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From YouTube: Committee on Rules 1-31-2018
Description
The Committee on Rules of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, January 31, 2018, at 3:30 PM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following item:
170968 Resolution authorizing the Committee on Rules to hold hearings examining the challenges faced by Registered Community Organizations from abusive lawsuits commonly known as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, discussing solutions thereof, including examining means of holding abusive litigants accountable, and authorizing the issuance of subpoenas to compel the production of relevant witnesses and documents.
Committee on Rules
Chair: Councilman Bill Greenlee (At Large)
Vice Chair: Councilman Mark Squilla (1st District)
A
Resolution
one-seven-zero
916
resolution
authorizing
the
Committee
on
rules
to
hold
hearings
examining
the
challenges
faced
by
registered
community
organs.
Eight
organizations
from
abusive
lawsuits
commonly
known
as
strategic
lawsuits
against
public
participation,
discussing
the
solutions
thereof,
including
examining
means
of
holding
abusive
litigants
accountable
and
authorizing
the
issuance
of
subpoenas
to
compel
the
production
of
relevant
witnesses
and
documents.
Thank.
B
C
You
thank
you,
madam
chair
and
mr.
chairman
clerk,
okay,
respectful
for
the
late
first
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
everybody
for
having
a
hearing
so
Layton
in
the
end,
the
day
amongst
there
are
many
other
responsibilities
and
jobs,
especially
for
those
who
were
who
have
come
here
to
either
witness
or
testify.
And
of
course
you
know,
I
want
to.
You
know
thank
chairman
Greenlee
and
all
the
colleagues
who
will
be
joining
us.
C
Will
we
be
you
know
in
and
out,
but
most
most
of
the
colleagues
of
of
City
Council
really
understand
the
situation
that
our
CEOs
and
Friends
of
groups
are
in
now
and
and
are
really
pleased
to
have
this.
Have
this
hearing
so
I
want
to
thank
you
all
for
being
here,
and
we
do
have
this
opportunity
to
have
the
discussion
about
the
roles
of
our
registered
community
organizations
or
civic
groups
and
our
friends
of
organizations
and
the
roles
they
play.
C
The
city
of
Philadelphia
I
want
our
our
CEOs
and
the
community
organizations
to
be
the
pillar
of
our
communities
and
that
are
unafraid
to
state
their
views
right
and
to
hold
a
civic
and
tolerant
discourse.
In
the
public,
so
I
have
worked
closely
with
a
lot
of
the
and
most
of
the
community
organizations
in
my
district.
I've
worked
closely
with
them.
Some
are
here
today
to
testify
some
or
not,
but
we've
worked
and
had
all
day
trainings
several
times.
C
We've
had
networking
opportunities
where
we
can
discuss
commonality
in
policies
and
what's
working
and
what's
not
working,
we
find
their
civic
voices
to
make
sure
that
you
know
it's
most
effective
in
when
it
comes
to
playing
a
role
that
is
set
at
by
law
and
its
role
participating
in
zoning
at
the
zoning
board.
So
I
look
forward
to
getting
a
lot
of
things
that
are
said
here
today.
C
That's
going
to
be
testified
on
record
and
use
that
as
a
vital
role
for
these
individuals
and
all
the
organization
that
play
in
the
process
of
Zoning
and
some
of
the
struggles
that
you
all
may
face
and
I
hope.
Through
this,
we
will
be
able
to
come
to
a
consensus
in
the
direction
moving
forward
to
find
a
solution.
It
works
for
everyone,
our
community
organizations
or
developers
and
to
the
City
Philadelphia
I
know
this
conversation
is
worth
having
and
I'm
eager
to
begin
or
hearing
here
today.
So
thank
you
all
for
coming.
Thank.
B
You
councilman,
thank
you
for
the
leadership
on
this
important
issue.
Just
few
quick
round
rules,
I
think
a
lot
of
you
have
been
here
before.
So
you
know
what
I'm
gonna
probably
say:
we
want
everybody
get
the
point
across,
but
we
have
upwards
to
2021
on
my
list
right
now.
People
want
to
speak
so
in
fairness,
they're
ones
that
are
in
the
back.
If
people
could
we
want
you
get
to
your
point,
we
want
you
to
get
you
a
point
across,
but
we
ask
you
to
please
be
as
brief
and
concise
as
possible.
B
D
Thank
You
councilman,
my
name
is
Jeff
Weinstein
I'm,
the
chair
of
the
Philadelphia
crosstown
coalition.
I,
first
want
to
start
off
by
thanking
you,
chairman,
Greenlee
and
Councilman
Heenan,
for
your
leadership
for
convening
this
important
hearing
and
Councilman
Heenan.
In
particular,
your
staff
has
been
tremendous
in
reaching
out
even
outside
your
district
to
to
the
civic
organizations.
D
Ryan
Courtney,
you
just
have
a
Tom.
You
just
have
a
great
staff,
so
I'm
going
to
go
on
or
say
in
that,
and
I
also
wanted
to
say
that
that
councilman
swallow
is
not
here.
Right
now
has
been
an
amazing
partner
to
the
Civic
world.
Since
July
1st
2017
I've
been
the
chair
of
the
Crosstown
coalition,
we're
a
Federation
of
now
34
civic
associations,
spanning
as
we
like
to
say
from
society,
Hilda
Cobbs
Creek
from
Kensington
to
Packer
Park.
We
truly
are
a
citywide
organization
growing
rapidly.
D
In
the
last
six
months,
we've
been
deputized,
we
could
say
through
the
registered
community
organization
provision
in
the
2012
zoning
code,
as
agents
of
the
city
for
purposes
of
zoning
and
land
use
decisions.
We
are
the
frontline
in
the
zoning
process
when
a
developer
is
handed
a
zoning
refusal
of
L&I
he
or
she
must
come
to
the
RCO
in
that
neighborhood.
Before
going
to
the
Zoning
Board
of
Adjustment
in
principle,
this
is
sure
some
level
of
community
input
when
changes
to
the
zoning
at
the
neighborhood
level
are
proposed.
D
Our
RCA
zoning
committees,
for
those
of
you
who
don't
know,
are
made
up
of
incredibly
dedicated
citizens
who
spend
hours
every
month,
hearing
variance
requests.
The
vast
majority
of
our
SEOs
take
this
role
very
seriously:
balancing
the
needs
of
their
communities
with
the
interests
of
private
property
owners.
