
you
out
of
this
house
get
out
and
under
the
bill,
there's
no
protection
for
people
who
say
what
I've
been
living
here
for
10
years.
The
bill
says:
if
you
don't
own
the
property
or
you're,
not
a
tenant.
You
are
a
criminal
trespasser
that
is
far
too
broad
a
definition
to
effectively
capture
the
true
problem
of
this
crime
and
I.
D
C
I,
don't
know,
maybe
I'll
have
the
exes
question
later
I
wanted
to
know.
Since
the
hearing
was
held
in
November
and
again,
I
was
not
because
of
my
prior
commitment
able
to
attend
the
hearing
in
November.
Have
you
heard
anyone
from
the
courts
respond
to
the
five
days
I
have
not
I
was
yet
I'm
asking
you,
because,
according
to
this
legislation
for
the
bill,
the
bill,
the
courts
will
have
have
to
have
an
emergency
hearing
within
five
days.
C
D
Not
aware
of
the
courts
position
to
this
bill,
specifically,
you
know
I
think
several
attorneys
and
myself
included.
We
do
not
think
that
that
portion
is
honoring,
the
constant
of
a
separation
of
powers,
it's
trying
to
dictate
procedures
to
the
court,
which
is
solely
within
the
courts
purview.
There
are
already
procedures,
standard
procedures
for
emergency
hearings.
D
If
a
party
knows
how
to
access
them,
I
think
that
the
current
barrier
is
that
many
people
who
are
victims
who
are
trying
to
get
to
the
courts
don't
have
the
skills
and
the
expertise
to
do
those
emergency
petitions,
but
I
do
know
that
the
administrative
judge
is
trying
to
come
up
with
a
pro
se
form
that
will
make
it
easier
for
an
unrepresented
individuals
to
be
able
to
put
in
that
request
and
have
it
reviewed,
timely
by
a
judge.
Okay,.
C
D
Well,
pro
se
means
for
one's
self.
It's
it
means
you're
unrepresented
by
an
attorney,
and
so
the
court
has
has
the
ability
to
create
forms
that
can
be
can
be
made
available
to
the
public
when
they
come
and
seek
help
and
there's
a
Help
room,
that's
available
to
people
that
staff
by
attorneys
and
so
right
now
there
isn't
a
form
they
can
hand
those
in
those
individuals.
But
the
court
is
working
to
change
that.
I'm
aware
that
I'm
actually
working
with
the
court
on
that,
along
with
other
attorneys
from
both
sides
of
the
table,.
C
B
Thank
you.
This
bill
would
not
affect
either
of
you
two
and
at
the
end
of
the
day,
what
we're
really
talking
about
is
this:
if
any
of
these
situations
arise,
any
of
them
that
were
talked
to
about
by
the
last
panel,
the
question
is:
who
resolves
it
and
it's
resolved
in
a
court
of
law
by
a
judge.
The
only
issue
that
we're
dealing
with
that
we
have
dealt
with
with
CLS
and
the
tenants
union.
Is
they
don't
want
it
to
happen?
B
Faster,
we've
heard
from
so
many
people
that
it
takes
8
months,
16
months,
even
years
to
get
into
a
court,
and
it
just
as
much
as
people
who
may
be
tenants
are
unaware
who
may
be
victims,
so
our
homeowners.
The
issue
that
this
bill
presents
is
simply
this
get
in
front
of
the
proper
judge
faster
and
you,
the
issue
of.
Are
they
criminals?
No
they're,
not
criminals.
If
they
were
criminals,
it
would
have
been
arrested.
B
Fighting
this
process
of
providing
a
faster
day
in
court
is
what
this
entire
hearing
and
process
has
been
about,
because
the
city
law
department
does
not
say
that
this
process
or
bill
is
illegal.
They
say
it
is
legal.
The
police
department
was
here
to
testify
that
they're,
not
an
objection.
The
DA's
office
is
not
an
objection
and
supports
it.
In
fact,
the
court
system-
they
are
a
separate
branch
of
government,
but
they
don't
act
on
their
own.
The
court
doesn't
just
go
out
solving
the
city's
States
and
country's
problem.
