►
From YouTube: Committee on Law and Government 6-7-2017
Description
The Committee on Law and Government of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 to hear testimony on the following items:
170204 An Ordinance amending Chapter 10-200 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Ethnic Intimidation and Institutional Vandalism," to clarify and revise its scope and related penalties, all under certain terms and conditions.
170401 An Ordinance amending Section 17-2102 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Council Review of Contracts with Certain Entities," to restore the exemption from Council review provided in the Home Rule Charter for certain contracts between the City and the Support Center for Child Advocates, under certain terms and conditions.
170564 An Ordinance amending Section 2-305 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Office of Property Assessment; Chief Assessment Officers; Powers and Duties," by further providing with respect to the manner in which assessments are determined for certain properties that are subject to rent restrictions, affordability requirements and other related restrictions, and for properties with respect to which federal or state income tax credits have been obtained; and by providing for additional reporting requirements with respect to such properties; all under certain terms and conditions.
Committee on Law and Government
Chair: Councilman Bill Greenlee (At Large)
Vice Chair: Councilman Derek Green (At Large)
A
B
Morning,
chairman
Greenlee
council,
president
Clark
and
members,
the
Committee
on
law
and
government,
my
name
is
Julie
Wertheimer,
I'm,
chief
of
staff,
rimmel
justice,
the
city
Philadelphia
I'm,
here
to
testify
in
support
of
build
number
one.
Seven
zero,
four
zero
one
introduced
I
have
Simon
green
Lee,
which
restores
the
exemption
from
council
review,
provided
in
the
Home
Rule
Charter
for
certain
contracts
between
the
city
and
the
support
center
for
child
advocates
under
certain
terms
and
conditions,
since
its
founding
in
1977,
sportscenter
is
treating
more
than
8,000
attorneys
who
contribute
pro
bono
services
to
protect
children.
B
This
legislation
exempts
the
support
center
from
City
Council
review
for
their
contract
to
provide
counsel
for
children
who
cannot
be
represented
in
legal
matters
by
the
defender,
Association
of
Philadelphia
or
another
provider
due
to
a
conflict.
This
is
a
core
function
of
the
justice
system
and
a
service.
The
city
is
obligated
to
provide,
in
addition
to
representation,
support
Center
provides
social
workers
to
address
the
child's
needs,
while
under
the
agency's
representation.
This
exemption
will
allow
the
administrative
process
to
awarding
conform
their
contract,
as
well
as
make
timely
payments
on
invoices.
B
A
You
miss
worth
harm
just
for
the
record.
This
kind
of
puts
the
center
for
Sports
Centre
for
child
advocates
back
where
they
were
before,
basically
write
it
without
getting
in
a
whole
lot
detail.
They
got
caught
in
the
middle
of
a
dispute
between
the
administration
and
Council
last
time,
I
think
councilmen,
former
councilman
O'brien
was
right
in
the
bill
he
put
in,
but
it
was
not
yet.
The
intent
was
never
to
to
in
any
way
cause
problems
for
the
Sports
Center,
because
they
do
a
great
job
in
in
their
representation.
A
B
D
Since
the
presidential
election
in
November,
2016
Philadelphia,
like
most
cities
around
the
country,
has
seen
a
significant
increase
in
hate
crimes
and
bias.
Incidents
from
racist
graffiti,
including
symbols
of
the
swastika
two
physical
attacks,
including
one
against
a
woman
for
wearing
hijab
manifestations
of
hate,
have
touched
us
everywhere.
D
Among
these
incidents
has
been
the
desecration
of
multiple
cemeteries
motor,
most
of
which
have
been
Jewish
burial
grounds.
In
February,
2017,
more
than
500
headstones
were
overturned
at
Mount,
Carmel
cemetery
and
with
Sonoma
and
Jeff.
Last
month,
five
headstones
were
overturned
at
a
de-stressor
and
in
Frankfort
across
the
country
desecration
at
cemeteries
in
Missouri,
New,
York
and
elsewhere
have
hit
the
headlines.
Vandalism
at
cemeteries
is
not
new
nor
limited
to
Jewish
sites,
but
these
targeted
attacks
have
widespread
effects
Sunday,
since
they
hit
at
the
cultural
identity
of
religious
or
ethnic
communities.
D
They
also
send
a
ripple
effect
of
fear
throughout
communities
and
neighborhoods
surrounding
the
site.
On
a
personal
note,
I
have
family
buried
at
both
the
Jewish
cemeteries
that
were
vandalized
and
was
relieved
to
learn
that
their
gravestones,
especially
that
of
my
beloved
grandmother,
were
untouched,
but
I
still
grieve
with
the
families
of
those
whose
graves
were
attacked
at
the
PCH.
Our
we've
been
tracking
bias
and
hate
and
incidents
that
occurred
in
the
city
since
November.
To
date,
we
have
received
reports
of
61
separate
incidents
according
to
law
enforcement.
11
of
these
reports
were
not
hate.
D
Related
12
are
confirmed,
45
are
still
unconfirmed,
since
many
of
these
incidents
involve
vandalism
to
property.
It
is
very
difficult
to
find
the
perpetrators
of
these
acts,
but,
regardless
of
the
criminal
outcome,
the
PCH
our
response
to
these
incidents
from
a
community
perspective
after
any
hate
or
bias
incident,
our
Community
Relations
Division
works
to
bring
people
together
to
help
the
community
heal
and
hope
we
become
stronger.
D
The
city's
ethnic
intimidation
and
institutional
vandalism
ordinance
covers
conduct
perform
with
the
intent
to
injure
another
person
or
group
of
persons
or
his
or
her
property
because
of
such
other
persons
or
groups,
race,
religion
or
national
origin.
It
is
important
to
note
that
in
2014,
Council
passed
another
law
now
at
section
ten
dash
2200
of
the
code
titled
hate
crimes
that
also
covers
people
based
on
sexual
orientation,
gender
identity,
gender
and
disability.
D
Under
the
code,
institutional
vandalism
is
broadly
defined
as
intentionally
desecrating
vandalizing
or
defacing
facilities,
such
as
places
of
religious
worship,
cemeteries
or
any
courthouse
or
historic
monument
bill.
One,
seven:
zero:
two
zero
four
would
amend
certain
subsections
of
the
ordinance
to
include
any
property
located
in
any
facility,
including,
but
not
limited
to
any
headstone
grave
marker
or
grave
site.
D
In
addition,
the
bill
would
increase
the
penalties
so
that
each
act
of
ethnic
intimidation
and
each
act
of
institutional
vandalism
included,
including
each
act
of
vandalizing,
an
individual,
headstone
or
grave
marker,
would
constitute
a
separate
violation
subject
to
monetary
fines
of
a
class
three
offence
and
upon
this
third
successive
violation
imprisonment
of
thirty
days.
The
recent
spike
in
hate
and
bias
activity
in
2016
and
2017
is
disturbing
and
contrary
to
the
ideals
of
the
Quakers
who
founded
Philadelphia
as
a
sitter
city
of
brotherly
love,
sisterly,
affection
and
a
haven
of
religious
freedom
and
tolerance.
D
A
Thank
you,
thank
you
and
again,
as
we
say
all
the
time,
thank
you
for
all
the
work
you
do
in
your
commissioned
and
certainly
on
the
quick
response
to
these
issues
before
I
recognize
councilman
Johnson.
Just
one
question
the
you
you
talked
about
to
date
since
November
you
receive
reports
of
61,
separate
incidents,
any
comparison
to
how
that
is
over
a
representative
period
of
time.
In
the
past,
it's.
D
D
D
We're
definitely
not
counting
capturing
all
the
work
because
of
our
lovely
database
system,
but
what
we
have
now
is
an
Excel
spreadsheet
and
we
are
working
as
closely
with
the
police,
as
I
have
seen
in
the
nine
years
that
I've
been
at
the
Commission
any
time
an
incident
occurs
that
could
be
bias
or
hate
related.
We
are
immediately
being
contacted
with
the
incident
we're
getting
updates
from
the
police
on
their
activity
and
we're
going
out
to
do
our
own
investigation.
So
it's
hard
to
compare
the
61,
my
you
know
just
personal
experience
and
responses.
D
A
E
Hopefully
they
will
be
supportive
of
your
budget
request
as
you
move
forward,
so
you
can
improve
the
data
collection
system,
that's
a
part
of
the
interrelations
Commission,
because
I
think,
most
importantly,
when
you
address
these
particular
issues,
we're
only
effective
if
you
have
the
resources
going
to
support
behind
one.
So
when
you
have
these
types
of
instance
of
hate,
other
instance
of
discrimination,
you
should
have
a
full
backing.
The
support
of
this
fearful
adoption,
so
I
don't
have
a
problem
and
I'm.