It
is
often
a
very
difficult
task
and
often
a
thankless
job,
for
which
there's
minimal
training
and
here
I'd
be
remiss
if
I
did
not
give
a
shout
outs
here
to
the
excellent
citizens.
Planning
Institute
great
program,
but
it's
resources
and
reach
are
unfortunately
quite
limited.
D
Having
spent
a
fair
amount
of
time
talking
with
senator
Farr
nazy
and
his
staff
about
anti
slap
legislation
of
the
state
level,
I've
heard
many
horror
stories
of
community
organizations
and
individuals
losing
their
homes
and
livelihoods
due
to
lawsuits
filed,
often
frivolously
by
developers
who
did
not
like
community
and
put
in
their
decision
making.
As
most
people
in
this
room
probably
know,
Pennsylvania
has
very
weak
protections
for
the
free
speech
of
civic
organizations.
D
Unlike
many
other
states,
the
risk
associated
with
playing
the
RCO
function
should
not
be
underestimated,
as
you
will
hear
from
several
our
CEOs
today.
If
a
developer
is
unhappy,
the
way
they
are
treated
at
an
our
CEO
zoning
meeting,
he
or
she
can
and
often
does
file
a
lawsuit
against
the
organization
that
convened
the
meeting.
If
that
organization
does
not
have
the
wherewithal
to
defend
itself,
its
leadership
can
find
itself
in
mess
expensive
and
potentially
ruinous
legal
defense.
It
can
be
expensive
and
damaging
both
on
an
organizational
and
an
individual
basis.
D
Many
of
our
neighborhood
organizations
operate
with
minimal
budgets.
Many
do
not
realize
the
risk
they
take
on
and
playing
there.
Our
CEO
roles
and
our
CEO
that
has
appropriately
defended
its
community's
interests,
could
easily
find
itself
in
a
defending
end
of
an
expensive
lawsuit,
called
a
strategic
lawsuit
against
public
participation
or
slapped
from
the
developer.
In
my
opinion,
the
city
does
very
little
to
educate
or
emphasize
the
risks
involved
in
this
role.
One
prominent
city
official
even
asserted
that
insurance
was
not
necessary
to
play
the
RCO
role.
I
was
flabbergasted.
D
I
certainly
would
not
have
spent
three
years
on
the
zoning
committee
at
between
votes,
neighbors
association,
unless
I
knew
that
my
home
and
assets
were
protected
by
directors
and
officers
insurance
policy,
it's
vital
that
every
our
CEO
have
adequate
directors
and
officers
insurance
at
least
1
million
in
coverage
for
many
are
SEOs
obtaining
dno
insurance,
which
costs
well
over
$1,000
a
year
assuming
no
loss.
History
is
out
of
the
question.
D
One
claim
even
a
frivolous
one,
can
double
or
triple
the
cost
of
coverage
or
make
an
organization
uninsurable
altogether,
even
when
the
organization
has
the
necessary
resources
to
obtain
dno
insurance,
because
civic
organizations
are
not
high-value
customers
for
insurance
companies.
The
defense's
put
forward
by
the
insurance
companies
are
often
woefully
inadequate.
D
It
makes
sense
to
us
that
the
city
ought
to
pay
for
our
insurance,
or
at
least
subsidize
those
groups
which
cannot
afford
it
on
their
own
under
a
blanket
policy
that
the
city
could
provide,
or
at
least
help
us
negotiate.
It
is
our
understanding
that,
provided
that
the
city
provides
some
liability
protection
for
its
Friends
of
the
parks
groups.
Why
can't
it
do
the
same
thing
for
its
our
CEO?
D
B
D
E
Thank
you
good
afternoon,
chairman
Greenlee
and
members
of
the
committee
I
appreciate
the
opportunity
to
make
comment
on
resolution
one
709
six
eight
and
wish
to
thank
councilman
Heenan
for
his
leadership
in
this
important
matter
and
thank
co-sponsors,
Green
Parker,
seola
and
johnson
for
contributing
their
voices
in
support
of
this
important
initiative.
We
know
what
the
acronym
means
relative
to
slap
lawsuits,
but,
in
my
opinion,
slap
lawsuits
are
a
malicious
strategic
assault
intended
to
inflict
maximum
targets
specific
harm,
as
well
as
collateral
damage
by
way
of
residual
inhibition
of
future
public
participation.
E
In
due
process,
the
entity
bringing
the
slap
lawsuit
may
achieve
its
goal
of
destroying
or
incapacitating
an
our
CEO
or
other
civic
organization
for
the
truly
modest
investment
of
a
filing
fee.
Only,
however,
those
who
bring
slap
lawsuits
never
intend
to
fund
the
suit,
do
not
prepare
a
case
and
may
drop
the
suit
just
prior
to
any
real
cost
incurred.
However,
the
defendant
and
their
insurer
have
no
option
but
to
responsibly
respond
to
the
lawsuit
and
spend
as
if
the
case
will
be
heard
by
the
courts.
E
E
It
is
a
lawsuit,
it's
a
legal
process
and
there's
a
strong
tendency
to
allow
such
matters
to
be
resolved
by
the
court
system
under
the
protocols
of
law.
However,
the
current
culture
of
slap
lawsuits
is
a
perverse
weaponized
version
of
a
legal
process.
The
victims,
collateral
damage
and
likely
future
casualties
are
becoming
difficult
to
ignore
the
stories
and
circumstances
associated
with
old
city,
Bella,
Vista,
fish,
town
and
others.
Each
significantly
impacted
by
malicious
slap
lawsuits
could
easily
be
the
story
of
any
philadelphia
civic
group.
E
There
are
thousands
of
good
philadelphians
volunteering
their
precious
time
in
service
to
their
communities
through
civic
organizations.
These
civic
organizations
serve
a
key
function
in
our
democratic
society
and
our
city.
There
is
no
substitute
a
replacement
for
the
role
played
by
these
volunteer
organizations.
E
Currently,
each
our
CEO
each
volunteer,
civic
organization
is
terribly
exposed
and
vulnerable
to
slap
lawsuits
and
faultless
loss
of
dno
insurance
coverage,
resulting
in
the
cessation
of
business
in
a
perfect
world.
Satisfactory
solution
to
this
issue
would
come
down
from
our
state.