B
They
let
the
legislature
they
ask
the
legislature
to
set
the
legislation.
Then
they
make
their
procedures.
And,
yes,
we
have
spoken
with
the
courts,
both
councilman
Todd,
burger
and
myself.
We
have
spoken
with
the
police,
the
DA's
office,
the
office
of
homelessness,
the
city
law,
department,
CLS,
the
tenants
Union
and
the
Senior
Law
Center,
and
at
the
end
of
day,
what
we
said
is
this
here
is
a
solution,
not
more
delays.
B
This
problem
has
existed
in
Philadelphia
for
decades
and
is
getting
worse,
but
if
you
have
a
remedy,
please
submit
it,
and
today
no
remedy
has
been
submitted
at
the
end
of
this
hearing.
If
this
matter
is
voted
out
of
committee
with
a
fable
recommendation,
there
is
a
date
listed
for
this
task
force
and
if
you
can
present
some
concrete
examples
of
language
you'd
like
to
present,
then
please
do.
C
Let
me
just
note
for
the
record
councilman
Tom
and
again
it
is
highly
likely
that
this
bill
will
pass
out
of
committee
today
with
a
favorable
recommendation.
Now
you
know
I'm,
not
a
magician,
but
you
know:
I
went
to
elementary
school,
not
going
to
do
some
simple
maths.
Let
me
say
this
to
residents
at
a
knife:
council,
medic
district,
because
those
are
the
people
who
I've
been
working
with
very
specifically
about
this
issue.
Is
that
one?
C
We
know
that
this
issue
needs
a
process
that
is
instituted
to
address
it
so
that
we
can
get
remedies
that
don't
take
month
after
month.
I
will
tell
you
what
you
are
never
going
to
hear
from
me
is.
You
will
never
hear
me
come
to
a
meeting
and
communicate
to
you
that
I
have
a
bill
that
will
have
this
issue
address
with
them.
Have
you
in
front
of
a
judge
within
five
days
five
days?
That
is
what
has
been
communicated
to
the
public
about
this
bill.
C
The
language
in
the
bill,
for
example,
we
can't
force
the
courts
to
have
an
emergency
here
and
within
five
days
and
even
the
language
in
the
legislation
it
reflects
it.
It
says
the
court
shall
schedule
an
emergency
hearing
within
five
business
days
or
such
other
time
period,
as
is
necessitated
by
the
circumstances
presented
or
applicable
court
procedure.
C
Now
again,
I'm
just
saying,
let's
be
direct,
don't
tell
people
that
you
have
a
process
that
your
putting
in
front
of
them,
where
you
are
going
to
be
I,
can
guarantee
that
you
get
to
a
judge
within
five
days
when
that
is
not
what
the
legislation
says.
So
I
want
to
just
speak
because
again,
you
I
can
only
be
held
accountable
for
my
own
vote,
and
this
is
an
explanation
for
mine.
C
You
heard
from
Community
Legal
Services,
you
heard
from
the
senior
law
project
about
the
unintended
consequences
this
can
have
on
senior
citizens
who,
through
force
coercion,
could
have
someone
forced
them
to
sign
some
documents,
and
it
gave
very
specific
examples
and
who
could
be
impacted
by
this.
I
had
never
even
thought
about
mentioning
today
to
issue
of
domestic
violence
until
you
re
iterated
it
in
your
testimony.
C
In
addition
to
that,
I
think
everybody
has
agree
and
I
surely
agree
that
this
six
months,
you
know
12
months,
16
months,
all
of
the
horror
stories
that
we
have
heard
today
that
listen,
they
are
unnecessary
and
they
are
illogical
and
we
need
a
process.
But
I
would
argue
that
the
voice
of
reason
here
today
is
saying
before
we
move
anything
forward.
Is
it
at
all
possible
and
I?
Don't
know?
Maybe
it's
just
me
because
this
is
the
way
I've
always
worked
to
put
together
any
legislation.
C
That's
been
complex,
all
of
the
stakeholders
who
are
impacted
by
this
process,
going
into
a
room
sitting
at
the
table
at
the
same
time,
walking
through
this
bill
walking
through
the
process
saying
this
is
our
problem,
but
this
is
the
fix,
I
respect.