E
In
this
particular
case,
you
know
we
want
to
make
sure
we
send
a
clear
message
to
those
walks
in
City
cowards
who
engage
in
a
desecration
of
the
Jewish
cemetery
headstones
at
these
Jewish
cemetery
at
the
cemeteries
of
the
Jewish
headstones
throughout
on
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
particularly
the
northeast
part
of
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
and
also
we
don't
condone
any
forms
of
hate
for
anything
any
any
of
any
individuals
regardless
of
their
background.
But
in
this
particular
case
we
want
to
make
sure
that
those
welcome
to
the
cowards.
E
Those
individuals
should
be
prosecuted
and
get
a
clear
message
from
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
It
all
shouldn't
be
tolerated.
It
will
not
be
tolerated,
so
we
thank
you
for
stepping
up
to
the
plate.
Our
thank
you
for
being
here
today
and
we'll
continue
to
stay
on
the
case.
There's
something
I've
always
been
passionate
about
just
by
me
having
a
full
understanding
of
the
civil
rights
movement
here,
not
only
in
the
city
or
the
office.
E
At
all
throughout
the
country
has
always
been
an
agenda,
something
I'm,
passionate,
passionate
about
making
sure
that
all
forms,
a
hate,
isn't
tolerated,
grab
I'm
Alexis
issue,
but
not
that's
just
my
background.
It's
just
what
I
come
from
so
I
sincerely.
Thank
you
for
being
one
of
the
key
leaders
in
the
city
of
foot
off
the
addressing
this
issue.
Thank.
D
You
so
much
what
a
we
appreciate
you
so
much
and
moving
on
issues
like
this
one
of
the
things
that
I
love
about
the
when
we
amend
laws
and
get
to
put
these
issues
out
in
the
press,
is
they
actually
act
as
a
deterrent
to
the
crimes
and
some
people
ask
throughout
the
state
like?
Oh,
you
passed
this
law.
How
many
new
cases
did
you
get?
E
The
unique
approach
about
this
legislation-
and
it
was
brought
to
my
attention
by
my
staff-
is
that
the
penalties
will
be
per
headstone
as
opposed
to
one
if
there's
a
hole
and
I
think
that's
in
the
real
clear
message
that
if
you
are
caught
and
apprehended
that
you
will
still
have
confined,
as
you
should
be
well,
thank
you
very
much.
Okay,.
A
F
Morning,
I'm
Rob
record
I'm,
the
vice
president
of
the
with
Sonoma
Civic
Association,
go
ahead,
I'd
like
to
just
share
a
little
bit
about
with
Sonoma
we're
a
community
nestled
between
Frankford,
Mayfair,
bride's,
Berg
and
Taccone.
In
many
ways
our
community
had
lost
its
identity,
we're
a
community
without
a
bank.
Without
a
library
we
allow
many
of
the
trendy
communities
in
the
city
have
coffee
shops
on
every
corner.
We
don't
have
what
real
estate
agents
have
started
talking
about
our
community,
referring
to
us
as
East
Mayfair
or
just
referring
to
it
as
the
Northeast.
F
F
There's
good
things
happening
in
the
community,
there's
a
new
shopping
center
opening,
which
will
bring
us
a
grocery
store
in
some
national
chains.
St.
Barths
recently
sold
its
abandoned
parish
school
to
new
Courtland
services,
going
to
bring
senior
services
to
our
community
and
take
care
of
what
was
a
vacant
property.
F
Our
Civic
Association
was
restarted
a
few
years
ago
with,
with
the
help
of
Councilman
heated.
In
the
last
couple
years,
we
started
trying
to
instill
community
pride.
We
have
an
annual
Christmas
tree
lighting
a
spring
clean-up
day
on
tourist
Dale,
Avenue
Street,
with
Sonoma
Street
banners
and
we
started
to
and
we
participate
annually
in
the
May
Fair
Thanksgiving
Day
Parade
we're
really
working
to
try
to
instill
that
sense
of
pride
in
our
community
by
these
cleanup
days,
etc.
F
Our
response
state
representative,
Gary
Coleman
approaches
about
doing
a
town
hall
after
one
of
our
Civic
Association
meetings.
To
be
honest,
I
was
nervous
about
what
that
would.
The
outcome
of
that
would
be.
I
was
truly
impressed
by
my
neighbors
from
all
backgrounds
who
were
alarmed
and
wanted
to
do
something.
F
F
We're
proud
of
that
now
and
we're
going
to
take
ownership
of
our
diversity,
and
this
walk
for
peace
will
probably
become
an
annual
event,
but
the
harm
that
this
kind
of
activity
brings
to
the
neighborhood
and
our
sense
of
neighborhood
pride
cannot
be
overcome
by
a
walk
or
street
banners.
We
need
to
stop
the
from
happening
in
future
and
that's
why
the
Civic
Association
is
here
to
support
the
bill.
Okay,
thank.
A
F
G
My
name
is
Brett
Goldman,
and
this
morning
I
am
here
in
the
capacity
as
a
member
of
the
domestic
affairs
committee
of
the
Jewish
Community
Relations
Council
of
the
Jewish
Federation
of
Greater
Philadelphia
I
am
here
to
express
the
support
of
the
Jewish
Federation
of
Greater
Philadelphia
for
Bill
1
702
0
for
introduced
by
councilman
Johnson,
in
the
wake
of
unprecedented
resurgence
in
anti-semitism
over
the
last
several
months,
both
locally
and
nationally,
for
reasons
which
are
complex
and
yet
to
be
fully
understood.
Highlights
of
anti-semitic
incidents
from
the
past.
G
Numerous
acts
of
solidarity
and
support
were
shown
by
our
Muslim
and
Christian
brothers
and
sisters,
local
trade
unions
and
state
and
local
elected
officials.
The
city
of
Philadelphia
quickly
mobilized
to
facilitate
the
cleanup
of
the
site
for
which
we
are
incredibly
grateful.
In
the
days
after
the
incident,
a
rally
was
held
on
Independence
Mall
that
brought
out
thousands
of
members
of
our
community
and
our
allies
with
the
message
that
when
we
say
never
again,
we
mean
never
again
and
that
hate
bias
and
intimidation
of
any
kind
are
not
welcome.
G
In
our
city,
nearly
150
thousand
dollars
was
raised
in
very
short
period
of
time
from
across
the
country
and
other
parts
of
the
world
that
would
help
defray
the
cost
of
repairs
and
future
maintenance
of
the
site.
In
addition
to
the
work
being
done
on
behalf
of
the
Jewish
communal
institutions
in
Philadelphia,
numerous
grassroots
efforts
have
been
created
and
have
educated
hundreds
of
our
friends
and
allies
on
the
issues
of
anti-semitism,
civic
engagement
and
current
events.
Despite
the
reward
that
has
been
posted,
the
Vandals
have
not
been
caught.
G
We
believe
that
the
ratification
of
ordinance,
one-seven-zero
2:04,
will
act
as
a
deterrent
towards
future
acts
of
anti-semitism,
bias
and
hate
in
Philadelphia,
and
that
defines
with
this
ordinance
may
help
offset
the
cost
of
future
repairs.
But
we
hope
that
doesn't
have
to
happen
whatever
the
case
may
be,
the
Jewish
community,
our
organizations
and
our
allies
in
and
around
Philadelphia
will
remain
steadfast
in
our
work.
G
A
A
E
And
foremost,
I
want
to
thank
Brett
for
taking
time
out
of
his
schedule
and
being
here
and
providing
your
testimony
in
support
of
this
bill,
and
it
also
highlights
the
importance
that
we
hear
as
members.
The
council
representing
the
city
of
Philadelphia
will
continue
to
be
built,
villages
and
stepping
up
to
the
plate
and
addressing
all
forms
they
hate
here,
and
this
is
it
for
the
office.
I
want
to
sincerely
say
thank
you.
Thank
you
and
Rock
represent
Elissa
doming
Civic,
Association
and
I
mentioned
I
heard.
H
E
More
when
these
types
of
just
take
place
and
you
organizing
the
community
bringing
people
together
during
the
peace
walk
during
the
candlelight
vigils
and
protesting
these
types
of
incidents
served
as
a
deterrent.
But,
most
importantly,
it
shows
all
those
cowards
that
are
hiding
in
the
dark
right
who
are
probably
walking
around
a
neighborhood
right
that
these
acts
will
not
be
tolerated.
E
It
also
goes
toward
addressing
the
issue
of
hate
and
bringing
people's
people
together
continue
to
engage
in
those
forms
of
advocacy,
because
at
the
end
of
the
day,
it's
going
to
take
all
of
us
to
roll
up
our
sleeves
and
fight
back.
Those
who
promote
hate
in
this
country,
I
mean
is
2017
and
we're
still
dealing
with
issues
that,
for
the
most
part,
wish
we.
We
should
be
thinking
that
we're
beyond,
but
nevertheless
that's
not
the
environment.
Currently,
with
the
current
federal
leadership,
that's
just
encouraging.
You
know
glad
you
said.