Legislators
in
our
world
council
now
has
an
opportunity
to
serve
its
public
by
promulgating
local
regulations
that
will
protect
our
CEOs
from
slap
lawsuits
and
establish
reasonable
consequences
as
a
detriment
to
those
who
would
practice
such
malicious
abuse
of
the
legal
system.
F
Afternoon
I'm
Janet
Anderson
from
Wissahickon
interested
citizens
Association.
We
call
ourselves
WIC
up
our
boundaries
or
the
Wissahickon
creek
to
the
intersection
of
Ridge
Avenue
and
Main
Street
at
the
bottom
of
the
hill,
all
the
way
up,
the
hilt,
upper
java,
new
to
shores
and
walnut
lane
and
I.
Thank
you
for
your
interest.
I
just
found
out
about
this
meeting
yesterday,
so
I'm
a
little.
This
will
be
brief.
Currently
our
group
has
do
you
know
a
liability
insurance
that
we
hope
will
be
renewed
in
September,
but
that
is
now
in
jeopardy.
F
Just
yesterday,
I
received
word
that
our
group
is
facing
the
possibility
of
being
sued
by
Western
development
company
in
late
December
2017,
our
zoning
chairperson,
was
sued
as
an
individual,
because
the
minutes
of
our
zoning
committee
meetings
on
our
website,
the
parcel
of
ground
that
westrom
is
seeking
to
purchase
is
quite
small
and
will
require
at
least
three
zoning
variances,
including
steep
slope.
Our
D,
you
know
carrier
has
agreed
to
defend
the
suit.
F
A
fair
and
equitable
settlement
was
reached,
but
just
yesterday,
westrom
withdrew
and
presented
a
much
more
difficult
order
offer
and
that
resulted
in
our
zoning
chairman
declining
the
settlement.
Yesterday
afternoon
late
in
the
afternoon,
our
zoning
chair
was
informed
by
westerns
attorney.
They
are
now
considering
suing
wicka,
because
our
insurance
company
is
defending
the
zoning
chair
and
they
have
pressured
him
to
present
a
deadline
settlement
close
of
business
today
and
if
the
Chairman
and
westrom
can't
reach
a
settlement,
westrom
is
threatening
to
sue
Wicca.
F
That's
exactly
why
our
CEOs
need
protection
from
slap
suits
and
we
need
it
now.
How
can
an
our
CEO
function
if
we
live
in
constant
fear
of
being
sued?
My
fellow
our
CEO
presidents
and
I
respectfully
ask
the
Council
for
legislation
to
give
us
proper
in
coverage.
While
we
work
with
developers
to
strive
I
strive
to
work
and
we've
done
that
in
the
past,
Wicca
is
working
with
developers,
we're
not
bad
guys.
We
want
responsible,
fair
development.
B
G
G
Our
organization
back
in
2014
was
sued
by
a
parent
of
a
child
that
would
to
our
day
camp,
and
at
that
time
we
did
not
have
any
liability
insurance.
We
had
carry
liability
insurance
for
a
few
years,
but
due
to
the
calls
we
were
not
able
to
keep
that
running
and
the
policy
lapsed.
So
we
had
to
take
on
the
responsibility
of
our
self
to
get
representation
which
our
budget
could
not
handle.
G
G
At
that
point
she
referred
us
to
colleagues
of
her
all
firm
I'm
here
in
this
city
and
they
agreed
to
take
on
the
the
case,
but
at
a
discounted
rate.
So
we
had
to
struggle
and
come
up
with
money
just
to
resolve
us
off
from
this
various
lawsuit.
It's
a
hardship.
It
was
a
hardship
on
our
Civic
Association.
It
continues
to
be
a
hardship
on
our
Civic
Association.
We
are
constantly
being
asked
by
our
member
our
board
of
directors.
What
will
happen
if
they
get
sued,
they
work
very
hard
for
their
homes.
G
B
You
all
right,
thank
you
all,
please.
First,
let
the
record
reflect
Councilwoman,
Reynolds
Brown.
Member
of
the
committee
is
present.
I.
Just
have
my
note.
Councillor
Hina
has
some
questions,
but
let
me
just
say
it's
going
back
to
mr.
Hornstein.
Here
you
talked
about
Senator
Farr
nazy's
state
legislation,
if
you
just
briefly
kind
of
described
that
and
where
it
might
be.
At
this
point,
I'm
kind
of
know.
D
B
D
D
Bill
95,
it's
actually
passed
the
Senate
twice,
an
overwhelming
majority.
It's
winding
its
way
through
the
house.
Frankly,
okay,
we
had
a
very
good
conversation
with
state
Rep
John
Taylor
a
while
a
few
months
before
he
decided
he
was
stepping
down,
and
he
said
he
was
gonna
help
separate
that
through
the
house,
because
in
the
house
there
needs
to
be
Republican
leadership
in
there.
So
I
know
some
of
our
colleagues
the
Crosstown
coalition
is
now
now.
D
We
now
have
some
membership
in
the
Northeast,
a
large
part
due
to
the
great
work
of
councilman
Heenan's
office
and
encouraging
people
to
become
part
of
larger
organizations,
and
so
the
Northeast
civics
are
talking
to
representative
Martina,
white
and
others
about
become
co-sponsors,
the
legislation
so
that
it
will
actually
get
through
the
house.
The
bill
would
would
would
mirror
bills
in
many
other
states,
which
would
basically
make
sure
that
if
a
frivolous
lawsuit
is
filed,
there's
an
economic
disincentive
from
doing
so
and
would
assign
a
master
to
determine
if
the
lawsuit
has
a
validity.
D
So
it
would
really
it
would
really
put
the
brakes
on
a
lot
of
these
frivolous
lawsuits
and,
frankly,
put
Pennsylvania
in
league
with
the
rest
of
the
country
in
terms
of
protecting
the
freedom
of
speech
of
community
organizations
and
I.
Think
the
stories
you've
heard
even
just
on
this
first
panel
should
I'm
pretty
sure.
Council
gets
this
right.
D
Can
just
for
a
state
legislature
could
get
off
the
dime
and
do
it.
You
know
it's
across
town,
Cole,
listen,
we're
gonna,
move
forward
and
get
a
policy
that
covers
all
of
our
members.
That's
our
goal!
Right
now!
So
I've
hurt
anyone
in
this
room
who's,
not
a
member
to
come
check
us
out
and
think
about
it,
because
it's
gonna
be
having
a
group
policy
is
always
going
to
be
stronger
and
more
robust
than
not
having
a
group
policy
yeah.
