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From YouTube: Committee on Law and Government 10-29-2019
Description
The Committee on Law and Government of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, at 10:00 AM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following items:
190386 An Ordinance amending Chapter 9 800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Landlord and Tenant,” by adding a new Section 9 808, entitled “Legal Representation in Landlord Tenant Court,” providing for access to free legal representation to the City of Philadelphia’s low income residents facing eviction in Landlord Tenant Court; under certain terms and conditions.
190786 An Ordinance amending Chapter 17 1400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Non Competitively Bid Contracts; Financial Assistance,” by making revisions to definitions; to contract and reporting requirements; to exceptions; and to enforcement provisions; and making related changes to Section 20 613 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Ethics Related Matters Incorporated as Part of this Chapter”; all under certain terms and conditions.
190787 An Ordinance amending Chapter 17 1400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Non Competitively Bid Contracts; Financial Assistance,” to provide for regulations and for special provisions for certain small dollar contracts, under certain terms and conditions.
171097 Resolution authorizing the Committee on Law & Government to hold hearings regarding the scheduled termination of the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority.
Committee on Law and Government
Chair: Councilmember Bill Greenlee (At Large)
Vice Chair: Councilmember Derek Green (At Large)
A
A
B
Number
one:
nine
zero
three:
eight
six:
an
ordinance
amending
chapter;
nine,
eight
hundredths
of
the
Philadelphia
Code
entitled
Landlord
and
Tenant
by
adding
a
new
section;
9
a
doughy
inside
a
legal
representation
in
landlord-tenant
Court,
providing
for
access
to
free
legal
representation
to
the
city
of
Philadelphia's,
low-income
residents
facing
eviction
in
landlord-tenant
Court
under
certain
terms
and
conditions.
Thank.
A
Before
I
recognize
the
Councilwoman,
let
me
just
say
we
have
a
number
of
people
want
to
testify
here
today,
and
we
also
have
a
two
more
bills
after
this,
and
we
got
to
build
another
hearing
early
this
afternoon.
So
I
would
ask
everybody
to
try
to
breathe
once
you
get
your
point
across,
but
try
to
breathe
as
brief
as
possible.
If
you
have
written
testimony
that
entire
written
testimony
made
part
of
the
record
I
would
ask
respectfully
ask
that
you
summarize
your
written
statement.
We
appreciate
that
before
we
hear
from
the
first
witnesses.
A
C
You
very
much
council,
chairman,
Greenlee
and
I
want
to
welcome
everybody
here
to
our
hearing
on
the
right
to
counsel
here
in
landlord-tenant
Court.
So
thank
you
all
for
coming
out
and
for
making
this
an
important
journey
in
the
effort
to
make
housing
a
human
right
here
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
So
I'm
excited
to
be
here
today
to
expand
the
rights
of
renters
here
in
our
city.
C
This
bill
is
rooted
in
the
basic
and
steadfast
belief
that
housing
is
a
human
right
and,
as
our
friends
a
project
home
have
made
clear,
none
of
us
are
home
until
all
of
us
are
home.
The
housing
crisis
facing
our
city
is
playing
out
across
the
country,
but
with
a
25%
poverty
rate
in
Philadelphia
we
have
been
hit
especially
hard
last
year.
C
Over
20,000
evictions
were
filed
in
landlord-tenant
Court
in
Philadelphia
today
is
about
ensuring
that
we're
using
every
tool
at
our
disposal
to
keep
folks
in
their
homes
by
creating
a
more
fair
and
just
system.
For
the
last
two
years
this
City
Council
has
been
on
that
journey.
Working
in
partnership
with
our
city
agencies,
we've
held
hearings.
We
visited
landlord
tenant
court,
we've
worked
with
our
advocates,
landlords
run
turd
city
agencies
and
our
courts
through
a
year-long
task
force
which
continues
to
meet
to
this
day
and
this
bill.
C
This
historic
bill
for
right
to
counsel
is
one
of
the
outcomes
of
that
important
work.
We've
already
piloted
it
with
a
major
city
investment
in
a
tenant,
Legal
Defense
Fund
that
has
shown
incredibly
successful
outcomes.
Evictions
are
declining
95
percent
of
people
with
representation
achieve
settlements
that
are
mutually
beneficial
to
both
the
landlord
and
the
tenant,
and
we
are
united
here
today
on
those
two
missions
which
are
not
mutually
exclusive:
ending
the
scourge
of
evictions
and
keeping
a
roof
over
people's
heads
and
making
sure
that
our
landlords
are
paid
as
as
as
fair.
C
Both
of
these
can
and
have
happened
when
tenants
are
represented,
but
neither
happens
when
we
see
default
evictions
happen
over
and
over
and
over
again,
but
we
also
know
that
even
with
the
tenant
Legal
Defense
Fund
that
this
is
still
not
enough,
Philadelphia
ranks.
Fourth
in
the
nation
for
the
most
evictions
evictions
in
our
city
disproportionately
target
black
women.
Many
of
them
who
are
single
heads
of
household,
taking
care
of
children,
Vic
shion's,
caused
a
cascade
of
problems.
C
C
So
today's
bill
is
about
changing
that
it
has
garnered
the
support
of
over
30
organizations
and
is
the
next
step
in
our
goal
of
a
truly
just
and
equitable
housing
system
for
all
and
with
the
right
to
counsel.
We
as
a
city
can
declare
our
commitment
to
housing
as
a
human
right,
so
I
want
to
thank
everybody
for
coming
out
and
especially
to
this
first
panel.
Thank
you.
Mr.
chairman
Thank.
A
D
Good
morning,
Eva
Gladstein
deputy
managing
director
for
Health
and
Human
Services
good
morning,
chairman
Greenlee,
any
other
members
of
the
panel.
Thank
you
for
having
me
here
today
and
I'm
honored
to
be
in
the
first
panel
with
two
individuals
who
are
going
to
really
provide
the
most
important
testimony
today,
which
is
why
this
legislation
is
so
critical.
D
We
all
know
that
the
city
has
made
some
really
positive
strides
in
the
last
few
years,
with
increased
median
income,
a
very
much
lower
unemployment
rate
than
we've
had
in
the
past
and
even
fewer
households
who
are
cost
renter
households
or
cost
burdened.
Yet,
despite
that
progress,
the
issue
is
very
real,
particularly
for
low-income
renters
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
while
the
cost
burden
53%
of
all
renters
are
cost
burdened.
D
We
still
had
over
18,000
people
or
households
whose
whose
housing
stability
was
threatened
and
who
are
at
risk
of
homelessness
in
terms
of
eviction
filings
last
year,
I'm
not
going
to
recount
a
history,
but
just
to
give
some
highlights.
There
were
hearings
in
this
council
in
2017
around
the
issues
faced
by
low-income
renters
in
September
2017,
the
mayor
convened
a
task
force
with
a
number
of
recommendations
with
broad
stakeholder
input
and
support,
and
we
have
a
very
structured
process
going
forward.
D
The
managing
directors
office,
their
representatives
from
pet
who
are
going
to
be
here
today,
so
I
won't
give
all
the
numbers
and
in
terms
of
the
tremendous
impact
it
has
had,
but
to
say
that
it
is
a
very
comprehensive
approach
to
the
eviction
problem.
So,
in
addition
to
individual
legal
representation,
there
is
courtroom
navigation
if
you've
ever
been
to
landlord
tenant.
Court
is
a
very
confusing
place
and
you
literally,
when
you
walk
in,
don't
know
which
side
is
up
and
which
is
down.