E
A
B
Number
one:
seven:
zero
five,
six
four:
it
ordinance
amending
section,
2,
dash
305
of
the
Philadelphia
Code
entitled
office
of
property
assessment,
chief
assessment
officers,
powers
and
duties
by
further,
providing
with
respecting
the
manner
in
which
assessments
are
determined
for
certain
properties
that
are
subject
to
rent
restrictions,
affordability,
requirements
and
other
related
restrictions
and
for
properties
with
respect
to
which
federal
or
state
income
tax
credits
have
been
obtained
and
by
providing
for
additional
reporting
requirements
with
respect
to
such
properties,
all
under
certain
terms
and
conditions.
Thank.
A
Mr.
Piper's
coming
up
I
know,
there's
a
number
of
other
people
who
wish
testify
on
this
bill.
A
lot
of
you
have
put
your
written
testimony
and
I
would
respectfully
ask
that
you
summarize
your
statements.
I
know
some
of
even
there
may
be
some
questions
of
you
too.
So
we
would
appreciate
because
we
we
have
two
more
committees
hearings
after
after
this
one,
so
we
want
to
try
to
move
forward
as
quickly
as
possible,
but
still
address
the
issue.
So
mr.
Piper
good
morning,
41.
I
A
J
K
Good
morning,
councilman
Greenlee
and
members
of
City
Council,
I'm,
Michael,
Piper,
chief
assessment
officer
for
the
office
of
property
assessment
and
I.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
address
this
committee
today
with
me
is
drew
all
dinger
senior
attorney
for
the
office
of
property
assessment,
non-inertial,
real
property
evaluation
supervisor
and
John
Doyle,
ma
I
of
Doyle
real
estate
advisors
and
for
the
past
year,
a
consultant
for
the
office
of
property
assessment.
K
We
are
here
to
present
testimony
on
bill
number
one
7-0
564,
which
addresses
the
methodologies
for
assessing
certain
rental
properties
that
are
the
beneficiaries
of
low-income
housing
tax
credits
regarding
the
aspects
of
assessment
methodology
addressed
in
this
bill,
the
office
of
property
assessment
is
generally
an
agreement
with
the
bills
proposals.
However,
we
do
have
some
concerns
for
recent
tax
years.
The
city
of
Philadelphia
has
valued
these
above
reference,
taxable
properties
on
a
uniform
per
unit
basis.
K
These
projects
long
considered
a
desired
public-private
partnership
that
encourages
needed,
affordable
housing
are
encumbered
with
some
restrictions
that
affect
market
value,
as
it
is
generally
defined.
With
respect
to
the
valuation
methodologies
used
to
value
these
properties,
Opa
has
consistently
recognized
these
restrictions
that
effect
these
business
entities
bottom
line
from
both
the
income
and
expense
perspective.
K
As
per
Section
402
C
of
the
Pennsylvania
General
County
Assessment
Law
Act
of
1933
Pennsylvania
law,
853,
has
amended
seventy-two
perdón
statute,
subsection,
fifty
twenty
402c
requiring
that
rent
and
other
related
restrictions
be
considered
when
arriving
at
actual
value
of
such
properties.
Opa
currently
conforms
with
this
requirement.
K
Furthermore,
has
federal
and
taken
state
income
tax
credits
with
respect
to
such
properties
may
not
by
law,
be
considered
as
revenue
that
can
be
used
in
developing
a
net
operating
income.
Opa
does
not
consider
these
credits
in
our
valuation
methodology.
The
formula
for
which
we
arrive
at
the
substantially
discounted
value
is
available
upon
request,
and
certainly
as
part
of
any
appeal
discussing
with
the
taxpayer,
whose
assessment
is
being
disputed.
K
K
However,
the
representative
sample
is,
as
with
any
classification
of
property
when
we
do
mass
appraisal,
a
sample
taken
from
a
universe
that
Opa
Opa
has
determined
is
a
representative
of
the
entire
universe
of
properties
in
order
for
opa
to
be
confident
that
the
sample
is
truly
representative,
opa
would
need
access
to
the
entire
universe
of
audits.
Currently,
the
owners
of
these
projects
are
not
required
to
submit
the
audits
to
the
office
of
property
assessment
and
without
having
access
to
the
entire
universe
of
current
audits
for
all
such
rental
properties.
K
A
pre-selected
sample,
while
helpful,
has
only
a
limited
benefit
and
how
it
may
factor
into
what
information
OPA
needs
to
value
this
universal
properties
on
a
fair,
accurate
and
uniform
per
unit
basis.
I.
Thank
you
for
this
opportunity
to
present
testimony
and
would
be
happy
to
answer
any
questions
that
you
may
not
have.
Okay,.
A
Thank
you,
I
assume
you're
all
here,
just
for
yes,
backup,
okay,
miss
Piper!
Thank
you!
First
of
all
for,
and
you
kind
of
said
this,
but
it
is
a
true
that
basically,
this
the
proposed
ordinance
is
basically
asking
or
requesting
the
city
requiring
the
city
to
adhere
to
state
law.
It
already
exists
for.
A
K
And
right
and
based
on
what
we
see,
I
wouldn't
disagree
with
you
councilman.
The
only
concern
is
that
the
sample
representative
for
the
representative
sample
or
the
randomly
selected
sample,
however,
you
want
to
look
at
it-
is
something
that
we
need
to
be
able
to
number
one
continue
to
define
and
we
define
it
as
something
that
we've
deemed
to
be
representative
by
at
least
having
access
to
the
entire
universe.
K
A
Right
again,
this
is
a
my
bill,
but
I
think
as
I
stated
before,
I
don't
think
in
any
way.
It's
limiting
you
from
going
farther.
You
know,
I
think
it
was
just
the
baseline
if
you
will
now.
As
far
as
you
say,
that
these
projects
are
not
required
to
submit
the
audits
to
the
property
assessment
okay
had
had,
they
been
asked
to
from
what
my
understanding
is
and
we're
going
to
hear
from
a
lot
of
representatives
of
these
of
these
groups.
They
have
them.
L
A
K
We
haven't
asked
all
of
them:
okay,
and
the
reason
is
because
there's
been
no
disagreement
on
the
assessments,
but
the
time
in
which
we
would
ask
would
be
when
an
appeal
is
filed
or
if,
if
before
we
do
another
assessment,
we
see
that
there's
an
opening,
because
they're
amenable
to
it's,
not
the
kind
of
information
that
we're
necessarily
expecting
to
get
from
everyone.
To
be
honest,
which,
because
we
recognize
that's
the
nature
of
assessment,
you
know
we
this.
The
taxing
jurisdiction,
has
the
power
to
assess
your
real
estate
and
essentially
reach
into
your
pop.
K
Well,
I'm
trying
to
be
now
I
would
a
blunt
without,
but
you
know,
but
but
on
the
other
hand,
the
taxpayer
also
has
the
power
to
not
give
you
information.
That
is
where
Isis
airily
want
to
help
them.
So
we
we
understand
that
and
we
live
with
those
those
confines.
However,
on
an
appeal
on
the
taxpayer
would
be
asked
to
bring
that
information
in
and
specifically
that
information
with
these
types
of
properties.
We
wouldn't
ask
for
pictures.
K
We
wouldn't
ask
for
examples
of
market
rents
for
similar
type
of
properties,
because
we
understand
we
cannot
and
we
do
not
value
these
based
on
market
rents.
We
have
to
look
at
actual
rents
right,
but
that's
the
only
information
we
would
ask
for
one
appeal.
So
one
appeal
we're
expecting
to
ask
for
this:
I.
A
A
A
A
A
Okay,
Norma
Spencer
responds
I'm
going
to
answer
you
start
and
maybe
particularly
we
have
your
written
testimony,
but
I
know
you
have
worked
a
lot
on
these
issues
and
in
in
your
opinion,
if
you
could
start
out
by
how
do
you
feel
that
opa,
the
assessments
that
have
been
given
for
this
year?
How
do
you
think
they
came
to
those
those
findings?
In
your
opinion,
I
don't
know,
sir.
Okay,
all
right
did,
I
say
state
your
name
for
the
record.
Please
make.
N
Your
pardon
state,
your
name
for
the
right.
My
name
is
Walter
Spencer
yan-lo
in
it.
Thank
there
you
go.
Thank
you.
I,
don't
know.
Sir
I
saw
in
his
testimony
this
morning.
Did
mr.
Piper
said
to
Poe
PA
had
a
formula
that
they
used
and
I'll
be
interesting
to
see
that
formula.
Okay,
what
it's
available!
Okay,.
N
N
I
basically
did
was
what
OPA
is
suggesting
they're
going
to
do.
The
City
Council
technical
staff,
provided
me
with
a
sample
of
19
audits
of
LIHTC
properties,
will
income
housing,
tax
credit
properties?