Let.
B
Me,
let
me
ask
you
on
on
that
note.
As
far
as
getting
state
action
I
know,
that's
always
tough
to
get
something
done
in
Harrisburg,
but
I
have
groups
community
groups
what
I
am
I,
don't
know
if
they
use
the
word
are
CEOs
but
groups
around
the
state
to
your
knowledge.
Have
they
run
into
this
problem
in
some
other
counties
and
yeah.
D
D
You
know
this
cuts
across
the
board,
any
you
know
the
bedrock
of
our
democratic
societies,
people
people
participating
as
citizens,
and
this
is
a
way
as
joe
suggested,
of
squashing
people's
current
and
future
participation,
because
if
you
see
your
neighbor
gets
sued,
but
because
they
stood
up
in
a
meeting,
how
different
is
that
than
you
know
being
in
a
totalitarian
society
where
people
are
afraid
to
speak
up?
No.
B
Reason
I
asked
that,
obviously,
if
we're
trying
to
pass
something
throughout
the
whole
state,
obviously
if
it's
sometimes
portrayed
as
just
benefit
in
Philadelphia,
that's
not
the
the
most
advantageous
for
us
out
there.
So
that's
why
I
wanted
to
know
for
those
others.
So
it's
just
a
certainly
a
statewide
issue.
I.
D
B
C
Thank
You
mr.
chair
a
couple
questions.
What
first
I'd
be
councilman
swiller
had
stepped
that
in
2016
he
introduced
some
slapped
legislation
and
some
variations,
and
this
this
has
been
an
ongoing
issue,
but
with
the
the
ongoing
participation
of
public
participation
in
the
form
of
community
groups
and-
or
you
know,
civic
associations
of
friends
of
their
freedom
of
speech,
as
you
noted,
has
been
required,
quite
frankly
by
us
all,
right
in
the
City
Philadelphia
and
an
independent
board
of
his
own
called
the
Zoning
Board.
C
So
the
freedom
of
speech
is
I
think
was
critical
in
your
description
of
the
Senate
bill
where
hospital
95
Senate
bill
95,
which
is
now
currently
in
the
House
Judiciary
Committee,
and
that's
where
it
lies,
I'm,
not
saying
it
dies,
but
that's
where
it
lies.
But
the
two
major
components
that
bill
is
one
recognizing
the
freedom
of
speech
for
public
participants.
C
You
know
such
as
taking
public
positions
such
as
or
coz
community
groups
and
in
individuals,
but
in
addition
to
the
court
in
May
or
the
master,
may
have
the
complaint,
who
filed
a
frivolous
charge,
cover
to
court
costs
and
legal
fees
associated
with
that.
So
you
know
there
is,
you
know,
a
lot
of
I
think
important.
There
are
two
important
components
of
that
legislation
that
sits
in
Harrisburg.
C
Right
now
you
know,
but
we
as
we
do
here
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
every
member
I
can
attest
to
that,
is
a
part
of
this
body
works
and
communicates
with
our
CEOs
and
friends
of
groups
and
people
all
throughout
the
city
of
Philadelphia
I
have
some
questions
for
Jeff
for
the
record?
Can
you
just
shorten
all
right
and
short,
simple
terms,
explain
what
do
know
insurance
is
what
it
covers
and
how
it
is
impacted
when
a
slap
suit
is
filed
or
threatened
thanks.
D
I'll
be
brief,
however
long
it
takes
so
dno
insurances,
directors
and
officers
insurance.
It
covers
the
directors
committee
chair,
significant
officers
of
a
nonprofit
organization,
but
it
also
corporations
have
this
for
their
boards
and
the
idea
is
that
it
prevents
it
provides
coverage
if
the
organization
is
sued.
It
provides
covers
for
those
individuals
right
now
and
you'll
hear
more
about
this.
From
from
some
other
panelists
have
actually
been
through
this
directly
with
their
civics.
D
If
a
suit
is
filed,
the
insurance
companies
as
I
alluded
to
tend
to
settle,
which
means
that
they
have
a
claim
on
their
record,
and
that
claim
then
makes
it
very
difficult
to
get
your
insurance
renewed,
and
if
it's
going
to
be
renewed,
it's
going
to
be
much
more
expensive.
So
the
terrain
among
the
34
members,
even
in
the
crosstown
coalition,
there
are
some
organizations
that
have
$200,000
budgets
and
for
them
adding
five
or
$600
1,000
or
2,000
of
their
DNA
policies,
not
a
big
deal.
D
Most
of
our
organizations
have
budgets
of
less
than
$10,000
and
some
of
them
even
smaller
than
that
so
for
them
to
have
to
scrape
together
two
thousand
three
thousand
one
organization.
Now
that
I
know
of
is
paying
five
thousand
dollars
a
year
for
dno
insurance,
you're
not
going
to
get
a
person
with
a
house
and
a
job
to
volunteer
in
their
neighborhood.
If
they're
not
covered,
I
certainly
would
and
I
know
most
people
I.
That
I
know
would
not.
C
D
Speak
to
that,
but
I
don't
think
an
insurer
is
going
to
ensure
even
consider
insuring
you.
Unless
you
have
a
board
of
directors,
that's
elected,
you
have
some
assets,
so
I
Joe
may
be
able
to
speak
to
this
more
directly
because
he's
now
in
that
position
being
sort
of
unaffiliated
organization,
but
the
members
of
the
Crosstown
are
all
basically
civic
associations
with
you
know
our
CEO
status
or.
C
D
C
E
Well,
like
any
approach,
any
legal
approach
usually
they're
asking
for
more
than
would
actually
remedy
the
issue
they
claim
and
and
and
so
I
just
I
just
need
to
say
it.
May
it
may
seem
that
part
of
the
response
I'm
about
to
give
you
is
vague,
but
I'm
actually
gagged
from
discussing
any
of
the
cases
you
see
that's
part
of
the
settlement.
The
settlement
always
includes
that
you
can't
discuss
the
detail
of
the
case
with
anyone.
Ethical.
E
You're
served
and
once
you're
served,
you
must
notify
your
carrier
immediately.