D
That's
critical,
there's
financial
counseling
to
enable
tenants
to
understand
if
they
choose
to
enter
into
an
agreement,
how
to
negotiate
one
that
they
can
fulfill
a
life
hotline
for
tenants
to
reference
when
they
have
a
question
about
their
rights,
a
help
center
in
the
court,
community,
trainings
and
educational
information.
So
all
of
that
is
part
of
the
pet
project
that
we've
been
proud
to
support
and
to
see
it
grow
over
the
last
two
years.
D
What
I
want
to
say
now
I
think
I'm
just
going
to
skip
to
the
fact
that
we
continue
to
support
an
investment
in
that
comprehensive
approach
and
to
looking
holistically
at
the
needs
of
individual
tenants
how
we
can
support
them
in
their
journey
to
be
stable,
e'en
safely
housed.
This
includes
addressing
root
causes
of
eviction
which
include
poverty
and
and
frankly,
racial
injustice.
When
you
look
at
the
eviction
rates
across
the
city,
they
tend
to
be
much
higher
in
african-american
neighborhoods,
and
that
is
as
distinct
issue
as
well.
D
Legal
representation
is
a
key
component
of
the
broader
work
to
address
eviction,
a
Housing
and
security.
Therefore,
the
administration
supports
bill
number
one
903,
eighty
six
as
it
is
proposed,
and
we
understand
there
will
be
some
amendments
offered
the
right
to
counsel
legislation
as
it
will
advance
this
existing
work
on
eviction,
prevention,
help
safeguard
tenants
rights
and
provide
tenants
with
a
critical
resource.
Thank
you
for
your
attention.
I'm
happy
to
answer
any
questions
you
may
have
thank.
A
E
Morning,
councilman
chairman
everyone,
my
name
is
Lauren
Campbell
and
I
have
been
living
in
Council
District
two
in
the
southwest
Philadelphia
area.
I
am
a
good
tenant
in
an
impossible
situation
for
months,
I
was
dealing
with
serious
issues
in
my
home
sewage,
coming
up
from
the
drains.
In
my
kitchen
sink
and
in
my
shower,
and
also
in
my
basement,
a
strong,
smelly
gas
was
always
in
the
home.
No
safety
measures
in
this
place
at
all
telling
my
landlord
got
me
nowhere.
E
No
repairs
were
ever
made
one
day,
I
returned
home
from
work
to
find
strangers
in
I
live
alone,
then
I
was
woken
up
late
at
night
to
strangers,
walking
in
through
my
home
without
any
warning.
By
this
time
my
landlord
had
put
a
lockbox
on
the
porch
and
was
given
potential
buyers
to
hold
off
a
Craigslist.
E
Without
giving
me
any
notice
at
all.
My
home
did
not
feel
safe
at
any
time.
I
didn't
know
what
to
do
or
where
to
turn
or
when
someone
else
was
going
to
walk
through
my
door
with
the
key
the
first
time
I
went
to
legal
services.
They
helped
me
with
the
correct
process
of
change
in
deluxe
and
call
it
license,
and
inspection
I
learned
that
my
landlord
had
no
license
no
certificate
and
a
list
of
open
violations
on
the
property.
E
My
landlord
still
would
not
make
any
repairs
with
the
support
of
my
every
kid
I
decided
to
withhold
my
rent
in
an
escrow
account,
not
long
after
that.
My
landlord
filed
to
evict
me
I
returned
to
my
lawyer
with
my
court
paper.
My
landlord
was
trying
to
evict
me
for
a
change
in
the
locks
and
for
not
paying
my
rent
at
this
time.
I
was
frustrated.
E
E
E
Luckily,
there
was
an
attorney
there
to
explain
the
situations
who
represent
me
at
my
hearing.
I
was
able
to
keep
the
money
I
had
in
an
escrow
account
and
get
my
security
deposit
back,
which
was
great.
The
case
against
me
was
even
withdrawn
in
court.
I
know
that
this
was
possible
because
I
had
representation
from
my
advocate.
E
No
one
should
have
to
live
in
these
conditions.
No
one
should
be
evicted
when
they
have
done
nothing
wrong.
Having
a
lawyer
on
my
side,
even
before
my
landlord
filed
in
court,
made
all
the
difference,
everyone
deserves
an
attorney
someone
to
help
them
understand
the
process
and
stand
up
for
them
in
court.
I.
E
F
I'm
69
years
of
age,
I
have
physical
challenges
right
now,
I'm
in
pain,
I
have
spinal
stenosis
degenerated
this
arthritis
blood
pressure
problem
I
also
have
problems
with
my
kidney
as
a
result,
I
happen
with
this.
I
have
an
aide
to
take
care
of
me.
Seven
days
a
week,
six
hours
to
death
and
I
live
up
in
Mount
Airy
on
Homer
Street
I've
been
living
in,
but
but
I
have
came
home
for
the
people.
My
mother,
in
2014,
my
mother's
Clara
Thompson,
who
owns
the
property
I
lived
and
I,
worked
in
Philadelphia
since
1950.
F
From
2014
to
January
of
2018
I
took
care
of
my
mom
taking
care
of
her
and
taken
out,
but
before
then
I
have
my
brother.
He
wouldn't
even
take
her
to
the
doctor
to
make
a
go,
but
she
was
stubborn
side,
but
I
would
do
it
up
when
I
came
back,
I
would
started
to
do
it.
She's
19
years
old,
now,
I
also
was
helping
her
trying
to
get
the
fact
and
so
and
then,
as
of
January,
my
brother
put
my
mother
in
a
nursing
home
and
took
her
from
me.
F
F
My
brothers
to
me
tell
me:
I
had
to
move
because
he
wanted
to
sell
the
house
and
that's
only
wasn't
gonna
dig
me.
Then
I
knew
it
was
something
up
when
he
took
my
mouth
from
me
and
put
it
in
a
nursing
home.
He
found
out
the
paperwork
because
I
refused
to
move
out
the
house
I
put
in
the
for
no
lawyer,
because
I'm
gonna
fix
a
car,
so
I
contacted
the
senior
law
firm.
We
need
help
me
I,
don't
know.
F
F
F
F
He
was,
he
wasn't
even
never
near.
He
was
in
the
wrong.
Court
Michelle
was
able
to
explain
the
situation
to
the
judge
in
a
way
that
I
couldn't
I
still
do
not
really
understand,
but
we're
in
the
wrong
I
still
do
not
really
understand.
We
were
in
the
wrong
court
anyway,
since
I
was
not
attended.
My
brother
should
have
found
an
eviction
against
me
in
Municipal
Court.
We
should
have
found
any
another
type
of
paperwork.
F
The
judge
told
him
he
had
to
go
get
a
lawyer
for
the
next
case.
Michelle
spoke
to
his
lawyer
that
he
hired,
and
the
lawyer
made
my
brother
put
the
house
back
in
his
and
my
mother's
name,
so
that
I
couldn't
have
have
to
move
I
had
nowhere
else
to
live.
If
I
even
do
it,
you
know
I
mean
if
even
if
I
was
them,
but
they
if
evicted,
I,
wouldn't
have
been
a
number
had
to
go
to
shelter
and
I'm.
F
A
And
miss
count
miss
camel
and
miss
Thompson
I.
Thank
you
both
for
coming
down.
I
know
that
wasn't
easy.
I
know
this
is
a
place
you're
used
to
coming
to,
but
I
think
your
your
testimony
was
extremely
important.