What
I
did
was
I
went
through
those
audits
live
by
line
identified,
the
expenses,
the
income
and
expenses
that
are
associated
with
the
property,
determined
their
net
income
and
then
based
on
that
determination
based
on
determining
in
that
income
estimated
what
a
buyer
would
pay
for
those
properties.
N
In
the
case
of
Butler
County
or
Butler
Street
versus
Northampton
County,
the
Commonwealth
Court
ruled
this
was
the
proper
approach,
and
so
what
I
want
to
do?
Very
briefly,
is
summarize
for
you
the
five
findings
that
I
made
19
projects
include
over
a
thousand
apartments.
The
highest
value
partment
was
30
thousand
dollars
less
than
the
average
thirty
six
thirty
eight
thousand
six
hundred
dollar
value
recommended
by
OTA
the
average
value
apartment
per
apartment,
was
$9,200.
N
$9,200
badges
because
they
had
operating
loss
since,
according
to
their
audited
statements,
that's
a
group
I
calculated
that
of
the
19
projects
can
be
23%
of
the
value
calculated
by
OPA
and
I.
Believe
it'll
fall,
PA
obtaining
the
are
obtaining
the
sample
watts
or
if
they
obtained
all
the
audits,
and
they
were
to
do
a
review
good
dirt,
they
would
develop
values
that
are
different
than
the
ones
that
they
included
on
the
2017
assessment
role.
Thank
you.
You.
C
Good
morning,
mr.
chairman
members
of
City
Council,
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
on
this
subject.
I'm
a
state
tax
practitioner,
state
and
local
taxes
and
I've
been
working
in
that
field.
For
many
many
years,
I
represent
a
number
of
entities
that
sponsored
low-income
housing,
tax,
credit
properties
among
them
Catholic
Healthcare
Services,
which
is
an
arm
of
the
Diocese
of
Philadelphia.
C
C
One
of
the
prime
reasons
why
this
bill
is
introduced
is
that
OPA
has
proposed
raising
the
value
of
these
properties
from
twenty
two
thousand
five
hundred
dollars
in
market
value
per
unit
to
thirty.
Eight
thousand.
Seven
hundred
and
I
have
yet
to
see
an
explanation
why?
Every
single,
low
income,
housing
tax
credit
property
suddenly
was
increased
in
value
by
60.
Some
odd
percent
personally
I.
Don't
think
that
that's
credible,
these
properties
are
not
worth
anything.
C
They
are
so
tightly
restricted
with
rent
restrictions
out
35
years
15
as
a
result
of
federal
law
and
another
20
as
a
result
of
Pennsylvania
law
through
the
Pennsylvania
Housing
Finance
Agency,
they
have
very
little
value
and
they
certainly
do
not
have
thirty.
Eight
thousand
seven
hundred
dollars
per
unit
I
personally
have
never
seen
or
even
have
identified
a
single
sale
in
the
market
of
these
properties.
While
they
are
subject
to
the
restrictions,
not
one
there
may
be
one
somewhere
in
the
United.
C
States
probably
is
a
big
country,
but
I've
never
seen
it
if
they're
all
that
valuable,
where
the
sales,
the
low-income
housing
tax
credit
provisions
of
the
Internal
Revenue
Code,
are
the
prime
source
of
low-income
housing
in
the
United
States.
There
used
to
be
several
programs
that
were
used.
This
is
the
main
one
by
an
overwhelming
majority.
If
you
cannot
qualify
for
these
tax
credits,
you
probably
cannot
build
this
housing.
C
There
is
a
screaming
need
in
this
city
for
low-income
housing,
so
the
government
should
do
whatever
is
lawful
and
appropriate
to
facilitate
the
construction
of
these
properties,
using
the
benefit
that
the
federal
government
is
offering
to
people.
That's
the
purpose
of
section
42
under
the
code,
a
couple
of
other
and
a
couple
of
other
quick
points.
C
When
a
project
is
proposed,
it
must
be
approved
by
the
Housing
Finance
Agency,
the
Pennsylvania
agency
and
they're,
the
ones
who
allocate
the
credits.
If
you
don't
get
a
credits
from
them,
you
don't
have
the
credits.
Okay,
the
project
has
to
be
feasible,
which
means
a
reasonable
person
to
look
at.
It
say
this
can
actually
work
and
won't
go
broke
in
five
years.
That's
the
point
of
it.
So
they
look
at
the
projections
very
carefully.
C
C
If
you
move
money
from
the
rentals
into
taxes,
you
are,
by
definition,
going
to
reduce
the
number
of
properties
of
units
available
or
make
them
less
attractive
or
eliminate
the
community
center
we're
talking
about
moving
money
from
one
place
to
another,
so
imposing
additional
taxes.
Any
taxes
at
all,
but
particularly
a
whopping
increase
like
what
we've
got
here,
is
going
to
just
take
it
away
from
poor
people.
That
strikes
me
is
contrary
to
good
public
policy.
C
Unless
the
OPA
reconsiders
it's
proposed,
increases
and
I
would
say,
the
increases
are
on
the
Internet.
If
you
go,
look
at
their
site,
get
an
address
of
a
low-income
housing
tax
credit
court,
a
property
and
look
it
up
there.
It
is
at
38
7
per
unit.
You
just
do
the
math,
every
single
one
of
them
you're
going
to
have
an
appeal.
People
like
me
will
represent
the
clients.
We
serve.
Take
an
appeal:
it's
not
right.
C
That's
going
to
mean
you're,
going
to
have
hundreds
of
appeals
before
Opa
and
eventually
BRT
and
maybe
to
the
courts
and
that's
wonderful
for
state
tax
litigators.
Like
me,
it's
no
good
for
the
public,
because
all
it's
doing
is
draining
public
and
charitable
money
for
issues
that
should
be
resolved
way
before
you
get
to
that
point.
C
C
The
Sir
Spencer
here
use
those
and
they're
available
to
anybody.
So
the
bottom
line
here
to
me
is
I
think
the
proposed
increase
is
way
out
of
line
and
I
think
the
bill
should
I
recommend
should
pass
because
I
think
it
will
reinforce
the
intention
of
the
General
Assembly
in
the
restrictions
that
they've
placed
on
valuing
these
properties
and
will
add
some
additional
requirements
that
will
advance
that
purpose
and
bring
these
down
to
a
value
that
will
accommodate
the
social
policy
of
what
should
be
the
social
policy
of
this
city.
Thank
you
all
right.
A
M
Have
okay,
great
and
so
good
morning,
and
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
here
today.
Sorry
and
my
name
is
Laura
Weinbaum
I'm,
the
vice
president
for
public
affairs
and
strategic
initiatives
at
project
home
and
a
lot
of
what
I
would
have
said
is
in
this
document
is
a
lot
of
what
mr.
Spencer
mr.
bright
have
already
said.
M
As
you
probably
know,
project
home
is
one
of
the
largest
affordable
housing
providers
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
with
802
units
as
of
about
month
from
now
and
another
242
in
our
plans
pipeline
I'm,
bringing
us
to
over
a
thousand
units,
and
this
would
definitely
begin
to
put
our
pipeline
in
jeopardy,
as
you
probably
also
saw
in
the
paper.
The
other
day,
we
opened
applications
for
our
new
residence
at
24:15,
North,
Broad
Street,
which
is
going
to
be
88
units.
In
the
first
day
and
a
half,
we
got
over
a
thousand
applications.
M
M
With
about
eight
million
dollars
in
tax
credit,
Awards
we've
been
able
to
turn
that
into
about
seventy
five
million
in
equity
plus
another
forty
four
million
in
additional
investment,
and
we
raise
additional
money
every
year
to
support
the
support
services
that
go
into
helping
people
who
have
experienced
homelessness,
retain
and
maintain
affordable
housing.
The
third
is
that,
as
mr.
bright
really
beautifully
articulated,
the
cash
flow
for
these
properties
only
supports
the
operations
of
these
properties
and
our
programs.
M
We
do
fully
support
councilman,
Clark
and
Councilman
O'neal's
proposed
ordinance
to
amend
vo
piays
assessment
procedures,
we're
grateful
for
the
opportunity
to
work
together
to
find
a
sustainable
solution
to
the
affordable
housing
crisis
in
our
city,
because
none
of
us
are
home
until
all
of
us
are
home.
Thank
you.
Thank.
A
You
Miss
Ron.
Thank
you,
the
three
of
you
I
just
have
one
question:
I
recognize,
councilman,
O'neal,
I,
miss
wife,
I
think
this
is
probably
best
for
you.
You
heard
the
issues
raised
with
mr.
Piper
as
far
as
the
audits
and
all
that
have
you
ever
been
asked
for
for
that
by
Opa.
Just
for
the
record
have.