You
have
no
choice
once
you
notify
your
carrier
within
24
hours,
your
carrier
you're
the
company
that
insures
you
will
assign
attorneys
to
your
case
an
attorney
or
attorneys
to
your
case,
depending
on
the
nature
of
the
case
that
all
happens
very
quickly
within
within
just
48
hours,
you're
being
interviewed
by
all
the
attorneys
involved
in
the
case
they're
attempting
to
decipher.
If
there
are,
if
there's
any
substance
to
the
claims.
Now
the
claims
are
remarkably
broad.
It
won't
be
a
single
claim.
E
E
And
so,
and
and
of
course,
you're
defending
against
things
that
never
happened,
that
you
never
had
an
opportunity
to
do
or
say,
but
you
have
to
defend
against
them,
and
so
of
course
this
cost
a
lot
of
money,
because
every
board
member
has
to
be
interviewed.
Everyone
who
attended
the
hearing,
hearings
meetings,
they
all
have
to
be
interviewed
transcripts,
have
to
be
examined.
Minutes
of
meetings
have
to
be
examined.
It's
very
costly
for
the
party
that
insures
you
and
all
this
time.
E
The
entity
that
brought
the
suit
is
they're
not
going
to
invest
a
single
dollar
in
legal
time.
The
filing
fee
is
the
basis
of
launching
the
suit
and
creating
the
claim
the
complaint
as
it's
called,
and
so
but
your
company,
your
carrier,
has
no
option
but
to
responsibly
defend
you
and
answer
every
one
of
these
charges
in
the
complaint
and
that's
costly
and
that's
what
does
the
damage
to
the
you
know:
civic
organization,
the
volunteer
organs.
It.
E
In
that,
as
your
as
your
legal
team
may
respond,
then
their
legal
team,
which
may
or
may
not
exist
has
an
opportunity
to
simply
say
we
need
more
clarity
and
push
the
documents
back
and
ask
for
more
clarity.
This
can
go
on
for
months.
So,
for
example,
the
last
three
cases
where
I
was
individually
named
along
with
the
Civic
Association,
none
of
them
ended
before
four
months
and
two
of
them
went
on
for
over
nine
months
and
for
nine
months
our
carrier
was
paying
the
legal
fees
and.
D
And
just
to
add
on
to
that,
so
as
I
stated
earlier,
the
typical
dno
policy
costs
a
thousand
to
two
thousand
dollars.
Let's
say
about,
say
it's:
fifteen
hundred
so
Jose,
let's
say
Joe's
organization
of
my
organization
been
paying
that
fee
for
15
years
that
one
lawsuit
costs
way
more
for
the
carrier
than
all
those
claims.
E
Would
like
to
say
just
one
more
thing
about
it:
over
the
last
three
claims
against
the
old
city,
Civic
Association.
None
of
those
claims
even
went
to
the
discovery
phase,
because
that
would
require
that
the
party
who
brought
the
suit
would
have
to
prepare
it.
So
they
don't
get
that
far.
It's
it's
maximum
damage
done
at
the
cost
of
a
filing
fee.
On.
B
That
let
me
before
I
recognize
councilor
squirrel,
I'm.
Sorry,
I,
don't
think
this
was
brought
up.
I
was
distracted
for
a
minute.
Has
any
body
tried
to
countersue
on
that
kind
of
issue?
Saying
look
these
groups
are
bringing
you
know.
This
was
a
frivolous
lawsuit
to
start
with
now,
obviously
got
cost
money
with
lawyers
and
all
but
I.
E
E
E
D
C
H
Thank
You
mr.
mr.
chair
and
and
I
appreciate
you
all
for
testifying,
because
this
has
been
going
on
for
far
too
long
and
you
know
we
had
introduced
a
an
ordinance
to
try
to
do
it
in
the
city
and
we're
told
by
our
law
department.
That
would
need
a
state
authority
to
to
change
that.
But
we,
you
know
we
would
have
to
be
challenged
on
that.
If
we've
made
it
a
law,
we
would
have
to
be
challenged
and.
I
H
Department
didn't
feel
comfortable,
but
and
I
know
you
just
mentioned
Jeff
that
another
group
I
mean
another
group
had
D&O
insurance
and
they
end
up
hiring
their
own
attorneys
and
I'm
sure
we'll
hear
about
that.
But-
and
you
know
they
did
that
because
they
didn't
want
to
settle
and
they
wanted
to
make
sure
it
went
all
the
way
through
and
and
therefore,
but
they
had
the
ability
to
do
that
they
had
some
people
who
were
willing
to
work
with
them.
Not
every
our
CEO
has
that
ability
to
do
that.
J
H
You
know
we
need
to
look
at
ways
to
try
to
protect
them.
I
know
we
met
with
the
Planning
Commission
folks
and
some
other
folks
to
see
if
we
could
get
the
city
to
use
some
type
of
umbrella
insurance
sort
of
like
they
do
and
what
the
advisory
councils
would
Parks
and
Rec,
but
it
sounded
like
at
that
point.
Then
they
would
change
the
RCO
status
in
the
legislation,
so
we
didn't
need
to.
H
They
didn't
think
they
were
liable
or
would
be
able
to
cover
every
our
CEO
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
I
know
Jeff
across
town.
You
guys
have
looked
at
some
other
ways
to
try
to
do
some
group
insurance.
Don't
know
where
that
is
at
this
time,
but
we
need
to
come
up
with
a
solution
right
and
we
need
to
work
together
to
try
to
find
a
way
to
do
that
and
I
I.
H
B
Actually,
while
before
they
are
called
I,
just
for
the
record,
I
wanted
to
note
that
we
have
written
testimony
from
and
it
will
be
made
part
of
record
from
Peter
gold
of
the
Gold
Group
LLC
Chris
Bordelon,
if
I'm
pronouncing
it
right
from
the
Somerton
Civic
Association
David
Lee
from
Walnut
Hill,
Community,
Association
and
Lou
halas
from
East
Arsdale
Civic
Association.
Thank
you.
Miss
Marconi,
who
we
have
next.
K
K
We
speaking
on
behalf
of
Center
City
residents.
This
morning.
We
support
the
efforts.
I
think
that
anything
we
could
add
to
the
record
has
been
very
articulately
phrased
by
the
previous
panel.
In
particular,
Jeff
Warren
seen
Center
City
residents
is
a
member
of
the
coalition
and
we
support
Jeff's
very
articulate
comments.
By
way
of
general
background
to
some
of
the
questions
which
emerged,
the
Crosstown
worked
with
Senator
Farr
nazy
in
the
draft
of
Senate
bill
95.