It
put
a
real
human
face
on
what
we're
what
we're
addressing
here
so
so
thank
you
both
before
I
recognize
that
other
members
miss
guys,
see
just
a
quick
question.
I
think
we
know
the
answer.
A
There's.
Obviously,
if
people
were
evicted
and
miss
Thompson
said
she
would
have
to
go
into
a
shelter,
there
would
be
a
lot
of
costs
to
the
city
if,
if
people
are
evicted
and
have
to
then
take
care
or
take
advantage,
if
you
will
of
city
resources,
so
I
guess
what
I'm
getting
at
is
financially.
This
isn't
a
loss
for
the
city
by
having
a
program
like
this
correct
and.
D
Both
financial
and
human
costs
of
eviction
and
national
experts,
including
Matthew
Desmond,
have
have
been
able
to
demonstrate
how
eviction,
among
other
things,
leads
to
further
poverty,
leads
to
the
tenants
having
fewer
housing
options
and
usually
moving
into
places
that
are
in
worse
condition
and
one
point
I
did
make
in
my
testimony.
That
is
that
even
the
filing
of
an
eviction
ends
up
on
the
tenants
credit
record
and
then
is
a
very
damaging
factor
in
terms
of
their
ability
of
finding
suitable
housing
right.
Thank
you.
First.
C
C
D
Be
happy
to
do
that
and
council
also
has
a
special
committee
on
poverty
that
was
recently
convened
and
I'm.
One
of
the
co-chairs
of
that
and
I
think
you
know
that
my
work
over
the
last
several
years
has
has
focused
on
anti-poverty
strategies.
We
find
that
housing
stability
is
one
of
the
most
important
factors
to
enable
people
to
either
increase
their
income,
save
money
and
and/or
move
out
of
poverty
without
adequate
housing.
It
is
virtually
impossible
to
have.
D
C
D
G
Don't
want
you
to
feel
left
out,
but
but
it's
it's
good
to
hear
the
stories
directly
from
the
people
who
are
experienced
experiencing
these
issues
and
I
actually
wanted
to
know
miss
Thompson.
If
the
person
who
represented
you
miss
Michelle
Cohen,
you
said
if
she
was
actually
here
so
that
we
could
recognize
and
thank
her
as
well
and
and
and
wanted.
I
G
It's
just
absolutely
outrageous,
and
you
know
I
know
councilman
Greenlee
alluded
to
it
earlier
in
his
conversation,
I
happen
to
chair
the
Committee
on
Health
and
Human
Services,
under
which
DHS
follows
and
when
we
think
about
keeping
families
together,
and
we
think
about
eviction
being
the
easiest
way
and
the
quickest
way
to
destabilize
a
family
and
knowing
that
Philadelphia
has
the
highest
rate
of
poverty
among
big
cities
and
also
recognizing
that,
with
this
film
with
other
measures,
that
eviction
is
one
of
the
easiest
way
we
can
fix
stabilizing
a
family.
We
can.
G
This
is
something
that
we
can
fix
by
keeping
a
family
together
and
keeping
them
in
their
home.
We
know
how
much
we
spend
on
DHS
the
shelter
system,
foster
care
and
not
to
mention
the
hidden
emotional
cost
that
can
manifest
in
children
and
many
different
ways
in
terms
of
acting
out
and
dangerous
behavior
to
themselves
and
to
others,
and
and
also
that,
can
lead
to
introducing
them
to
quote
unquote
the
system
in
which,
in
many
cases
they
will
never
get
out
from
under
the
system.
G
J
Thank
You
mr.
chair
I
thank
the
witnesses
here
for
your
testimony
and
putting
a
face
to
this
issue,
something
that's
very
important
back
when
I
was
a
young
lawyer
and
actually
had
some
hair
I'm
very
active
in
the
Pennsylvania
Bar
Association,
and
we
are
focused
on
trying
to
work
on
issues
like
civil,
getting
which
lawyers
in
this
room
wouldn't
understand
that
concept
and
this
legislation
is
one
step
in
that
regard.
J
Title
questions
for
Miss,
Gladys
Dean
in
reference
to
looking
at
the
task
force
report
and
some
of
the
issues
that
have
come
up
board.
I'm
just
curious
in
reference
to
how
we
will
address
something
that
happened
to
the
two
young
lady
to
testify
here,
base
of
their
testimony
and
my
understanding
of
what
they
provided
testimony.
These
were
two
individuals
that
had
properties
and
they
were
renting
out
property,
but
they
not
have
the
proper
licenses
and
we're
not
following
the
proper,
then
we're
not
up
to
date
on
any
type
of
sections.
In
regard.
J
J
D
J
D
I'm
not
in
those
meetings
but
there's
a
housing,
security
steering
committee
and
working
group
and
action
groups.
They
are
regularly
meeting
and
if
you'd
be
interested,
we
do
have
a
one-year
report
on
that
work
and
it's
available
on
the
web.
But
I
can
send
the
link
to
the
chairperson.
So
it's
available
to
all
the
council
people
to
see
the
work
that
has
occurred
in
the
last
year
since
the
report
was
issued,
but.
J
J
Based
on
a
resource,
limited
resource
that
the
city
has
lice
inspection
is
a
complaint
driven
initiative.
However,
one
of
the
recommendations
talked
about
expanding
inspections.
Do
you
have
any
perspective?
How
will
we
expand
inspections
to
prevent
some
of
things
that
occur
to
these
people?
This
young
lady's,
who
testified
this
morning,
I'm.
D
J
Talked
about
public
education
and
one
of
recommendations
from
the
report
is
a
public
education
campaign
because
I
think
one
of
the
issues
that
many
tenants
have
they
don't
know
their
rights
under
landlord
tenant
law
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
Right
in
the
code,
I
mean
everyone
protection
I'm,
putting
the
code
over
the
years,
we're
going
landlord
tenant
rights,
but
many
people
don't
know
those
rights
like
two
individuals
who
testified
this
morning.
So
what
is
it
nature
that
public
education,
that's
gonna,
occur
going
forward
so.
D
A
few
things
happened
with
the
funding
of
the
pet
project.
One
was
the
establishment
of
a
robust
website
with
all
kinds
of
resource
materials.
There's
also
a
hotline
thats
now
answered,
including
in
the
evenings
and
with
return
calls,
including
on
the
weekends
with
with,
instead
of
just
leaving
a
message
as
a
human
being.
J
I'm
familiar
with
those
efforts
knows
the
efforts
that
we've
taken
in
the
past,
but
how
does
that
really
inform
the
public
about
these
issues
when
you're
talking
about
I'm
a
hotline
is
good
and
having
a
lot
of
person
to
speak
to
it's
good
and
having
workshops,
but
the
general
public,
because
they're
trying
to
take
care
of
the
children
take
care
of
the
mother
trying
to
just
work
every
day.
How
would
they
know
about
the
information
unless
they
happen
to
see
or
so
that
someone
at
their
church
or
some
communities
they
have
them
tell
them?
H
D
J
J
So
if
this
is
a
major
issue
in
a
city
and
fidelity
in
reference
to
evictions,
which
unfortunately
continue
an
exasperated
poverty,
what
type
of
resources
is
a
city
going
to
provide
beyond
just
CDBG
dollars
to
make
sure
that
we're
using
in
housing,
counseling
agencies
that
do
good
work
and
reference
to
helping
people
buy
their
first
home
and
maintain
their
first
home?