What
the
sponsor
of
this
bill
has
just
said
it
when
he
noted
that
if
you
have
a
problem,
we've
asked
people
to
give
us
a
fix,
but
there
is
something
different
that
occurs
and
you
probably
don't
know
that
it
occurs.
C
Unless
you've
done
it
before,
when
you
get
everybody
at
the
same
table
at
the
same
time,
instead
of
them
just
electronically,
sending
you
a
copy
of
an
email
and/or,
a
memo
saying
you
know,
this
is
my
perspectives.
When
you
give
me
my
perspective,
when
you
get
all
of
the
stakeholders
in
the
room
and
they
are
at
the
table
together,
sometimes
solutions
that
we
never
thought
of
can
can
come
forward,
and
so,
with
with
that
being
said,
mr.
chairman
I
just
needed
to
note
for
the
record.
One
I
appreciate
your
testimony.
C
I
appreciate
you
all,
emphasizing
the
impact
on
seniors
on
domestic
violence
and
all
of
the
unintended
consequences
that
we
may
not
have
had
thought
about
and
as
we
move
forward,
I
want
you
to
know
from
the
very
beginning
of
this
process
and
to
the
end
of
it.
I
will
not
lose
sight
of
that.
We
will
work
until
the
very
end
to
make
sure
all
of
those
issues
that
you
have
raised
and
that
I've
heard
too
from
constituents
that
we
get.
We
get
an
answer
to
them
and
we
get
them
address.
C
But
I
just
wanted
to
note
for
the
record.
This
idea
that
anybody
who
is
not
in
support
of
this
effort
right
now
is
trying
to
delay
the
process
who
is
fighting
against
it's
fighting
against
a
sort
of
advancing
a
much
more
aggressive
process,
and/or
timeline
to
address
this
issue.
It
is
wrong,
it
wrongly
characterizes
or
mischaracterizes
what
I
know.
My
individual
perspective
is
am
I
not
voting
in
favor
of
this
measure
today
in
committee,
in
no
way
shape
or
form
sends
a
signal
that
I
embrace
it
I
want
it.
C
A
Forked
I
just
want
to
reiterate
that
I
believe
all
of
our
colleagues
all
17
council
people
want
to
solve
this
issue
and
we're
all
in
the
same
page
and
we're
trying
to
bring
everybody
together
to
get
peaceful
resolution
to
get
a
good
solution
here.
So
thank
you.
A
Miss
Schultz
miss
green
and
mr.
Simkins
for
your
testimony
today.
Thank
you
for
coming
down
with
the
clerk
call
the
next
panel.
Please.
N
A
M
I'm,
a
real
estate
broker
in
Philadelphia
and
selling
homes
and
listening
homes
for
40
40
years,
so
I
deal
primarily
in
every
neighborhood,
with
first-time
buyers
I'm,
the
guy
that
brought
this
squatter
issue
to
the
limelight
a
couple
of
years
ago
and
how
I
did
that
was
I
ventured
into
vacant
homes
that
had
people
living
in
it?
First
one
was
the
man
young.
Second
one
was
in
Holmesburg.
M
Third
one
was
in
Northwood
and
the
fourth
one
was
in
West
Philly
all
at
the
same
time,
so
it
kind
of
threw
me
over
so
I
didn't
know
how
to
deal
with
it.
There
were
banking,
so
I
brought
it
to
g4,
which
I'm
a
member
of
and
I
reached.
After
all,
the
members
to
see
how
many
people
were
affected
by
having
trespassers
break
into
their
homes.
M
We
got
a
couple
hundred
homes
and
addresses
that
it
was
affected
by
this
now
I'm,
not
a
guy
that
says
if
you
love,
if
you're
a
tenant
and
you
live
in
a
house,
you
take
care
of
that
house.
If
you
break
in
you,
don't
care,
you
don't
take
care
of
the
house
back
in
2010
when
I
started
researching
it.
It
says.
If
there
are
signs
of
forced
entry,
then
a
squatter
is
trespassing.