A
M
C
A
A
J
Have
a
question
for
mr.
bright,
but
first
I
just
want
to
mention
that
just
a
few
weeks
ago,
because
this
bill
has
gotten
very
quick
attention,
both
in
in
terms
of
being
introduced
after
the
issue
was
discovered
in
the
hearing
and
I
thank
the
chairman
and
the
council
president
for
that
I
got
an
email
and
then
a
phone
conversation
I
had
a
film
conversation
with
Eric
naphthalene
from
Federation
housing.
J
They
just
would
have
to
shut
down
and
many,
if
not
most
course,
not
all
of
the
other
low
income
tax
credit
projects
may
have
to
do
the
same
thing,
so
we
basically
put
ourselves
put
them
out
of
business.
There's
no
there's
no
increasing
the
rents,
there's
no
there's
no
way
it's
restricted,
and
so
I
basically
said
I'm
in
you
know.
I
have
you
talked
to
her
Wetzel,
he
said
no,
but
mr.
Breit
has
and
and
I
don't
know,
Joe
but
I
know
by
reputation
he's
not
a
local
expert
who
does
a
lot
of
this
work?
J
He's
a
national
expert
recognized
on
a
national
level,
as
maybe
the
expert
in
this
area,
certainly
without
without,
if
not
without
peer,
without
anyone
who
would
get
a
higher
recommendation
in
this
area.
So
mr.
bright,
oh
and
when,
when
herb
Wetzel
explained
this
to
me
and
for
those
that
know
no
herb
is
on
technical
staff,
as
an
attorney
has
noticed
as
much
about
housing,
low
income
housing
as
anyone
I've
ever
met
in
my
life.
J
He
explained
this
to
me
in
10-15
minutes
and
while
three
of
the
four
of
us
at
the
table
now
are
attorneys,
this
isn't
something
you
need
to
be
an
attorney
to
understand
it's
very
clear.
It's
plain
English
and
whether
you
get
the
part
about
violating
state
law
or
you
get
the
part
about
going
out
of
business.
J
If
you
have
to
do
this,
it
becomes
very
clear
that
it's
not
complicated
when,
when
it's
presented,
so
what
what
I
feel
bad
about
is
that
I
hate
voting
for
a
bill
that
has
to
be
passed
because
the
city
agency
is
violating
state
law,
I'm,
not
sure
I've
ever
done
it,
but
I
certainly
am
uncomfortable
doing
it,
and
so
first
I
want
to
ask
mr.
bright.
This
is
the
question:
is
this
city
OPA
violating
state
law
with
what
they
are
proposing?
I.
C
Violating
maybe
I
have
yet
to
see
Archer
any
explanation
at
all
for
getting
to
thirty
eight
seven
market
value
per
unit,
because
is
no
explanation
now
it's
possible
that
in
somebody's
desk
or
somewhere
there's
some
notes
that
explain
how
you
got
there,
but
I
haven't
seen
it
and
I
haven't
heard
it
articulated.
So
rather
than
say,
they
are
not
following
state
law.
C
Let
me
just
draw
a
bottom
line
here.
The
assessment
statutes
require
that
property
be
assessed
at
market
value.
That's
the
price
at
which
a
willing
seller
would
sell
to
a
willing
buyer.
That's
the
basic
bedrock
principle.
Now
you
can
get
into
capitalization
and
income
methods
and
all
this
tricky
stuff.
That's
very
interesting,
but
it's
all
geared
to
answer
that
question.
These
properties
have
little
or
no
market
value.
You
can't
sell
them
because
the
restrictions
are
so
tight
under
federal
law
and
Pennsylvania
law.
C
The
rents
are
tightly
restricted
so
that
they
are
geared
only
to
low
income
or
a
certain
percentage
of
low
income
people,
and
you
cannot
violate
that
or
risk
losing
the
credits
and
that's
a
huge
disaster.
If
that
happens,
so
people
who
are
religious
if
I
can
coin
a
phrase
to
follow
those
restrictions
and
those
definitely
impact
market
value.
Who
would
buy
a
property?
That's
that
tightly
tied
up
for
35
years,
okay,.
J
C
C
C
If
somebody's
going
to
just
give
it,
but
but
if
you're
looking
at
the
particular
property-
and
you
can
take
the
audited
statement
to
pH
FA
and
those
are
because
everybody
agrees
available
on
the
website
and
run
the
math
and
stick
in
their
taxes
at
38.7
per
unit
and
you're
going
to
come
up
in
the
red
and
you
run
any
and
any
effort,
whether
it's
business
nonprofit.
What
and
the
read
long
enough
it'll
go
broke,
that's
Adam,
Smith
I
would.
J
I
would
summarize
your
previous
statement
as
they
are,
if
not
violating
state
law,
not
following
state
law,
but
what
I'm
really
after
is
I
know.
This
bill
is
going
to
come
out
of
committee
today,
but
if
there's
a
way
that
we
can
kind
of
settle
this
by
the
22nd,
that's
two
whole
weeks.
That's
as
long
as
we've
had
since
bill
was
introduced
with
a
holiday
and
all
holiday
weekend
in
between,
because
I
think,
if
OPA
really
sits
down
reads
this
testimony
sit
down
mr.
Wetzel
mr.
J
Bryton,
some
others,
including
those
other
witnesses
at
the
table,
but
I
don't
want
to
limit
it.
I
think
it
could
get
a
tutorial
on
this
that
they
would
understand
and
and
realize
that
this
is
a
learning
curve
for
them
under
the
under
the
full
market
value
process
that
we've
had
in
place
now
for
for
several
years,
and
we've
done
a
very,
very
good
job
with
that
overall
and
we're
catching
up
on
some
commercial
properties.
J
I
understand
this
year,
where
we
have
this
windfall,
which
really
isn't
a
windfall
means
where
we
could
have
had
it
several
years
before,
but
the
but
in
this
area.
I
think
it's
it's
more
learning,
understanding
the
total,
not
nuances,
but
the
total
differential
where
people
like
your
clients
and
your
your
nonprofits
aren't
saying.
J
We've
got
a
really
sharp
attorney
here,
who
can
prove
that
we
are
have
no
value
well,
no
value
under
for
market
is
zero
taxes,
and
no
one
is
asking
for
that.
No
one
is
thinking
about
it.
No
one
would
ask
for
it,
but
the
average
which
going
from
the
low
to
the
high
and
coming
up
in
the
middle
that
everyone
in
this
group
has
been
willing
to
accept,
has
worked
and
is
workable
and
that's
the
number
everybody's
working
with
when
they
do
their
budgets
and
set
their
rents
and
everything.
J
So
I
got
a
feeling
that
if
everybody
gets
serious
about
this
up
out
of
this
chamber,
we
can
maybe
get
some
good
news
that
that
everything
in
this
bill
will
be
done
in
the
future
and
I
just
hope.
That's
where
we're
going
with
this,
because
this
shouldn't
be
a
fight,
it
shouldn't
be
whether
you're
filing
following
violating
or
not
explaining
what
you
did
I
think
it's
a
learning
curve
and
everything
I've
seen
from
OPA
they've
really
been
excellent.
That's
why
this
to
me
is
a
blip.
Hopefully
that
can
be
straightened
out.
J
O
You
chairman
Greenlee
I
want
to
thank
both
Council
and
Clark,
and
council
Neal
for
their
leadership
in
this
legislation.
Since
the
increase
in
commercial
assessments,
I
know
a
number
of
small
businesses
on
crush
Carter's
to
raise
concerns
about
the
increase,
but
just
learning
about
this
issue.
It
does
really
trouble
me
in
reference
to
the
impact
this
will
have
on
nonprofits,
especially
nonprofit
developers
across
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
From
you
know,
my
experience
working
as
attorney
represent
office
of
housing.
O
Community
development
I've
seen
number
these
projects
over
the
years
and
then
also
my
own
personal
experience
in
the
survey
in
the
board
chair
for
a
nonprofit
like
setting
in
a
park
or
being
on
the
board
of
the
Germantown
white
YWCA.
At
some
point
on
YMCA
excuse
me
and
seeing
some
of
the
long
housing
tax
credit
projects
have
occurred
over
the
years
and
those
projects,
as
mr.
O
bright
testifies
with
Spencer
and
others
are
testified
that
those
projects
have
very,
very,
very,
very,
very
tight
margins
if
any
margin
at
all
to
even
get
the
project
done,
and
it's
often
now
put
together
in
a
very
challenging
way
and
so
I
guess
my
question
to
the
panel.
Is
there
any
jurisdiction,
the
common
that
is
using
this
type
of
approach
in
assessments
and.
O
O
But
it
will
come
to
some
type
of
understanding
that
this
approach
would
not
is
not
really
sustainable
going
forward
because
nonprofits
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
considering
all
the
other
issues
that
already
challenging
resources,
we
have
from
lack
of
dollars,
come
in
on
the
CDBG
level,
the
intense
competition
for
tax
credits
to
get
support
at
the
local
level
for
home
dollars
and
also
at
the
state
level
through
pH
FA
that
they
will
have
a
different
of
a
difference
of
opinion.