K
K
The
bill
was
modeled
after
the
Arizona
and
California
statute
and
in
response
to
councilman
Heenan's
questions
about
the
processing
of
a
slap
suit.
In
my
other
life,
before
I
retired
I
did
insurance
company
defense
work.
We
did
dno
defense,
not
for
civic
associations,
for
corporations
in
if
you're
sued
in
Philadelphia,
even
for
an
arbitration
case
less
than
$50,000.
You
don't
get
to
arbitration
no
earlier
than
1518
months.
So
that's
the
timeframe
you're
you're
looking
at
and
certainly
from
the
insurance
carriers
perspective.
K
B
B
L
L
But
I
speak
from
the
heart:
I
represent
the
Taccone
Civic
Association
I'm
here
with
another
board
member
Sam
Shepard's
who's.
Chairman
of
the
zoning
committee,
Taccone,
goes
from
Frankfort
Avenue.
We
share
with
Mayfair
to
the
river
and
we
go
from
Robbins
Avenue
in
the
south
to
Cottman
Avenue
in
the
north,
we're
a
really
easy
Square
district
and
all
of
our
CEO
other
CEOs,
Holmesburg
and
Mayfair,
and
with
and
oming
offering
us
the
TAC
Coney
Civic
Association
is
one
that's
a
good.
50
years
old
has
been
extremely
active
from
when
we
were
children.
L
My
husband
and
I
remember
a
neighbor
who
was
also
the
zoning
committee
chairman
and
did
good
work
in
the
60s
and
70s
for
our
neighborhood.
The
slap
lawsuits
that
were
all
struggling
with
do
more
than
hurt
Pacific
associations.
It
influences
the
way
neighbors
decide
whether
they
want
to
give
up
that
valuable
little
bit
of
free
time.
They
have
and
commit
to
a
larger
cause.
In
Taccone,
our
families
go
back
many
generations.
L
Mine
has
been
there
since
1905
there's
been
a
Jim
and
Ellie,
or
a
delorenzo
and
Taccone
for
that
many
years
so
and
I'm
not
the
only
case
where
an
immigrant
neighborhood,
Polish
and
then
eventually
German
and
then
eventually
Italian,
that's
what
we
are
and
we
go
back
generations.
So
the
people
who
live
in
Hakone
were
not
really
going
anywhere.
We
want
to
kind
of
be
involved
and,
as
this
slap
language
becomes
more
familiar
to
people
just
in
the
news,
they
are
very
hesitant
to
get
involved.
L
So
it
limits
our
future
leadership.
You
know,
civic
associations
are
sort
of
like
the
big
box
stores
in
a
mall,
the
more
stable
rCOS
that
you
can
put
throughout
the
city,
the
more
stable
those
neighborhoods
become
and
if
we
begin
to
threaten
the
big-box
stores
so
to
speak,
or
the
anchors
is
another
way
of
saying
it.
If
we
begin
to
threaten
them,
then
the
other
smaller
fabric
threads
that
are
in
those
neighborhoods,
the
friends
of
support
groups
for
other
smaller
they're
going
to
disappear
and
then
that
fabric
in
those
neighborhoods
just
go
away.
L
Philadelphia,
along
with
other
cities
across
this
country,
not
to
say
they
even
the
state
but
across
this
country,
are
going
through
a
development
Philadelphia,
isn't
a
development
boom
that
we
really
can't
see
the
end
of
it.
Yet
it's
housing,
that's
economic!
It's
it's
transportation,
there's
lots
of
development,
and
because
of
that
there
is
a
hunger
for
land
for
air
space
and
for
development
that
neighbors
are
not
comfortable
giving
up.
We
are
not
anti
development
and
I
would
say
that
most
people
who
belong
to
a
Civic
Association,
you
know,
are
all
about
development.
L
Community
development
is
more
than
bodies
and
souls,
it's
bricks
and
mortars,
and
we
are
interested
in
all
four
elements
of
Community
Development.
We
need
help
with
the
bricks
and
the
mortar
we're
doing
really
good
with
bodies
and
souls
we
have
people
committing.
We
have
volunteers,
cleanups
are
going
wonderful,
how
event
and
houses
are
being
sucked
up
and
rehabbed
we're
doing
really
good
with
that,
but
the
bricks
and
mortar,
the
business
of
being
a
community
organization
is
drowning
us
it
is
above
our
heads.
We
are
simply
people
who
live
in
our
neighborhoods
and
who
love
it.
L
That's
the
level
that
I
speak
to
others
are
more
familiar
with
the
legislation
and
the
insurance
matters
I'm
telling
you
that
the
slap
legislation
will
help
us
develop
bodies
and
souls
and
bricks
and
mortar
in
a
very
responsible,
proactive
way,
and
we
need
your
help
and
Thank
You
councilman,
Heenan,
I'm,
proud
to
say,
I'm,
a
constituent
in
your
district,
and
thank
you
very
much
to
the
committee
for
taking
the
time
in
this
late
part
of
the
day
to
listen
to
what
we
have
to
say.
Thank.
M
Good
afternoon
I'm
Linda,
laughs,
I'm,
the
president
of
the
Friends
of
Pennypack
Park
and
all
volunteer
Friends
group
located
in
the
sixth
and
10th
council
district.
Our
part
consists
contains
sixteen
hundred
and
eighty
eight
acres
and
stretches
from
the
Delaware
River
to
the
Montgomery
County
border.
We
have
approximately
1500
members,
many
who
volunteer
and
keep
our
parks
looking
good.
Many
of
them
are
in
the
audience
today.
If
you've
never
visited
our
park.
Let
me
share
some
of
its
special
features.
We
have
baseball
and
soccer
fields
in
the
mouth
of
the
penny.
M
Pack,
along
with
nesting,
bald
eagles,
has
the
oldest
stone
arch
bridge
built
in
1697
crossing
the
creek,
where
many
revolutionary
soldiers
and
today's
cars
and
except
the
buses
trans
transverse,
Frankfort,
Avenue,
daily
a
band
show,
were
summer
concerts,
delight
the
community
citizens
and
a
wonderful
penny
packed
Environmental
Center,
which
conduct
campfires
and
lots
of
educational
programs.
There
is
also
a
ten
mile,
long
bicycle
path
and
many
miles
of
walking
trails
to
the
park.