The
police
have
a
right
to
remove
that
person.
M
M
Calling
me
a
complaining
about
the
people
who
moved
into
the
house
now
I
put
a
letter
out
on
the
block
to
say
that
these
people
do
not
belong
in
the
house
or
not
tenants,
and
your
neighbors
have
the
right
to
complain
to
your
local
state
senator
or
whoever
else
is
in
the
neighborhood
which
they
did
the
one
in
Manayunk.
We
got
her
out
in
three
months
and
the
reason
we
got
her
out
is
because
she
killed
her
tenant.
M
She
was
renting
rooms
out,
she
shot,
him
went
to
jail
and
we
served
there
in
jail
and
a
judge
allowed
us
to
evict
her.
So
the
second
one
stayed
in
for
a
year.
She
got
twenty
five
hundred
bucks
and
moved
that
the
third
one
got
evicted
after
a
year
and
a
half
by
the
sheriff
in
West
Philly.
They
didn't,
they
got
into
the
house
and
I
got
him
write
it
out
by
just
means
so
I,
don't
know
where
the
answer
lies
with
this
bill.
M
But
I
know
that
if
you
don't
belong
in
the
house
and
you
broke
in,
you
don't
belong
in
the
house,
that's
plain
and
simple:
it's
black
and
white.
If
you're
a
tenant
with
the
real
lease
and
you
went
to
a
reputable
person
and
give
them
deposits
and
sign
the
lease
and
you
move,
then
they
gave
you
the
keys.
You
belong
in
that
house
and
you'll.
Take
care
of
it
become
a
good
neighbor,
but
this
the
people
that
break
in
and
I've
seen
the
leases
that
are
fake
and
I've
seen
what
they
threw
they
go
in.
M
They
change
the
locks
they
produce
a
lease.
They
meet
the
people
out
of
fronting
hunting
park,
give
them
keys,
take
money
and
they
never
see
them
again.
I
tracked
down
every
lease
and
none
of
them
had
real
owners.
You
know
the
addresses
were
all
false.
The
phones
are
all
false,
so
there
are
people
that
are
victimized
and
they
should
be
dealt
with
differently
than
somebody
that
broke
into
a
house
and
diamonds
that
there's
there's
just
different
people
I
deal
in
every
neighborhood
and
I
I
see
the
same
thing.
It's
the
same.
M
People
doing
the
same
things,
I
think
one
time
one
of
the
councilman
is,
if
anybody's
ever
arrested
for
doing
this,
I
think
I
heard
of
one
person
being
caught
do
doing
that
I'm,
not
sure
of
the
time
frame
at
all,
but
I
do
know
that
I
tracked
them
down.
I
got
all
my
guns
and
I
tracked
down
people
that
were
given
fake
leases
and
they're
hard
to
prove
so.
Okay,.
N
T
Good
morning
afternoon
my
name
is
Brianna
Cannon
I'm,
a
realtor
I'm
with
Coldwell
Banker,
preferred
here
in
Center,
City
and
I
just
have
a
story
to
share
about
one
of
my
clients
and
one
of
the
situations
that
he
went
through
dealing
with
a
squatter.
So
a
few
months
ago,
client
of
mine
found
himself
in
a
battle
for
his
own
home
I.
T
Had
this
property
listed
for
sale,
and
there
was
a
lock
box
on
this
Frankfurt
area
house
for
convenience
of
showing
the
seller
had
been
spending
a
few
nights
at
a
time
at
his
girlfriend's
house
and
after
one
of
those
stretches
he
went
out
of
town
for
a
few
days.
During
that
time,
it
was
brought
to
my
attention
by
another
realtor,
who
attempted
to
show
the
property
to
a
prospective
buyer,
that
there
was
no
lockbox
at
the
property.
I
alerted
the
seller
and
the
following
day.
He
went
to
the
home
into
his
surprise.
T
There
was
a
family
living
in
his
home.
They
claimed
that
some
guy
had
rented
the
house
to
them
and
they
paid
this
person
in
cash.
They
showed
the
seller
a
piece
of
paper
that
was
supposed
to
be
a
lease,
but
it
had
no
rental
amount
or
any
other
terms
on
it.