But
address
this
issue
of
tenet
rates
well,.
D
I
will
say:
the
division
of
housing.
Community
development
has
been
a
good
partner
in
this
work,
and
so
one
of
the
pieces
of
work
that's
happening
right
now
is
doing
training
for
those
housing
counseling
agencies
in
terms
of
renters
rights,
so
they
were
never
prohibited
from
doing
that
work,
but
just
never
had
really
the
training
or,
frankly,
the
focus
from
the
city
that
this
is
equally
important.
D
Pre-Purchase
counseling
and
you
know
in
foreclosure
and
diversion
work,
so
that
training
is
going
on
right
now
and
we're
actually
looking
at
how
we
properly
piloting
in
in
one
or
two
neighborhoods
to
start
with
trying
to
make
sure
there's
a
range
of
services.
You
know
not
just
housing
counseling
but,
for
example,
the
office
of
homeless
services
provides
flexible
financial
assistance.
D
If
somebody
is
facing
eviction
and
trying
to
make
sure
we
have
several
of
those
resources,
kind
of
stacked
up
a
particular
community
organizations
to
try
to
work
in
that
in
a
particular
neighborhood
to
address
the
full
range
of
issues.
So
we're
looking
at
that
right
now,
right
now,
there's
I
believe
just
one
agency
congresso,
which
is
a
housing
counseling
agency.
That
also
has
access,
flexible
financial
assistance
and
also
somebody
can
help
us
as
housing,
vulnerability
in
terms
of
homelessness,
but
we're
looking
at
that
as
a
potential
model
that
we
compile
it
in
some
other
neighborhoods.
D
J
D
What
we
have
done
is
we
have
tripled
the
amount
of
dollars
that
we
use
for
prevention
of
homelessness
over
the
last
several
years,
with
support
from
the
budget
and
I.
Think
there's
been,
we've
appreciated
the
fact
that
general
fund
money
has
been
allocated
for
some
of
these
and
other
needs
to
prevent
homelessness.
We
have
not
yet
looked
at
again.
I
can
I
can
take
your
question
back.
We've
not
yet
looked
at
whether
the
most
effective
thing
to
do
of
all
the
things
that
we
have
to
do
is
to
provide
additional
funding
to
housing.
D
Counseling
I
think
it's
a
very
good
question.
I
think
we
have
to
look
at
that.
The
training
itself
is
not
being
piloted
right
now.
That
is
happening
folks
from
the
division
of
housing.
Community
development
and
CLS
can
probably
speak
more
directly
to
that,
but
the
training
of
those
housing
counseling
agencies
is
happening.
What
we're
talking
about
piloting
is
trying
to
make
sure
their.
There
are
kind
of
a
fuller
set
of
resources
available
to
housing.
Counseling
agencies
then,
are
currently
available
in.
J
A
K
K
I
also
want
to
thank
the
advocates
that
are
here
for
being
our
moral
compass
and
kind
of
keeping
us
on
the
on
the
right
path,
I
believe
to
protect
tenants
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
but
I
also
want
to
point
out
the
author
of
this
legislation,
miss
Kim
for
being
our
voice
of
being
our
tip
of
the
spear
to
address
a
lot
of
these
issues.
I
remember
her
advocacy
when
we
did
good
cause
legislation
and
the
mayor
signing
on
to
that
because
of
the
task
force,
so
I'm
thankful
a
couple
of
quick
questions.
K
D
About
forty
five
dollars
is
a
somewhat
have
arraigned
bet
about
forty
five
dollars
a
day
and
the
average
individuals
and
households
can
be
in
shelter
for
up
to
six
months.
So
it's
it's
very
costly
to
shelter.
People
I
will
say
that
again
with
councils
assistance,
we've
been
building
out
the
prevention
side
because
it's
less
expensive
to
help
somebody
pay
back
rent
or
to
help
subsidize
their
rent
a
little
bit
and
we've
been
building
out
the
actual
permanent
housing
side.
D
D
Absolutely
and
again
just
helping
people
move
if
they
are
homeless
directly,
if
they're
able
directly
into
permanent
housing
and
if
they
need
supports.
We
provide
support
through
a
variety
of
other
funding
sources.
It's
it's
much
more
cost
effective
and
it
reduces
amount
of
trauma
that
homelessness
causes.
So.
K
A
A
I
I
I'm
also
honored,
to
be
a
lifelong
citizen
of
Philadelphia
I've,
never
lived
more
than
20
minutes
from
City
Hall
on
the
sea
bus
we
were
up
in
the
Logan
section
of
Philadelphia
and
I
was
the
daughter
of
a
single
mother
who
had
to
pay
the
rent
every
month
in
our
duplex
I
want
to
thank
Miss,
Campbell
and
miss
Thompson
for
the
bravery
and
coming
here
today.
It
wasn't
easy
for
them,
but
their
story
is
compelling
and
we
needed
to
hear
it.
Those
people
they
were
the
people
who
were
impacted
every
day
by
the
eviction
crisis.
I
I
am
honored
to
appear
to
today,
on
behalf
of
our
association,
to
urge
city
council
to
pass
bill.
1
903
86,
which
will
provide
legal
counsel
free
legal
representation
of
the
city.
Philadelphia
is
low
income
tenants
facing
eviction.
I
wish
I
commend
City
Council
for
holding
hearing
on
the
eviction
craze
in
2017
I.
Thank
the
mayor
city
council,
president
Darrell
Clarke
and
members
of
council
for
providing
funding
for
the
pilot
Philadelphia
eviction
prevention
project.
I
I
The
creation
of
a
right
to
counsel
for
low-income
tenants
facing
eviction
is
sound
and
cost
effective
solution
to
combined
combat
the
devastating
effects
of
our
city's
eviction
crisis
and
reduce
the
poverty
rate
for
end
homelessness
and
avert
the
trauma
armed
attendants
and
their
families
from
being
disruptive
elite
displaced,
also
stabilize
and
strengthen
neighborhoods
and
improve
and
preserve
the
housing
rental
stock
for
low-income
tenants.
Of
course,
it's
sitting
I'm
going
to
briefly
supplement
my
written
test.
I
I
made
it
by
sharing
my
own
personal
experience
as
a
former
high
school
teacher
in
the
City
Philadelphia
I
taught
of
William
Penn
high
school
many
decades
ago.
It's
no
longer
there
in
North,
Philadelphia
and
I
can
recall
a
brilliant
young
student
that
I
taught
in
tenth
grade
who
was
in
a
very
difficult
family
situation.
I
recall
that
by
the
time
of
her
senior
year,
she
was
evicted
and
she
had
to
move
into
a
Salvation,
Army
shelter.
I
It
was
devastating
to
her
I,
don't
know
to
the
extent
she
ever
was
able
to
recover
from
that
trauma.
These
are
real
people
like
the
people
who
just
spoke
to
everyday,
facing
the
challenges
of
potential
homelessness.
I.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
prevent
testimony
on
this
critical
matter.
It's
my
privilege
to
introduce
Ethan
Fogle
a
partner
at
Decker
LLP,
whose
services
are
principally
Azon
to
stay
out
in
the
preparation,
their
cost
benefit
and
report.
Thank
you.
Thank.
L
Fogle
deckard
LLP
I'm,
a
member
of
the
civil
Gideon
and
access
to
justice
task
forcing
I.
Thank
you,
Chancellor
fadila,
for
your
remarks
and
thank
you,
chair,
Greenlee
and
vice-chair
Greene
members
of
committee
and
other
council
members
for
this
opportunity
to
testify
about
this
very,
very
important
legislation.