Coming
out
of
this
hearing.
Okay,.
A
C
A
A
While
they're
coming
up
and
I
know,
councilman
Greene
had
mentioned
other
questions
for
OPA
after
to
finish,
I'm,
going
to
SOP
a
to
come
back
up
and
in
the
spirit
of
what
councilman
O'neill
was
talking
about.
If
we
could
at
least
start
to
resolve
what
these
issues
are,
we
might
not
finish
them
today,
but
at
least
get
some
a
couple
things.
So
in
that
vein,
if
I
could
ask
everybody,
that's
going
to
talk
I
think
we
understand
the
problem
here,
we're
not
disputing
that.
A
You
know
you
that
there
might
not
have
been
accuracy
done
so
I'm
asking
everybody
to
be
brief,
so
we
can
get
back
to
OPA
because
we
are
running
starting
to
run
into
another
hearing.
So
most
of
you
have
submitted
your
testimony.
If
you
could
just
briefly,
you
know
summarize
because
again
I
think
the
panel
gets
it
here.
Okay,
so
I
think
miss
Laredo
and
my
pronouncing
it
right.
Her
name
got
call
first
up.
I
Good
morning,
chairman
Greenlee
and
Councilman,
thank
you
so
much
for
the
opportunity
to
speak
with
you
today
about
assessment
of
affordable
properties,
which
provides
such
a
significant
community
benefit.
My
name
is
Suzanne
O'grady
Laurita
I'm,
with
Catholic
Healthcare
Services
of
the
Archdiocese
of
Philadelphia,
the
2080.
We
placed
our
first
affordable
housing
development
into
service.
Since
that
time
we
have
placed
two
others
have
one
under
the
construction
and
one
in
pre
development
providing
dignified
service,
rich
housing
to
186
senior
residents,
enhances
their
quality
of
life
and,
in
many
instances,
has
preserved
their
ability
to
live
independently.
I
This
work
dovetails
with
our
mission
to
provide
excellent
care
to
all
people,
but
especially
to
the
poor,
because
we
believe
that
all
people
are
created
in
the
image
of
God.
Furthermore,
our
properties
of
stabilized
neighborhoods,
repurposing
bacon,
schools
and
building
infill
housing
that
service
anchors
in
these
communities.
Our
developments
are
beautifully
designed
and
a
well
maintained,
but
make
no
mistake.
They
are
not
market-rate
housing
and
should
not
be
treated
as
such.
They
exist
to
provide
a
basic
need
to
our
most
vulnerable
citizens.
I
St.
John
in
a
place
in
South
Philadelphia
is
an
ninth
year
of
operation.
We
had
a
property
tax
exemption
in
place
until
we
were
notified
last
year
in
2006
that
is
revoked
and
we
received
a
tax
bill
of
twenty
four
thousand
six
hundred
and
fifty
four
dollars
that
same
year
we
had
cash
flow
of
five
thousand
dollars
and
simply
no
means
to
pay
that
unexpected
cost.
I
We
have
an
appeal
pending
and
are
working
hard
to
cut
expenses
so
that
we
have
funds
to
pay
some
sort
of
property
tax,
but
the
property
cannot
afford
to
pay
a
tax
on
it.
Twenty
two
thousand
five
hundred
per
unit
assessment,
let
alone
a
higher
value.
The
assessment
must
be
in
line
with
the
true
value
of
these
properties
and
not
be
such
a
hardship
that
it
causes
the
property
to
fail.
I
am
NOT
a
real
estate
appraiser,
but
the
plain
fact
is
that
thief
projects
are
not
saleable
in
any
way
at
any
price.
I
Given
the
rent
restrictions,
which
now
extend
thirty
five
years,
these
projects
are
not
designed
to
make
money
and
don't
make
money.
They
are
designed
to
serve
a
social
purpose.
On
a
personal
note,
I
grew
up
in
Delaware
County,
but
fell
in
love
with
Philadelphia
as
a
child.
Coming
into
the
city
with
my
father,
when
he
worked
on
Saturdays
during
tax
season,
I
moved
to
the
city
in
89
and
family
and
friends
questioned
why
I
would
make
the
move.
I
Given
the
wage
tax,
I
always
responded,
said
I,
love,
Philly
and
I,
don't
mind
paying
my
fair
share.
I
still
feel
that
way.
Bright
is
right
and
I
will
flatly
pay
what
it's
owed
out
of
my
wages
and
on
my
home,
affordable
housing
is
different.
It
exists
to
provide
for
a
basic
need.
There
is
no
profit
in
our
operating
these
properties.
Again
right
is
Right.
I
L
Morning,
chairman
Greenlee
and
other
members
of
the
committee,
my
name
is
Seth
McConnell
policy
director
at
the
Philadelphia
Association
of
Community
Development,
Corporation's,
PA,
CDC
and
I'll
summarize
and
shorten
my
testimony.
We
are
here
to
support
bill
number
one:
seven,
oh
five,
six
four
and
do
urge
council
to
pass
that
of
committee
and
have
that
a
full
council
before
you
recess
for
the
summer,
I
want
to
point
out
just
a
couple
things
that
haven't
been
mentioned.
L
Yet
one
is
that
in
some
cases,
we're
seeing
both
the
land
value
increase,
and
this
is
particularly
relevant
for
affordable
housing
developments
that
are
under
the
ten
year
tax
abatement,
since
that
results
in
an
increase
in
their
tax
there.
Even
if
the
overall
assessment
for
the
property
may
not
be
skyrocketing
is
high.
So
that
gets
important
that
we
take
a
look
at
that.
L
We're
also
here
in
grave
concern
from
our
members
about
where
they're
going
to
find
more
philanthropic,
public
or
other
funds
to
pay
these
higher
tax
bills
and
at
a
time
of
great
uncertainty
about
the
future
of
federal
funding
for
affordable
homes,
Philadelphia
should
not
be
making
it
more
expensive
to
operate.
The
limited
number
of
affordable
homes
we
have
I
want
to
turn
your
attention
to
the
chart.
L
That's
in
my
testimony,
I
just
did
a
very
cursory
sample
of
five
developments
that
contain
about
two
hundred
and
forty
three
units
of
affordable
rentals
in
diverse
areas
of
the
city.
All
of
these
are
developed
with
low-income
housing,
tax
credits
and
none
of
them
are
subject
to
the
tax
abatement
EBA
that
may
have
expired
on.
L
I
want
to
also
just
highlight
that
these
aging,
low-income
housing
tax
credit
properties
are
actually
in
desperate
need
of
more
subsidies
to
keep
them
habitable
and
keep
them
affordable.
Philadelphia
has
lost
more
than
23,000
units
of
affordable
rental
over
a
14-year
period
and
were
projected
to
lose
thousands
more.
Preserving
them
requires
additional
subsidy
to
make
repairs
and
prevent
them
from
flipping
to
market
rate.
In
fact,
DHT
DS
FY
18
budget
includes
1.5
million
in
CDBG
funds
to
preserve
some
of
these
units
and,
of
course,
that
that's
inadequate.
L
We
need
way
more
than
that,
so
we
certainly
don't
want
higher
taxes
to
be
requiring
even
greater
public
subsidies
to
keep
these
units
affordable.
Pa
CDC
Lipsy
wants
to
thanks
the
council
president
and
Councilman
O'neill
for
their
leadership
in
introducing
the
bill
and
for
working
to
create
and
preserve
more
affordable
homes
for
low-income
philadelphians,
and
we
would
be
happy
to
work
with
mr.
Piper
and
his
team
at
OPA
to
generate
a
list
of
properties
that
could
be
part
of
a
representative
sample
to
review.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
strike,
hopefully.
P
Chairman
Greenlee
members
of
council,
my
name
is
James
Rodriguez
I'm,
vice
president
of
Association
filter,
Kinison
marcher
I'm,
here
in
support
of
the
bill
that
this
morning
a
PM
provides
affordable,
housing,
affordable
rental,
housing
to
265
families
in
eastern
North,
Villa
del
key
we
service,
predominantly
those
families
is
income,
is
below
60%
of
ami
just
to
put
a
fine
point.
What
we're
talking
about
are
single
moms
with
kids
and
the
median
income
in
our
targeted
development
area
is
5,000
to
15,000
for
that
family
on
an
annual
basis.
P
P
What
we're
going
to
end
up
looking
at
is
a
one
hundred
and
forty
five
thousand
dollars
at
the
end.
Now,
that's
that
pencils
out
to
about
an
eighty
five
percent
increase
in
our
total
portfolio
for
affordable
rental
housing.
So
we've
been
talking
per
this
today,
I
do
quite
a
bit
of
fundraising
for
a
p.m.
P
usually
in
your
grants.
You're
restricted
to
ten
percent
administrative
fees,
which
these
tax
increases
would
be
considered.