The
seller
called
the
police
who
told
him
that,
because
the
people
had
been
there
for
more
than
72
hours
at
that
point,
he
would
now
have
to
go
to
the
courts
and
start
an
eviction
process
eviction.
T
He
questioned
how
can
I
evict
someone
that
I
never
even
rent
it
to
I
live
here?
I
was
away
for
a
few
days
and
now
I
can't
even
come
back
home.
He
was
in
disbelief
and
out
of
a
place
to
live
in
this
small,
so
the
next
day
he
went
back
to
the
police.
He
went
to
the
police
station
to
try
for
different
results
and
was
told
by
an
officer
that
who
had
overlooked
the
picture
of
the
bogus
lease
that
the
new
occupy
that
the
new
occupants
had
showed
the
seller.
T
The
officer
told
him
it
was
definitely
fraudulent
and
advised
the
seller
to
go
back
to
the
property
and
to
call
9-1-1
again
and
to
let
the
operator
know
that
people
were
trespassing
in
the
house.
The
seller
followed.
What
the
officer
told
him-
and
he
just
had
the
same
results
as
the
previous
night,
so
the
officers
arrived
on
the
scene.
They
reiterated
that
they
would
have
to
start
an
eviction
process
and
warned
him
that
he
could
be
tied
up
for
possibly
a
few
months
trying
to
get
these
people
out
and
that
it
could
be
quite
expensive.
T
T
Unfortunately,
after
he
served
them
court
papers
stating
that
they
would
have
to
appear
in
court
to
approve
they
had
rightful,
they
had
a
rightful
lease
for
the
house
that
people
ended
up
just
leaving
and
after
about
a
week,
but
it
took
them
a
few
more
weeks
on
top
of
that
before
he
could
return
to
live
in
the
home
and
to
get
it
back
on
the
market.
During
that
time,
the
seller
had
to
clean
up
the
house,
get
rid
of
the
smell
of
drugs
and
cat
urine
and
install
a
security
system.
T
A
N
Squatters
was
in
my
property
I
immediately
called
the
police
district,
and
that
was
when
my
nightmare
began
and
I
like
to
interrupt
by
saying
I'm
a
senior
citizen,
I'm
70
years
old,
and
that
this
really
affects
me.
You
know
heaven
said
that.
Let
me
continue.
I
was
bombarded
with
court
fees.
Nothing
seemed
to
get
close
to
closure,
come
close
to
closure
in
order
to
get
assistance
with
procedures.
I
visited
and
made
phone
calls
various
elected
officials,
so
they
could
advocate
and
place
calls
and
write
letters.
N
N
O
N
N
A
T
Thank
you.
It's
like
I
just
wanted
to
say
that
you
know
I'm,
sorry
to
hear
of
your
ordeal
that
you've
gone
through
for
you,
and
so
many
others
who
have
you
know
literally.
You
know
almost
walked
out
of
your
property
and
walk
back
to
find
someone
has
taken
taking
it
over,
and
you
know
what
we're
doing
today
is
really
trying
to
find
the
balance
between
recognizing
people
who
have
been
taken
advantage
of,
and
then
there
are
people
who
are
clearly
know.
C
T
T
You
know
is,
you
know,
very
familiar
with
obviously
how
to
operate
the
system.
It
sounds
like
that's.
What
has
happened
to
you
and
so
I
just
wanted
to
say
that
you
know.
I
am
sorry
that
you
haven't
received
the
level
of
help
that
you
certainly
deserve
and
would
love
to
talk
to
you
afterwards
about
you
know
and
anything
else
that
our
office
can
do
to
be
of
assistance
to
you.
T
So
I
just
really
wanted
to
say
that,
and
also
for
the
folks
who
were
here
earlier,
who
I
think
have
left,
who
were
also
victimized
when
they
went
to
rent
a
property
and
then
found
out
they
rented
from
someone
who
did
not
actually
own
the
property.
So
you
know
there's
so
many
victims
that
are
happening.
You
know
in
these
sorts
of
situations
the
the
bill
is
going
to
be
voted
on.