L
I
want
to
congratulate
you
on
the
leadership
role
that
you're
playing
in
this
nationwide
right
to
counsel
movement,
joining
New,
York,
San,
Francisco,
New,
York,
New,
Jersey
and
Cleveland,
which
have
already
enacted
such
legislation
to
address
the
eviction
crisis
and
several
other
cities,
including
Los,
Angeles,
Detroit
and
others
that
are
in
the
process
of
making
right
to
counsel
a
reality.
You
already
have
my
detailed
written
testimony
regarding
the
stout
impact
report
and
the
economic
savings
to
the
C
of
enacting
this
legislation.
L
But
for
today,
I
wanted
to
highlight
the
to
highlight
the
two
main
reasons
why
this
legislation
is
so
important.
First
I
believe
that
it
is
the
fair
and
just
thing
to
do.
This
legislation
looks
to
level
the
playing
field
in
this
critical
area
whose
impact
disproportionately
affects
women
with
children
and
people
of
color.
It
would
provide
a
lawyer
to
help
our
city's
poorest
residents
when
they
face
the
prospect
of
losing
their
home
to
division
right
now.
L
80%
of
landlords
are
represented
in
these
cases,
but
only
ten
or
fewer
percent
of
the
cases
involve
representation
for
tenants
without
help
navigating
complex
rules
and
negotiating
against
trained
lawyers.
You've
heard
from
witnesses
today,
poor
tenants
face
an
imbalance
of
power
who
are
denied
justice.
They
bear
the
risk
of
life-changing
trauma
and
being
forever
shut
out
of
the
rental
market.
Our
most
vulnerable
residents
face
the
greatest
risk
with
the
least
assistance
consider
the
dramatic
impact
that
legal
representation
makes
in
helping
tenants
avoid
what's
tawdry
what
the
staff
report
calls
disruptive
displacement.
L
The
staff
report
looked
at
five
years
of
case
data
and
concluded
that
without
a
lawyer,
families
are
abruptly
out
of
on
the
street
in
about
78%
of
the
cases,
while
with
representation
they're
out
on
the
street.
In
only
about
five
percent
of
the
cases,
legal
representation
dramatically
reduces
the
crippling
disruption
that
our
residents
face,
and
so
it
is
simply
the
right
thing
to
do.
Which
brings
me
to
the
second
main
reason
why
this
legislation
is
so
important.
L
While
the
staff
report
recognized
the
serious
impact
that
eviction
plays
in
some
unquantifiable
ways
that
councilmembers
have
addressed
ms
glad
seen
as
exists.
Our
Chancellor
has
addressed
stout,
took
a
very,
very
conservative
approach
that
focused
only
on
Reddy
quant,
readily
quantifiable
cost
savings.
They
concluded
that
for
every
dollar
spent
by
the
city
on
legal
representation,
the
city
would
reap
over
$12
in
cost
savings,
including
shelter
costs
by
spending
three
and
a
half
million
dollars
on
legal
representation
for
tenants
at
or
below
125
percent
of
the
federal
poverty
level
level.
L
The
city
would
save
over
forty
five
million
in
avoided
costs
again
at
twelve,
almost
$13
to
one
ratio
at
higher
poverty
levels.
The
cost
savings
are
even
greater.
In
sum,
the
net
result
of
investing
in
legal
representation
for
low-income
tenants
facing
eviction
is
far
better
than
break.
Even
it's
not
only
the
fair
and
just
thing
to
do,
but
it
makes
good
bottom-line
economic
sense.
Thank
you
once
more
and
I
would
be
happy
to
answer
questions.
Thank.
A
You
thank
you
both
this
program.
Glad
you
put
that
economic.
You
said
this
is
about
people's
lives
number
one,
but
for
anybody
that
thinks
the
city
spending
money
on
this
unfairly
or
unjustly
I
think
that
report
says
it
obviously
we're
actually
saving
money.
So
we
we
can
be
called
fiscal
conservatives,
absolutely
I,
don't
know
if
I
want
to
be
called.
J
You
mr.
chair
I
want
to
thank
both
of
the
panelists
for
your
presentation
and
testimony
this
morning
mr.
Fogle
had
a
few
questions.
You
made
reference
to
other
cities
that
have
right
to
counsel
I,
think
New,
York
San
Frisco
Cleveland.
Are
there
any
situations
where,
in
those
cities
they
do
not
provide
counsel
to
an
individual,
but.
L
J
L
J
L
If
we
can
provide
a
soft
landing,
an
opportunity
to
find
other
housing,
avoiding
a
money
judgment,
those
all
inure
not
only
to
the
tenants
that
are
being
represented,
but
also
to
the
city.
So
I
think
it
is
responsible
as
a
general
matter
to
provide
the
counseling
and
representation
to
all
tenants
who
fit
the
economic
requirements.
What.
J
L
Yes,
in
terms
of
evaluating
their
situation,
I
think
the
human
aspect
who
in
the
criminal
justice
system
still
applies
people
serve
their
time,
for
example,
and
come
back
into
society.
And
it's
good
for
society
to
provide
reentry
to
citizens
who
have
particularly
when
they've,
served
their
time
promising.
L
L
You
know,
conducting
criminal
activity
in
that
in
the
property
would
not
be,
you
know,
would
not
give
them
an
appropriate
right
to
stay
and
they
would
be
evicted
for
a
breach
of
a
condition
of
the
lease.
So
lawyers
don't
make
a
magic
out
of
you
cases
that
have
bad
facts,
but
they
do
provide
a
useful
service.
So
I
wouldn't
say
that
you
know
in
my
ideal
structuring
of
the
program
and
I'm.
Not
in
that
position.
J
Without
knowing
the
amount
of
resources
that
would
be
devoted
to
this
initiative
and
at
a
concern
when
you
have
limited
resources
and
when
you
have
it
like
the
two
young
ladies
at
testify
today,
where
they
clearly,
if
were
in
a
situation
where
this
legislation
was
in
effect,
clearly
the
type
of
people
who
want
to
make
sure
have
access
to
counsel.
But
if
we
had
limited
resources-
and
you
have
situation
where
we
have
a
finite
amount
of
resources.
Where
you
have
two
individuals
like
to
testify.
L
J
L
C
C
A
Now
this
is
the
final
panel.
I
have
no
records
anyone
else
here
to
testify
on
this
bill,
seeing
none,
okay,
fine,
actually,
while
they're
sitting
down.
Let
me
just
put
it
on
the
record:
we
have
a
number
of
written
testimonies
from
a
senior
law,
client
miss
Harris
from
Michelle
Cohen,
who
is
here
project
home
association
and
Community,
Development
Corporation's
and
dr.
Gregory
from
Children's
Hospital,
all
in
favor
of
the
bill.
We
have
one
letter
in
opposition
to
the
bill.
The
Greater
Philadelphia
Association,
the
wielders
I'll
know
for
the
record.
A
M
Everybody
in
this
room
knows
that
20
thousands
of
Vixen
evictions
a
year
is
a
crisis
and
like
so
many
others,
as
Councilwoman
Ginn
pointed
out.
It's
a
crisis.
The
most
directly
and
disproportionately
affects
black
and
brown
women,
and
black
women
in
particular.
Some
of
you
makes
may
have
experienced
this
up
close
but
I
know
some
of
you
have
not
we've
all
seen
homeless
in
this
most
violent
form.