Nobody
wants
to
fund
a
tax
increase
they'd
rather
see
their
dollars
put
to
use
in
direct
manner
with
a
fort
with
needy
populations.
Another
critical
issue
to
a
p.m.
in
our
industry
is
that
we
need
to
maintain
the
affordable
rental
housing
and
develop
new
units,
and
that
concerns
us,
because
they,
our
performance,
will
not
pencil
out.
For
example,
our
most
recent
development
project
isn't
is
the
preservation
of
eighty
affordable
rental
units,
which
is
scheduled
for
closing
this
month.
P
Our
operating
budget
shows
real
estate
taxes
based
on
the
twenty
two
five
rate,
resulting
in
a
tax
taxes
for
us
at
twenty
to
twenty
five
six
hundred
a
year,
the
proposed
increase
would
increase
our
it'll
increase
to
forty
four
thousand
dollars,
resulting
in
an
eighteen
thousand
four
hundred
dollar
differential
gap,
we're
sitting
near
desperately
thinking.
How
would
we
pay
that
an
operating
budget
moving
forward?
So
also
one
thing
to
note
is
that,
as
per
federal
guidelines,
low-income
housing
rents
are
capped.
Our
income
and
expenses
are
calculated
on
two
percent
growth
rate.
P
A
A
H
Lethal
Garr
president
of
Penrose
management
company
here
in
Philadelphia,
we've
been
here
for
many
years,
and
we
have
partnered
with
the
city
successfully
on
the
creation
of
a
lot
of
affordable
housing.
My
testimony
is
detailed
and
really
echoes
what
the
other
speakers
have
presented
here.
I
can
only
reiterate
that
these
properties
run
on
razor
thin
margins
and
when
we
have
a
sizable
increase
in
any
expense,
it
causes
near
catastrophic
issues
for
the
sustainability
and
for
the
financial
success
of
these
low-income
housing
tax
credit
properties,
so
I
encourage
the
city
to
study
this
issue.
H
Take
commentary
from
industry.
Experts
recognize
that
these
are
of
low
value
in
terms
of
market
value
and
that
they
consider
thoughtful
input
and
predict
bring
predictability
to
how
this
is
done,
because,
as
developers
look
at
the
city
and
they
need
the
predictability
of
what
they
can
understand,
what
the
real
estate
taxes
are
going
to
be
investors,
lenders,
owners
and
developers
need
that
kind
of
certainty
and
professional
approach
to
how
these
values
are
determined.
So
with
that
I'll
close
I'm
kind
of
thank
you
for
giving
me
that.
A
Opportunity,
let
me
just
add,
I'm,
certainly
familiar
as
your
headquarters
about
two
blocks
from
where
I
live.
All
the
great
work
Penrose
has
done
in
those
in
the
communities
around
the
city
and
just
I,
guess
for
mr.
Rodriguez
to
just
quickly
before
we
get
to
mr.
FilmOn.
The
question
I
asked
mr.
bright,
you
folks,
I
assume,
have
information
audits
and
all
that
would
certainly
could
back
up
any
appeal
or
pre
appeal
that
you
have.
A
Q
That's
all
I
need
to
know
mr.
Felton
I'll
just
introduce
myself,
give
you
the
point
of
my
testimony,
which
you
have
okay,
so
definitely
sure
chairman
Greenlee,
that
you're
in
green
members
law
and
government
committee
I'm
here
at
testify
in
support
of
proposed
bill,
one
seven,
zero,
five,
six
four,
my
name
is
David
Feldman
I
am
here
today
as
president
right
sized
homes,
housing,
development
and
policy,
salting
company,
concentrating
affordable
housing
development
and
support
and
supporting
sustainable
neighborhoods.
The
point
of
my
testimony
is
a
story.
Q
That's
really
related
here
in
this
story
relates
with
a
slightly
different
aspect
of
affordable
housing
that
impacted
that
this
bill,
hopefully
will
increase
awareness
at
OPA
in
their
assessments,
while
ANCA
mountain
tax
credits
certainly
are
the
lion's
share
of
affordable
housing,
and
certainly
on
the
rental
side,
there
are
hundreds
of
units
of
affordable
homeownership
that
similarly
have
restrictions
and
because
of
scattered
site,
we
don't
have
public
audits
they're,
not
as
readily
accessible.
It
requires
OPA
to
be
in
closer
coordination
with,
for
instance,
the
Department
of
Housing
community
development.
Q
Some
of
these,
in
fact
more
recently,
have
been
developed
where
the
city
has
given
land.
As
a
workforce,
development
through
land
bank
or
places
like
New,
Kensington
and
CDC
did
with
awesometown,
where
there's
the
city
doesn't
have
a
soft
second
mortgage.
In
many
places
to
see
it
has
a
soft
second
mortgage
where
there's
something
on
record
that
shows
the
restricted
property.
Some
of
these
have
been
more
private
agreements.
Q
The
land
bank
ones
have
soft
second
agreements,
so
they're
a
little
harder
to
dig
at,
and
the
example
I
gave
here
was
one
from
one
of
the
properties.
I
did
to
the
Neighborhood
Stabilization
program
under
contract,
the
Redevelopment
Authority,
where,
when
it
went
for
resale
the
first
day,
there
were
half
a
dozen
investors
willing
to
pay
30%
over,
because
the
neighborhood
could
support
rentals.
Q
That
would
throw
off
income
and
the
house
had
to
sell
it
at
a
lower
point,
because
the
restriction
for
home
ownership
meant
that
the
person
who
bought
it
had
to
be
a
certain
income
which
limited
the
sell
price
of
the
house.
So
it's
not
as
obvious
as
a
long-term
housing
tax
credit,
but
we
have
hundreds
and
hundreds
of
units
throughout
the
city
where
we
have
low
income
homeowners
who
are
restricted
in
the
value
they
could
receive
a
resale,
and
this
value
you
know
we
hear
about
with
tax
abatements
as
a
land
value.
Q
The
land
value
is
less
than
their
neighbor's
house,
because
the
restriction
is
not
just
on
the
building
but
on
the
land
as
well
and
what
can
be
developed
from
that
land.
So
the
square
foot
of
land
in
the
house
that
has
a
soft
second
mortgage
does
not
work
the
same
as
a
vacant,
lot
next
door,
that
a
private
person
can
bill
the
three-story
house
and
sell
for
500,000
Patrick.
A
A
Thank
you.
Yes,
there's
someone
come
walk
again.
Clemmy,
yes,
I
mean
this
is
kind
of
a
shade,
I
guess
of
what
I
said
earlier,
but
give
him
what
counsel
when
real
councilman
green
has
said,
you
heard
the
testimony.
There's
obviously
I
think
everybody
MIT's,
there's
information
here
that
you
didn't
have
in
in
setting
these
assessments.
Yes,
my
correct
on
that.
As.
A
Yet
well,
there
is,
but
in
this
case
we're
talking
about
large
groups,
sure
you
know
between
project
Tommy,
TM
Penrose,
everybody
right.
It
seems
to
me
to
make
sense,
rather
than
having
all
these
folks
go
through
appeal.
Is
there
a
way
given
what
councilman
Neal
said
to
sit
down
and
kind
of
work
this
out,
so
that
doesn't
have
to
happen
if
they
provide
this
information,
maybe
it
you
know
that
that
it,
the
appeals,
won't
be
necessary.
K
Councilman
Greenlee
I
would
agree
what
you
just
described
is
essentially
the
essence
of
the
first
level
review
process.
Okay,
so
that
taxpayers
don't
have
to
go
to
an
appeal:
they
can
share
information
with
the
VA.
That
would
be
helpful
to
us
and
helpful
to
the
taxpayer
to
make
the
their
case
that
their
assessment
is
wrong.
So
we
would
welcome.
K
For
instance,
mr.
bright
came
up
and
said
he
has
the
audits
of
his
client
I
think,
and
we
would
ask
that
he
forward
that
to
us
and
by
the
way
I
had
to
echo
what
councilman
O'neal
said
about
mr.
bright.
We
also
recognized
him
as
a
nationally
respected
attorney
and
in
several
different
fields
own.
So
so
we
appreciate
his
improvement
today.
I.
K
K
We
were
a
little
concerned
that
we
were
missing
something
because,
when
the
deadline
for
filing
those
appeals
was
made
at
26,
I
believe
for
the
first
mailing
and
we
had
a
couple
thousand
first
level
reviews
come
in,
but
when
we
checked
to
see
which
ones
were
filed
on
behalf
of
these
particular
projects
with
zero.
So
we
still
even
at
this
point,
though,
so
we
can
kind
of
move
forward
on
this
issue.
We
would
welcome
that
information,
whether
they
file
a
first
level
review
appeal
or
not.
K
A
Well,
I
think
they're
suddenly
willing
to
give
whatever
information
you
need.
It
sounds
like
as
far
as
the
bill
itself
is
again
as
councilman.
You
know,
councilman
green
have
been
talking
about
what
I
mean.