I
know
very
shortly,
and
mr.
chairman
I
just
wanted
to
be
on
record
and
saying.
T
Guy
I
do
intend
to
support
the
bill,
but
I
also
recognize
that
the
bill
sponsor
councilman
Oh
has
agreed
that
he
would
work
with
councilman
Parker,
who
had
very
heartfelt
concerns
and
is
working
really
hard
on
this
issue
as
well.
So
I'm
looking
forward
to
working
with
the
two
of
them
to
try
to
bring
some
resolution
for
everyone
affected.
So
thank
you
so
much
Thank.
N
So
we're
hopeful
that
we
can
get
this
done
and
while
I'm
and
while
I'm
supporting
this
bill,
certainly
I
support
as
trying
to
come
up
with
something
I
support,
Councilwoman
Parker
and
will
agree
with
her
amendments
that
she's
been
fighting
so
hard
on.
To
try
to
make
this
situation
than
what
the
way
it
should
be
to
try
to
have
a
true
correction
to
protect
all
involve.
Thank
you.
A
A
A
A
K
You,
mr.
chairman
and
I
thank
all
that
have
given
hours
of
time
for
testimony
and
research
and
can
been
in
contact
with
my
office.
I'd
like
to
say,
though,
before
the
vote
is
cast
that
I
am
supporting
this
bill,
though
I
believe
very
clearly.
It
is
not
a
perfect
piece
of
legislation
for
a
number
of
reasons,
but
I'm
supporting
it,
because
we're
at
a
crisis
point
with
illegal
tenants
and,
as
you
wouldn't
call
them
squatters
or
criminal
trespassers,
and
something
must
be
done
now.
K
I
have
personally
been
involved
in
three
criminal
trespass
situations,
I've
seen
the
harm
these
incidents
can
do
to
the
rightful
owners
in
Philadelphia
to
neighbors,
and
to
my
acknowledge
and
to
my
knowledge
we
are
the
only
big
city
in
America
that
has
a
problem
of
this
nature.
However,
I
do
not
believe
this
bill
is
the
complete
answer.
It's
merely
a
starting
point.
It
is
not
entirely
possible,
if
not
practical,
that
this
bill
will
see
further.
K
I
have
already
agreed
to
do
that
and
look
forward
to
working
with
her
I
also
need
to
advise
my
colleagues
which
they
may
know
or
may
not
that
my
dear
friend
and
colleague
in
the
Statehouse
state
representative,
John
Taylor,
who
actually
first
brought
the
first
situations
of
criminal
trespass
to
my
attention,
is
working
on
state
legislation
to
address
the
criminal
trespass
issue
and
should
that
pass
that
new
legislation
could
very
much
curtail
the
issue
that
legislation
would
likely
see
proceed
the
city's
own,
but
in
in
summary,
I
am
voting.
Aye
on
this
bill.
A
Before
we
to
go
to,
council
might
want
to
echo
some
statements
as
the
chairperson
I'm
in
support
of
the
bill
I'm,
also
in
support
of
councilman
Parker's
task
force
to
me
and
as
councilman
Todd
burger
said.
All
of
us
here
have
the
same
goal,
including
those
council
members
that
aren't
here,
and
that
is
to
solve
this
problem
in
the
right
way.
So,
whatever
we
can
do
to
solve
it
in
the
right
way,
that
is
our
goals.
Our
goal
back
in
November
and
I'm
glad
we're
continuing
to
move
forward
to
achieve
that
goal.
B
A
It's
been
moved
and
properly
seconded
bill
number
one
804
3
0
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
further
move
that
the
rules
of
council
be
suspended
to
permit
first
reading
this
bill
at
the
next
session
of
the
council.
All
those
in
favor
of
the
motion
will
signify
by
saying
aye
those
opposed
the
eyes
have
it,
and
the
motion
carries
bill
number.
A
A
G
Was
also
tasked
with
the
responsibility
of
being
caregiver
to
my
mother
was
born
in
1923
right
after
she
was
sold
a
home
in
a
flood
zone
within
a
year
she
met
with
12
feet
of
water,
following
that
she
ended
up
with
four
strokes.