Well,
fellow
Philadelphians
sleeping
on
the
street
under
blankets
in
the
wintertime.
M
Well,
what
we
rarely
see
and
what
happens
a
lot
more
often
is
folks
having
to
jump
around
from
friend's
couch
to
friend's
couch,
not
knowing
where
they're
gonna
sleep.
In
a
few
days
after
being
evicted,
it's
parents
having
to
decide
whether
they're
gonna
take
their
kids
to
school
on
the
bus
from
another
part
of
town
hoping
their
school
doesn't
realize.
M
They
don't
live
in
the
catchment
area
anymore
or
show
up
to
work
on
time
that
day
being
evicted
tears
at
any
parent's
ability
to
care
for
their
children
in
the
most
basic
way,
by
keeping
them
safe,
and
this
deep
and
painful
form
of
instability,
ripples
across
all
the
other
parts
of
people's
lives
that
hold
families
up
their
ability
to
hold
a
job,
their
ability
to
eat
well
and
regularly
to
spend
calm
quality
time
with
their
children
or
to
help
them
with
homework.
The
eviction
of
an
individual
destabilizes,
entire
families.
M
So
we're
not
here
today
asking
you
to
put
forward
on
reasonable
solutions
or
to
make
promises.
You
can't
keep,
as
was
mentioned
before,
with
80%
of
landlords
having
access
to
an
attorney
when
it
comes
to
handling
evictions
and
just
11%
of
renter's
having
access
to
one
in
the
city.
Where
half
of
us
are
renters,
what
we're
asking
you
for
today
is
basic,
we're
simply
asking
you
to
give
your
constituents
a
fighting
chance
to
keep
their
home
just
to
keep
their
home.
Thank
you.
Thank.
N
Chair
greenly
vice-chair
green
members
of
the
Committee
on
law
and
government
and
other
members
of
City
Council
good
morning,
I'm
David
Williams
and
president
of
the
barristers
Association
of
Philadelphia,
one
of
the
largest
and
oldest
associations
of
black
Lawyers
in
America.
It
is
my
privilege
to
appear
today,
on
behalf
of
our
members
and
to
provide
additional
perspective,
as
you
consider
the
important
right
to
counsel
legislation
before
you.
Eviction
rates
are
a
strong
indicator
of
neighborhood
stability
and
quality
of
life.
Unfortunately,
eviction
rates
in
Philadelphia
are
not
evenly
distributed
across
Philadelphia.
N
Neighborhoods
research
by
the
reinvestment
fund
shows
that
eviction
rates
in
predominantly
black
neighborhoods
in
Philadelphia
are,
on
average,
two
to
three
times
higher
than
eviction
rates
in
predominantly
white
areas.
As
you
know,
roughly
25%
of
philadelphians
and
31%
of
black
philadelphians
live
below
the
poverty
line.
When
these
tenants
seek
to
assert
their
rights
in
landlord-tenant
court,
they
are
among
those
least
likely
to
be
able
to
afford
representation
and
make
no
mistake.
These
tenants
need
representation.
N
Court
can
be
an
intimidating
place
for
the
average
Philadelphia,
where
she
may
find
herself
governed
by
complex
procedures
and
rules
opposed
by
a
skilled.
Legally
trained
attorney
and
overseen
by
a
seemingly
imposing
judge,
in
fact,
many
Philadelphia
tenants
simply
do
not
file
a
legal
claim,
even
when
they
are
illegally
locked
out
of
their
homes
or
faced
with
life
threatening
living
conditions,
because
they
perceive
that
the
legal
system
will
not
serve
them
or
they
simply
fail
to
recognize.
They
have
a
right
to
a
legal
action.
N
Landlord-Tenant
Court
is
premise
upon
an
adversarial
system
that
presumes
both
sides
are
equally
represented,
yet
studies
show
that
tenants
are
not
represented
on
average
and
over
90%
of
the
eviction
cases
filed.
On
the
other
hand,
landlords
on
average
are
represented
in
over
80%
of
the
cases.
This
disparity
should
shock.
Everyone
in
this
room
having
legal
representation
is
often
the
difference
between
keeping
one's
home
or
becoming
homeless
right
to
counsel
is
essential
because
represented
tenants
not
only
receive
more
time
to
vacate
their
apartments
than
unrepresented
tenants.
They
also
receive
a
judgment
in
their
favor
more
frequently.
N
The
barristers
Association
of
Philadelphia
supports
policies
that
increase
low
income,
philadelphians
access
to
free
non-lawyer,
tenant
assistance
and
free
legal
representation
in
landlord
tenant
court,
though
the
civil
justice
issue
disproportionately
affects
black
Philadelphians.
All
philadelphians
benefit
from
the
right
to
counsel,
through
the
avoidance
of
disruptive
displacement
and
cost
savings
to
the
city.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
H
Good
morning,
I
want
to
take
one
last
opportunity
to
thank
Miss
Campbell
and
miss
Thompson,
because
they
are
the
reason
we
are
all
here.
So
thank
you
both
so
much
for
sharing
your
stories
with
us.
I
want
to
thank
the
committee
and
committee
chair
Greenlee
for
the
opportunity
to
offer
this
testimony
and
the
perspective
of
the
Philadelphia
eviction
prevention
project
on
the
bill
to
create
a
tense
right
to
counsel,
I'm
barrett
marshall
and
I'm
the
director
of
the
philadelphia
eviction
prevention
project
and
a
supervising
attorney
in
the
housing
unit
at
community
legal
services.
H
The
philadelphia
eviction
prevention
project,
pepp
as
it
is
affectionately
called,
is
an
extraordinary
example
of
the
power
of
collaboration
between
legal
services
providers
like
senior
law
center
legal
clinic
for
the
disabled,
philly,
VIP
and
community
legal
services.
Our
tenants
advocates
at
turn
our
financial
counselors
at
clarified
and
the
city
to
create
real
change
for
the
most
vulnerable
residents
in
philadelphia.
Pepp
has
used
expert
legal
representation,
courtroom
navigators
lawyers,
on-site
at
court,
community
outreach
and
tenant
education
as
primary
pillars
in
our
efforts
to
stem
the
eviction
crisis
in
the
two
years.
H
Since
its
inception,
pepp
has
not
only
prevented
eviction
and
homelessness,
asserted
tenants,
rights,
stabilized
housing
for
families
and
increased
tenant
education.
It
has
begun
the
work
of
truly
making
eviction
court
a
fairer
and
more
just
place,
and
we
are
leveraging
this
work
directly
to
address
poverty
in
Philadelphia.
H
What
we
know
clearly
from
the
data
being
presented
here
and
you've
heard
this
many
many
times
today,
but
it
bears
repeating,
is
that
this
is
a
crisis
with
an
acute
racial
disparity.
Even
when
controlling
for
income
families
of
color
are
disproportionately
impacted
by
eviction.
74%
of
the
tenants
that
come
to
pepp
for
assistance
are
black.
H
This
is
also
a
crisis
that
deeply
affects
women.
Seventy
percent
of
the
tenants
we've
assisted
are
women.
This
is
a
crisis
that
is
disproportionately
affecting
black
mothers
and
their
children.
More
than
half
of
those
assisted
through
our
program
have
been
parents.
While
this
bill
is
targeted
to
help
low-income
Philadelphians
passing
a
tenant's
right
to
counsel
is
a
primary
tool
for
combating
systemic
racism
in
Philadelphia
and
for
keeping
families
safe.