Is
there
something
because
I
think
the
idea
of
the
committee
today
is
pass
a
bill
out
of
committee?
Okay,
but
as
councillor
Neill
said,
if
anything
can
be
worked
at
in
between
time
or
there's
wording
that
you
think
should
be
put
in
I
mean
it
seems
like
we're
not
that
far
apart
with.
K
A
J
Chairman,
if
I
could
please
interject
what
I'm
trying
to
avoid
and
where
I
think
we're
going
and
I'm
certainly
was
hoping
we
wouldn't
be-
is
that
these
entities,
individuals
and
organization
shouldn't-
have
to
be
filing
any
first
level
appeal.
The
burden
should
be
on
OPA
to
listen
to
mr.
bright
mr.
Wetzel,
because
this
is
based
on
law.
This
isn't
based
on
conversations
held
in
some.
You
know
restaurant.
These
are.
J
These
are
legal
matters
that,
where
everything
is
set
up,
the
state
has
intervened,
the
courts
have
intervened
and
we're
not
following,
and
that's
the
learning
curve
that
I'm
hoping
we
can
accomplish
in
a
very
short
time.
If
we,
if
we
get
into
first
level,
Appeals
we're
in
a
totally
different
ballpark,
because
personal
there's
too
many
of
them.
Secondly,
they
all
kind
of
fit
in
the
same
Inn
on
the
same
lazy
susan.
They
may
be
a
little
nuances.
J
You
know
between
among
the
various
kinds
of
tax
credit
projects
and
things,
but
they're
all
very,
very
similar,
and
they
both
are
dealing
with
the
realities
of
both
law
and
economics
and
I
I.
Just
think,
if
we're
talking
about
first
level
appeals
still
during
this
hearing,
OPI
is
missing
it
and
if
they
don't
want
to
sit
down
and
try
to
understand
it
better,
whether
it's
for
mr.
Wetzel
MS,
mr.
bright
or
others,
what
they're
missing,
where
they're
missing
it
I'm
telling
you
they're
missing
it.
J
This
is
not
when,
when
someone
says
this
puts
us
out
of
business
when
someone
says
based
on
law,
we
are
taking
the
average
of
the
evaluations
and
the
lower
valuations
have
agreed
not
to
appeal
as
a
group
following
the
look
and
the
higher
ones
and
the
lower
ones
agree
on
the
middle
on
the
midpoint
as
their
value.
That
saves
untold
public
dollars
in
terms
of
trying
to
figure
out
each
individual
one
I
it's
easy
to
understand.
J
If
they
don't,
if
they
don't
understand
this
by
the
time
built,
the
bill
passes,
I'm
happy
to
vote
for
it,
I'm,
just
sad
that
we
have
to
deal
with
this
as
if
it
were
a
another
property,
just
one
of
many
that
are
being
assessed
and
and
going
through
the
appeal
process.
These
are
totally
different.
They
don't
stand
up
to
the
to
the
to
the
measure
of
evaluations
in
99
percent
of
the
properties
in
the
city.
J
Probably
they
are
an
exception
and
it's
a
very
understandable
exception
and
if
OPA
doesn't
understand
us
in
the
next
two
weeks,
we
have
no
choice.
I
mean
I,
just
I
particularly
believe
they're
they're
violating
state
law
they're,
not
following
state
law.
You
can
use
a
softer
term,
they
don't
understand
state
law,
I,
don't
care
how
we
keep
softening
it.
J
It's
not
being
followed,
and
if
they're
going
to
continue
to
do
that
and
stand
by
this
as
if
it's
a
Center
City
property
that
just
went
up
or
up
or
a
you
know:
commercial
corridor,
property
or
industrial
property
that
just
took
a
had
a
big
increase
and
say
you
know:
I
didn't
see
the
first
level.
Okay,
I'm
really
disappointed
that.
That's
so
far,
not
only
this
if
this
hearings
on-
but
you
know
at
this
point
almost
over
but
I,
know,
there's
been
contact
between
the
various
parties.
I
was
just
so
at
this.
There
could
be.
J
Maybe
you
know
a
summit
real
quick
summit
held
on
this.
Where
everything
gets
explained.
You
agree
or
not,
I
think
you'll
agree
if
they
absorb
it,
follow
follow
through
on
it.
It's
not.
This
is
not
first
level
appeal
situations.
This
is
not
Assessment
Appeals
situations,
just
following
the
law
and
I
think
we're
missing
it.
That's
okay,.
A
K
I'd
like
to
come
in,
first
of
all,
we
don't
believe
we've
done
anything
to
violate
state
law
or
not
follow
state
law,
and
what
I
referred
to
in
my
testimony
was
our
formula
for
valuing
these
properties,
which
we
did
say
we
would
forward.
Okay,
no
first
level
review
is
required
for
us
to
forward
this
to
Council.
K
Having
said
that,
we
have
had
several
summits
and,
unfortunately,
I
think
that's
kind
of
how
we've
come
to
where
we
are
now,
because
what
we've
been
asking
for
is
the
complete
universe
of
oddities
and
we
have
not
received
it
yet,
and
that's
the
only
thing
that
we
would
need
to
be
able
to
agree
to
sit
down
and
take
a
look
at
these.
We
don't
believe
we're
a
violating
state
law
and
mr.
A
J
Might
be
a
perfect
time
to
ask
mr.
Wetzel
to
come
up.
He
he
doesn't
have
the
burden
of
having
to
practice
in
front
of
OPA
and
the
courts
in
being
reserved
in
his
criticism
or
his
his
statements
and
and
because
after
Wetzel
convinced
me
in
a
very
short
period
of
time
that
what
this
bill
is
doing
is
having
the
city
now
further
explain
the
state
law
and
add
some
other
provisions
to
make
it
it
workable,
because
we're
not
following
okay.
J
K
Even
I
think
that
that
is
what
it
comes
down
to
whether
or
not
we're
following
state
law
and
and
usually
we're
not
deliberately
going
about
doing
an
assessment
and
disregarding
state
law.
We're
never
doing
that.
And
if
someone
can
show
us
we
are.
But
it
has
to
be
a
little
bit
more
than
someone
just
asserting
that
we're,
if
not
following
state
law
for
us
for
us
to
look
at
the
assessments
of
selca
I.
A
A
counselor
nathaniell
suggested
mr.
Watson.
Could
you
just
come
up,
of
course
to
the
witness
table
a
minute
and
I?
Don't
want
to
get
into
a
debate
right
here,
but
I
think
I
think
it
does
make
sense
for
I
think
we
all
rely
on
IRB's
and
give
the
inference
information.
So
maybe
just
get
that
on
record
as
where
the
seem
to
be
the
gapping.
So
could
just
identify
yourself
rook.
A
I
A
I
In
that
testimony
by
mr.
McKeithen
it
was,
it
was
made
clear
that
they
were
that
these
audits
were
publicly
available
at
any
time
from
the
Pennsylvania
Housing
Finance
Agency,
and
we
have
indicated
consistently
over
time
that
we
believe
that
all
these
entities
would
be
willingly
provide
these
audits
because
they
really
show
that
these
projects
I
have
little
or
no
value
and
I.
A
Think
that's
been
brought
out
today
by
the
various
witnesses
right
now
again
without
getting
into
a
big
debate.
Mr.
Parker,
you
have
any
any
it's.
It
seems
to
always
go
back
to
not
having
certain
information
correct.
Mr.
Wetzel
is
saying
way
back
in
2012.
It
was
talked
about
getting
that
information
that.
Q
K
We've
recently
and
I'm
going
to
ask
mr.
Doyle
who
come
up
since
this
has
become
an
issue
of
whether
or
not
we
can
easily
get
it
for
they're
not
going
to
provide
it.
Mr.
Doyle
has
actually
dealt
with
some
of
these
agencies
in
some
of
these
projects
and
has
made
some
effort
to
try
to
get
a
comprehensive
Universal.
A
A
H
Name
is
John
Doyle
of
a
commercial
real
estate,
appraiser
I'm
also
consultant
to
pH
FA,
as
well
as
the
city
and
I'm,
also
a
consultant
to
HUD
headquarters
that
appraised
low
income,
housing
tax
credit
property
since
1993,
okay,
to
focus
on
you,
I've
made
requests
to
my
colleagues
at
pH
FA
for
the
population
of
income
and
expenses
for
low-income
housing,
tax,
credit
properties
inside
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
and
that
request
is
still
pending
and
we
haven't
ever
received
a
resupply.
Yet
so.
A
I
A
A
O
A
O
O
You
counseling
chairman,
grimly
I,
move
that
bill
number
one:
seven:
zero,
two:
zero!
Four,
as
amended,
we
vote
out
of
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation,
favorable
recommendation
and
if
it
builds
of
council,
be
suspended
for
this
bill
to
the
half
its
first
fitting
our
next
session
of
council.
It's.