I
then
became
her
caregiver,
and
the
property
that
was
flooded
was
signed
over
to
me
as
her
power
of
attorney.
G
An
advanced
medical
medical
directive
in
conjunction
we've
been
her
caregiver
I
was
then
faced
with
two
flats,
the
first
of
which
was
a
malfunction
with
the
waterways
water
dam
had
broken
and
had
given
us
about
four
or
five
feet
of
water.
By
that
time
we
had
no
heat.
The
furnace
had
been
washed
out.
The
water
heater
had
been
washed
out.
G
We
didn't
receive
any
kind
of
assistance.
We
were
directed
by
the
council
to
seek
an
low-interest
loan.
That
was
out
of
the
question
because,
as
we
were
already
living
on
a
fixed
budget,
although
we
had
gone
through
all
of
the
agencies
to
receive
compensation
or
assistance
for
being
a
relative
or
a
caregiver
of
our
elder
parent
under
parent
or
relative,
there
was
no.
There
was
no
compensation
given,
so
we
were
already
on
a
fixed
budget
with
my
mother
having
four
strokes
and
was
diagnosed
with
breast
cancer.
Money
was
not
the
primary
concern
for
me.
G
Keeping
her
alive
was
after
suffering
the
two
floods.
There
again
came
another
situation
where
my
mother
had
to
be
placed
in
a
long-term
care
facility,
because
we
had
no
heat
and
no
hot
water
as
a
result
of
the
flood.
During
that
time,
my
mother
was
placed,
and
I
was
tasked
again
with
recovering
our
home.
This
was,
after
being
flooded
twice
about
95
percent
into
the
renovation
or
restoration
of
our
home.
G
During
this
time
my
whole
life
had
to
stop,
and
my
life
was
only
focused
around
maintaining
our
homestead,
which
was
purchased
by
my
sister,
then
transferred
to
my
mother
and
then
to
me
and
to
my
family,
so
that
we
would
always
have
a
place
when
FEMA
came
in
to
do
the
assessment
of
the
damages
the
pictures
were
taken,
but
before
that
happened,
you
have
to
show
ownership.
Fema
would
not
even
enter
the
home
unless
the
homeowner
was
there.
G
I
am
alright.
Some
of
the
issues
involved
over
that
we
raised
today
were
elder
abuse
when
a
person
has
taken
everything
that
they
own
everything
that
they've
worked
for
and
sort
of
like
downsized
it
and
put
it
into
a
little
home
and
then
gets
flooded
out.
There
has
to
be
more
than
just
a
task
force
of
council
people
who
adjust
the
issues
that
are
related
to
flooding.
Now
floating
is
happening
in
in
areas
where
flooding
never
happened
before
you
can't
assess
well,
this
is
a
hundred
year.
Flood
plain-
and
this
is
not.
G
There
are
new
properties
that
are
being
built
that
the
next
year
they're
being
flooded
out.
We
have
to
have
federal
individuals
who
are
familiar
with
the
federal
laws
and
the
protections
we
have
to
have
veterans
on
staff
who
are
familiar
with
the
veterans
protections
when
you
have
certain
rights
that
have
been
granted
to
you
that
are
in
a
lea.
Bull
rides
that
are
granted
to
you
for
life
as
a
United,
States,
Air,
Force
veteran.
They
should
not
be
addressed
by.
G
G
All
right:
well,
when
you
have
a
situation
when
you're
asking
for
individuals
to
deal
with
something
as
if
it's
a
civil
matter,
it's
definitely
criminal.
How
can
you
have
someone
who
is
who
has
violated
the
federal
laws,
a
committed
fraud,
presented
fraudulent
documents
and
still
say
it's
not
criminal
and
it's
a
civil
matter.
Okay,.
A
Thank
you
for
your
testimony.
There
be
no
further
business
before
the
Committee
on
housing,
Neighborhood,
Development
and
the
homeless
today,
the
camp.
This
concludes
the
public
hearing
and
the
business
of
the
Committee
on
housing,
Neighborhood,
Development
and
the
homeless.
For
today,
and
thank
you
for
your
very
much
for
your
attendance.
Thank
you.