H
We
know
that
having
a
lawyer
makes
a
tremendous
difference
for
tenants
since
prep
was
created
through
the
work
of
councilmember
Jim
many
other
council
members
and
the
mayors
of
fiction
task
force.
We
have
seen
tremendous
positive
outcomes
for
tenants.
We
thank
you
for
your
support
of
this
program
and
for
allowing
this
to
happen,
tenants
receiving
pep
services
remain
in
their
homes
for
longer,
they
have
significantly
reduced
money
judgments
and,
most
importantly,
these
tenants
are
coming
to
agreements
with
their
landlords
that
preserve
their
housing
that
keep
them
housed.
H
We've
seen
for
almost
two
years
now
that
expanding
legal
representation
to
low
income
tenants
actually
works.
We
know
that
housing
is
a
basic
foundation
for
so
many
health
measures
in
any
community,
and
we
know
that
legal
representation
is
keeping
people
in
their
homes.
So
what
we
know
is
that
legal
representation
is
stabilizing
our
communities
across
the
city,
so
representation
truly
has
the
power
to
change
lives
and
generate
equity,
where
we've
previously
seen
disparity
but
we're
not
there.
Yet
pep
has
shown
us
what
is
possible,
but
there
are
thousands
of
tenants
who
still
need
this
representation.
H
Passing
attendance
right
to
counsel
will
allow
us,
as
a
city,
to
stem
this
crisis.
Preventing
evictions
keeps
people
in
their
homes
and
in
their
communities.
Stable
communities
are
our
greatest
weapon
against
poverty.
This
is
our
opportunity
to
place
that
which
is
truly
important
to
all
Philadelphians
home
family
and
community.
At
the
center
of
our
concerns,
I
encourage
you
to
hold
those
values
dear
and
to
protect
them
by
passing
attendance
right
to
counsel.
Thank.
J
I
want
to
I
want
to
thank
the
panel
for
the
testimony
this
morning,
I'm
chicken
I
wanna
thank
mr.
Williams
for
your
testimony.
As
a
member
of
the
barristers
Association,
you
are
bringing
back
a
level
of
advocacy
that
we
have
not
seen
in
some
time
where
the
barristers
are
getting
much
more
involved
in
policy
issues
like
this
in
reference
to
the
reference
of
representing
people,
especially
of
the
African
Diaspora.
So
thank
you
for
your
testimony
and
your
attendance
here
today
and
bringing
back
that
level
the
advocacy
and
activism
back
to
the
barristers.
So
thank
you.
J
A
You
no
other
questions.
Thank
you
all
very
much.
Thank
you
for
coming
all
right
being
no
other
person.
It
wants
to
testify
we're
gonna
move
on
our
next
bill,
but
for
those
of
you
who
are
in
the
room,
I
think
you're
mostly
here
for
this
bill.
We
have
two
other
bills
which
should
have
just
one
witness.
According
to
my
record
after
that,
we
will
go
into
a
public
meeting
where
we
actually
pass
the
bill
out
of
committee.
So
just
let
you
know
what
we're
we're
doing
here
so
miss
Marconi.
B
A
B
In
bill
number
one:
nine
zero,
seven,
eight,
seven,
an
ordinance
amending
chapter,
seventeen
fourteen
hundred
and
philadelphia
code
entitled
non
competitively
bid
contracts,
financial
assistance
to
provide
for
regulations
and
for
special
provisions
for
certain
small
dollar
amounts.
Certain
small
dollar
contracts
under
certain
terms
and
conditions.
Thank.
O
Good
morning
still
firmly
chair
of
the
Committee
on
law
and
government
bill
sponsor
and
committee
vice
chair,
councilmember
Green
and
the
other
members
of
the
committee
on
long
government.
My
name
is
Stephanie
Tipton
I'm,
the
acting
chief
administrative
officer
for
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
I'm
here
to
testify
in
support
of
bill
number
one:
nine
zero,
seven,
eight
six
as
amended
the
office
of
the
chief
administrative
officer
or
CIO,
is
charged
with
the
oversight
of
the
city's
core
administrative
functions
and
departments,
including,
among
others,
the
procurement
department
and
the
contracts
unit.
O
Our
goal
is
to
ensure
that
the
city's
services
are
efficient
and
effective,
inclusive
and
equitable,
transparent
and
conducted
with
integrity.
Bill
number
one:
nine,
zero.
Seven
eight
six
proposes
improvements
and
clarifications
to
chapter
17,
1,400
of
the
Philadelphia
code
governing
non
competitively
bid
contracts
and
financial
assistance.
These
amendments
are
based
on
more
than
13
years
of
lessons
learned
since
the
chapter's
adoption
in
2005.
O
The
proposed
amendments
detailed
in
the
bill
are
part
of
a
broader
effort
to
make
improvements
to
chapter
17,
1,400
1,400.
The
goals
of
this
effort
are
to
ease
compliance
for
businesses,
establish
clear
processes
and
clarify
requirements
for
businesses
and
contractors
who
are
seeking
to
do
business
with
the
city.
These
amendments
serve
to
supplement
regulations
to
chapter
17
1400
that
were
also
recently
introduced.
We
believe
taken
together.
O
The
amendments
and
regulations
continue
to
advance
the
administration's
goal
of
making
our
contracting
processes
more
inclusive
and
efficient,
while
also
furthering
the
intent
of
chapter
17
1,400,
of
eliminating
the
real
or
perceived
link
between
political
contributions
and
city
contracts.
I
will
now
summarize
the
key
provisions
of
the
bill
currently
under
Chapter
chapter
section,
17,
1402,
vendors,
holding
professional
services
or
best
value
contracts
have
an
ongoing
obligation
throughout
the
life
of
their
contract
and
for
one
year
thereafter
to
update
mandatory
disclosure
forms
within
five
business
days
of
a
reportable
event,
such
as
making
a
campaign
contribution.
O
Over
the
years,
we've
received
feedback
from
many
businesses
that
it
is
both
both
onerous
and
extremely
challenging
to
comply
with
the
five-day
reporting
requirement.
We
agreed
and
section
17
1402,
as
proposed
in
the
bill,
incorporates
this
feedback
by
setting
a
predictable
bimonthly
schedule
for
filing
the
required
updates.
We
believe
this
change
will
mean
complying
with
the
reporting
requirements,
more
business-friendly,
easier
to
fulfill
and
ultimately
yield
more
accurate
and
actionable
compliance
data
for
the
city.
O
The
bill
also
expands
the
limited
exceptions
available
within
the
chapter
for
when
a
request
for
proposals
or
RFP
would
not
be
required.
Currently,
there
are
several
exceptions
to
the
RFP
requirement
in
Chapter
seventeen
fourteen
hundred,
for
example,
in
situations
when
there
is
an
immediate
threat
to
public
health
or
safety.
Over
the
years
of
implementing
the
requirements
of
the
chapter,
we
have
identified
additional
situations
where
the
realities
of
the
marketplace
have
made
compliance
with
the
RFP
requirement.
Impractical,
impractical,
for
example.
The
bill
proposes
that
contracts
for
creative
expression
and
entertainment
be
exempted
from
the
RFP
requirement.
O
These
engagements
are
largely
event
based
highly
time-sensitive
and
RFP
process
is
wholly
inconsistent
with
industry
practices.
Compliance
with
section,
17
1406
has
often
resulted
in
a
city
having
difficulties
securing
the
desired
artists
at
City
locations
like
the
belt,
the
Dell
Music
Center,
due
to
the
inflexibility
of
the
process.