The
Pennypack
Creek,
the
waterway
itself
threads
through
this
park,
providing
a
calming
refuge
to
all
visitors.
M
It's
name
was
given
by
the
local
and
Nabi
Indians
who
lived
along
the
penny
pata
centuries
ago.
The
reason
I
share
this
part
of
history
is
to
understand
why
our
members
are
so
passionate
about
our
park.
Our
members
donate
councilÃs
hours
to
keep
the
park
clean,
reduce
erosion
by
building
water
bars
and
to
plant
many
trees
to
combat
the
loss
caused
by
age.
We
want
Pennypack
to
be
viable
for
future
philadelphia
citizens
to
enjoy.
M
This
is
the
reason
why
I'm
here
today,
in
order
for
the
Friends
of
penny
pack
park
to
function
as
a
volunteer
organization,
we
need
liability
insurance
to
safeguard
our
members
and
officers.
The
Friends
of
penny
pack
park
was
sued
three
years
ago
when
a
teenager
tragically
lost
his
life
when
he
jumped
into
the
swollen
waters
of
the
creek.
Our
organization
had
no
involvement
in
this
young
man's
death,
but
because
we
volunteer
in
the
park
we
were
also
sued.
M
The
city
of
Philadelphia
is
settled,
but
we
were
taken
to
court.
We
lost
our
insurance
coverage
and
had
difficulty
obtaining
new
liability
insurance
coverage.
We
had
to
approach
multiple
insurance
companies
trying
to
locate
a
company
willing
to
insure
our
organization
due
to
the
lawsuit.
When
we
did
locate
an
insurance
company
willing
to
provide
insurance,
we
had
to
pay
a
premium
twice
as
high
as
prior
to
the
lawsuit,
but
the
saga
continues.
M
The
Friends
of
Pennypack
is
being
sued
again.
With
this
lawsuit,
our
fear
is,
we
will
become
uninsurable.
No
insurance
means
no
friends
of
Pennypack
Park.
Why
would
any
park
member
volunteer
to
improve
their
local
park
when
their
risk
of
losing
their
home
and/or
assets
if
they're
sued?
Our
organization
cannot
exist
without
insurance
to
protect
our
members?
The
city
of
Philadelphia
has
no
legislation
that
protects
volunteers
or
501
C
3
organizations
such
as
ours
from
being
sued,
the
state
of
Pennsylvania
has
a
Good
Samaritan
Act,
but
that
only
protects
individuals
who
aid
someone
in
medical
need.
M
There
is
no.
Currently,
there
is
no
lawsuit.
Excuse
me,
no
law
that
protects
our
volunteers
who
work
and
do
good
deeds
in
the
park.
The
Philadelphia
Department
of
Parks
and
Recreation
I
believe
is
proud
of
the
partnerships
they
have
established
with
many
friends
park
groups,
the
City
Council
in
these
hours
of
free
labor,
whether
provided
by
volunteers
in
a
pocket
park
or
in
our
large
watershed
parks.
But
these
volunteer
groups
have
no
protection
for
any
of
the
work
they
do.
That
benefits
the
park.
M
What
prevents
any
citizen
who
trips
falls
and
get
injured
in
their
neighborhood
park,
or
a
bicyclist
driving
into
a
tree
and
getting
knocked
unconscious
from
suing
us?
We
can
be
sued
because
of
an
act
of
God
we
might
be
sued
just
because
the
lawyers
think
we
have
deep
pockets
of
money.
The
city
will
lose
the
park
supporters.
They
have
tried
hard
to
cultivate
and,
more
importantly,
the
city
will
lose
thousands
of
hours
of
volunteer
labor
that
benefit
our
parks.
M
This
is
an
impact
to
the
department
which
would
has
experienced
large
budget
cuts
in
the
past,
and
our
parks
would
quickly
fall
into
disrepair
again.
Dear
councilmembers,
this
is
my
request.
The
Friends
of
Pennypack
Park,
along
with
other
friends
Park
groups,
are
requesting
legislation
that
will
protect
individuals
from
suing
volunteer
or
501
3c
organizations
who
work
in
behalf
of
the
City
Department
of
Parks
and
Recreation.
M
This
would
communicate
to
the
citizens
of
the
city
that
our
volunteers
and
they
work
that
they
do
is
valuable
valued
by
all
this
legislation
would
reduce
or
because
an
organizational
cost
would
allow
us
to
direct
our
funds
to
programs
and
projects
benefiting
our
park.
Please
give
this
legislation
your
attention
and
take
action
as
quickly
as
possible.
Our
continued
existence
is
dependent
upon
you,
making
the
right
decision
that
protects
and
supports
friends
groups.
Thank.
B
B
Right,
thank
you
miss
off.
First,
let
me
just
for
the
record.
Recognize
the
council
and
Blackwell
is
present.
Ma'am
I
understand
you're,
with
the
same
group
of
two
friends.
Really
we
really
are
trying
just
to
be
fair
to
everybody
to
just
have
one
represent
from
each
group.
Okay,
if
you
have
written
testimony,
you
can
certainly
submit
it.
Okay,
fine,
okay!
Thank
you!
Cuz
I!
Really,
you
know,
I
want
to
be
fair
to
everybody
here
and
there's
a
lot
of
people
waiting.
Okay,
all
right!
Thank
you.
Thank
you
very
much.
Mr.
Rubin.
B
B
B
G
N
Thank
You
mr.
chairman
Thank
You
councilman
Heenan
for
introducing
this
resolution,
councilman
schoola
for
being
a
wonderful
representative
and
also
for
doing
work
on
this
in
the
past
and
to
the
rest
of
the
members
of
the
committee
very
happy
to
be
able
to
well
not
happy,
but
very
grateful
to
be
able
to
testify
on
this
matter.
N
N
It
was
that's
the
kind
of
person
who
this
person
also
flashed
a
pistol
to
a
local
news
reporter
who
was
trying
to
work
on
the
story
more
significantly
and
more
recently
in
2013
we
were
hit
with
a
slap
suit
and
for
those
members
of
counsel
familiar,
we
were
simply
hit
because
we
had
a
restaurant
in
the
neighborhood
that
was
illegally
operating
as
a
nightclub
for
about
three
months
and
did
not
have
a
special
assembly
and
occupancy
license.
We
did
what
every
our
CEO
would
do.
N
We
took
in
neighbor
complaints
when
they
finally
went
for
their
license.