The
bill
also
proposes
an
exception
for
contracts
with
rating
agencies
for
bonds
or
financing.
Currently,
there
are
only
three
national
rating
agencies
and
the
city
is
required
to
utilize
all
three
agencies,
thus
making
the
RFP
process
impractical
for
these
types
of
services.
O
O
Lastly,
the
bill
proposes
exceptions
to
the
RFP
process
when
a
limited,
turnip
term
extension
to
an
active
contract
is
necessary
in
order
to
execute
a
new
contract
for
the
same
services.
Orange
situations
when
it's
necessary
to
complete
a
discrete
project
and
changing
contractors
would
cause
a
substantial
hardship
to
the
city.
We've
also
provided
an
additional
amendment
to
section
17,
1402
1a
that
you
should
have
received
today.
This
amendment
gives
the
city
additional
flexibility
when
assessing
liquidated
damages
if
a
contractor
has
failed
to
meet
its
ongoing
slower
requirements.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify.
O
A
O
O
Like
efficiency,
okay,
so
bill
number
one:
nine,
zero,
seven,
eight
seven
I'm
here
to
testify
in
support
of
the
bill.
This
is
a
companion
piece
of
legislation
to
the
proposed
change
to
section
8
200
of
the
Home
Rule
Charter,
which
will
be
put
before
voters
on
the
November
5th
ballot.
Collectively
we
refer
to
the
proposed
charter
change
and
bill
number
one:
nine,
zero,
seven,
eight
seven
as
a
local
business
purchasing
initiative
or
LBP
I.
O
The
proposed
charter
change
would
raise
the
threshold
by
which
a
formal
bid
is
required
for
contracts
from
thirty
four
thousand
to
seventy-five
thousand
and
from
thirty
four
thousand
to
a
hundred
thousand
for
contract
opportunities
that
are
only
open
to
certified
local
business
entities
or
L
bees.
These
thresholds
would
be
adjusted
annually
based
on
the
CPI
further.
The
proposed
charter
change
would
authorize
the
procurement
department
promulgate
regulations
on
how
to
implement
these
changes.
O
Since
the
initial
introduction
of
the
Charter
change
legislation,
the
procurement
department
and
a
small
internal
working
group
has
begun
to
draft
proposed
regulations
that
will
require
city
departments
to
do
such
things
as
proactively
solicit
minority
women
and
disabled
own
businesses
or
MWDs
ves.
To
apply
for
these
opportunities
publicly
post
the
opportunities
in
a
central
place
and
annually
report
on
the
participation
of
local
businesses
on
the
contracts,
the
primary
goals
of
the
Charter
change
and
the
supplemental
regulations
are
to
simplify
and
expedite
the
contracting
process,
particularly
for
lbs
and
MW
DSPs
and
small
businesses.
O
By
removing
barriers
in
increasing
access
and
competition
for
business
opportunities
with
the
city,
the
bill
would
extend
the
same
changes
and
requirements
that
would
be
established
by
the
Charter
change,
if
approved
by
the
voters,
to
non
competitively
bid,
contracts
for
professional
services
and
best
value
opportunities
which
are
governed
by
chapter
17
1400
of
the
code.
If
passed,
the
changes
proposed
by
the
bill
will
align
the
requirements
of
the
Charter
change,
including
the
new
formal
bid
thresholds
to
all
city
contracts.
O
Taken
together,
we
believe
the
changes
proposed
under
the
El
BPI
will
have
a
dramatic
impact
on
the
small
local
businesses
that
are
the
backbone
of
the
Philadelphia
economy.
In
FY,
18
alone,
the
city
awarded
over
800
contracts
that
were
under
$100,000
totaling
over
15
million
in
awarded
contracts.
We
believe
that
LBP
I
will
provide
businesses,
especially
local,
in
small
businesses,
with
more
opportunities
to
access
these
contracts
and
make
the
transition
from
a
subcontractor
to
a
prime
vendor
by
removing
some
of
the
barriers
of
entry
to
city
business.
O
Additionally,
these
changes
will
bring
together
will
bring
Philadelphia's
procurement
processes
in
line
with
other
major
cities
and
place
Philadelphia
in
the
forefront
of
incentivizing
local
purchasing
among
the
10
largest
cities.
Philadelphia
has
a
second
lowest
threshold
for
when
a
formal
bid
or
RFP
is
required
further,
while
other
cities
offer
a
local
preference
on
bid
price,
as
does
City
Philadelphia
will
be
only
one
of
two
cities
that
have
a
purchasing
tear
specifically
for
local
businesses.
Again
I'd
like
to
thank
councilman
green
for
championing
these
changes.
J
You
mr.
chair
Thank
You
mr.
Tipton
for
your
testimony
and
thank
you
for
your
partnership
on
this
issue.
We've
gone
to
many
committee
or
groups
over
the
summer
and
into
an
earlier
part
late
part
of
the
spring
talk
matters
legislation
considering
the
high
poverty
rate
that
we
have
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
It's
come
down
to
25%,
but
I
still
way
too
high.
We
need
to
grow
out
of
poverty
by
growing
small
businesses
in
our
city,
as
they
form
a
small
business
owner.
J
As
someone
has
been
who's
representing
small
businesses,
she's
also
been
a
lender
to
small
businesses.
We
need
to
do
a
better
job
of
doing
business
as
a
city
with
small
businesses.
Too
often
a
number
of
small
businesses
dis
decide
not
to
even
participate
in
the
entire
procurement
with
the
city
because
of
the
challenges
in
going
through
the
process.
From
my
experience,
both
with
the
national
ad
cities
and
democratic
municipal
officials,
those
cities
have
a
much
different
threshold
for
contracting.
J
This
legislation
puts
us
aligned
with
in
that
regard
and
I
think
if
someone
from
the
beneficial
for
the
city
and
beneficial
for
small
businesses
to
grow
and
do
more
business
for
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
back
in
yesterday's
Enquirer
editorial,
they
endorsed
this
legislation
for
the
November
5th
ballot.
I
want
to
thank
you
for
your
support
on
this
issue
and
for
the
other
bill
bill
number
1,
9,
0
786.
J
This
is
also
a
piece
of
legislation,
continuing
the
push
to
make
it
easier
for
businesses
to
do
business
in
the
city,
especially
small
businesses,
that
don't
have
no
large
compliance
departments,
often
in
small
businesses.
It's
that
person
who
she
or
he
started
the
business
and
trying
to
go
through
all
the
regulations
and
stay
on
top.
J
All
the
regulation
as
well
is
trying
to
sell
the
goods
and
services
of
your
small
business
is
very
challenging
as
a
small
business
owner,
and
so
this
is
another
way
to
make
it
easier
for
small
businesses
to
do
business
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
So
they
can
continue
to
grow
and
prosper
and
bring
in
revenue
that
can
be
shared
with
their
employees,
which
then
can
be
shared
with
the
communities
and
where
they
live
and
helped
us
to
enhance
a
quiet
life
and
reduce
poverty
in
our
city.
So
thank
you
for
your
testimony
and
I.
A
A
C
J
C
J
J
Mr.
chair
I
move
that
bill
number
one:
nine
zero,
three,
eight
six
as
amended.
They
voted
out
of
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
that
the
rules
of
council
be
suspended
so
that
this
bill
could
be
read,
heard
and
read
at
it
and
have
his
first
reading
on
our
next
session
of
council.
Second.