We
had
a
meeting
and
we
testified
at
a
hearing
for
that.
This
individual
filed
a
federal
lawsuit
against
us,
alleging
violations
of
civil
rights,
defamation,
tortious
interference,
I
believe
there
were
more
than
a
dozen
and
a
half
complaints,
each
one
alleging
more
than
$50,000
of
damages.
N
They
sued
us
they
sued
me
personally,
the
chair
of
our
zoning
committee,
five
individual
residents,
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
I,
think
councilmen
squill,
a--,
the
police
department,
the
local
police
captain,
one
of
his
officers
to
online
publications
in
an
online
discussion
forum.
It
took
18
months
to
resolve
this
case
and
the
only
reason
that
we're
still
here
is
because
the
number
one
thing
we
learned
is
when
it
comes
to
and
slap
suits.
The
first
adversary
you
have
to
fight
is
not
the
plaintiff.
It's
your
insurance
company.
We
are
insurance.
N
Companies
pointed
the
finger
at
each
other
because
we
have
dno
and
general
liability
and
they
refuse
to
even
give
us
a
yes
or
no
answer
on
whether
or
not
we
recovered
before
the
deadline
that
we
had
to
respond
to
the
court
to
the
suit.
We
had
to
hire
our
own
attorney
and
it
was
only
because
our
attorney
was
willing
to
work
for
probably
one
third
of
the
going
rate
that
they
were
willing
to
accept.
The
insurance
companies
reimburse
alrea
for
outside
counsel,
and
that
is
the
only
reason
that
we
survived.
N
The
allegations
in
a
slap
suit
do
not
have
to
have
any
merit,
because
there
is
no
way
for
a
judge
to
rule
on
the
merits
of
the
case
until
you've
gone
through
all
the
time
and
expense
of
motions,
preliminary
hearings
motion
to
dismiss
discovery
and
deposition
and
sometimes
trial.
You
cannot
even
begin
to
try
to
recover
damages
or
countersue
through,
what's
called
a
Dragonetti
motion
unless
or
until
you
finish
the
case
and
prevail.
So
if
you
settle,
there's
no
Dragonetti
if
you
win
and
they
appeal
there's
no
Dragonetti.
N
N
So
if
we
had
a
system
where,
with
an
anti
slap
law,
you
could
go
in
at
the
front
end
and
a
judge
or
someone
could
rule
on
the
merits,
then
people
wouldn't
even
file
slap
suits
because
a
they
wouldn't
work
and
B
they'd
end
up
paying
court
costs
and
penalties.
So
I'm
happy
to
talk
more
about
our
situation.
If
you
like,
but
I,
think
you
know
all
the
ins
and
outs
of
slap
suits
and
happy
to
answer
any
question.
N
Oh
the
one
other
thing
I
would
add
to
what
councilman
Heenan
asked
before
about
different
insurance
costs
for
our
CEO
and
non
are
cos.
We
don't
have
direct
data
on
that,
as
Jeff
Hornstein
said,
but
one
of
the
reasons
is:
there's
a
civic
right
in
our
area
that
elected
not
to
become
an
our
CEO
after
2012,
precisely
because
they
didn't
want
to
get
sued
for
zoning
activities.
So
that's
why
we
don't
have
the
information,
because
people
are
deterred
from
becoming
our
sister.
B
N
Remove
it
removes
bad
actors,
incentives
to
even
file
the
suits
because,
as
joshi
Avvo
said,
the
purpose
of
the
suit
is
never
to
win.
It
is
to
drain
you
of
money
to
silence
you
so
right.
If,
if
there's
a
ruling
on
the
merits
before,
you
have
to
spend
very
much
money,
there's
no
incentive
to
file
the
suit
and
it
takes
the
perverse
incentive
for
your
dno
carrier
to
work
against
your
best
interest
and
turns
it
into
a
regular
incentive
where
they
know,
there's
more
predictability,
lower
risk
and
lower
cost.
B
N
Won't
work,
they'll
sue
in
Commonwealth
Court
and
the
Commonwealth
Court
won't
take
heat
of
Philadelphia's
law.
It
would
be
awesome,
though,
if
as
an
interim
stopgap
measure,
if
the
city
could
find
a
way
to
ensure
or
indemnify
our
ce,
o--'s
and
other
groups
that
do
this
kind
of
work,
that
would
not
be
a
permanent
solution,
but
it
would
insulate
the
groups
from
the
cost,
the
stress,
the
intimidation
and
it
would
insulate
them
from
getting
dropped
if
the
city
was
covering
them
or
facilitating
a
group
coverage
situation,
something.
C
Tom
Thank
You
mr.
chairman,
and
it's
exactly
right
again
that
councilman
squill
was,
you
know
back
and
forth
and
still
conducting
council
business.
While
you
know
knowing
how
extremely
important
this
isn't
in
2016,
he
did
introduce
a
legislation,
but
it
was
determined
by
the
law
department
that
we
were
preempted
by
state
tort
law
that
that
enables
us,
or
that
prohibits
us
to
creating
our
own
kind
of
slap
measures
when
it
comes
to
categorizing
a
lawsuit.
But
you
know
I
think
the
important
thing
here
is
he
had
mentioned.
C
You
know
at
the
end
of
today
all
right.
What
we're
doing
and
I
don't
want
to
ask
everybody.
Is
we
call
I,
know
we're
short
on
time?
I
got
a
I
got
a
list
of
questions
that
I'm
not
going
to.
You
know,
ask
everybody,
but
some
of
you
have
already
mentioned
it.
We're
gonna
we're
gonna,
create
our
own
discovery
when
it
comes
to
on
the
record
information.
To
show
that
we
are
really
kind
of
you
are
as
a
community
organization
and
civic
organization.
C
You
know
if
somebody
when
you,
when
you
summarize
your
statements
for
some
of
the
organizations
that
have
lesser
of
of
resources
that
has
less
resources
than
others.
You
know
some
like
Taccone,
so
for
the
record,
Jos
annuity's
testimony
is
submitted
on
the
record,
so
we
has
an
addition
so
that
that
is
submitted
and
we'll
we'll
get
Nancy.
You
will
be
submitted,
but
it's
important
to
note
that
in
Connie's
very
well-put
and
succinct
testimony
all
for
the
cuff.
Had
you
know
the
name
of
the
our
CEO
is
the
tech
oni
civic
association?
Are
you?
C
Buddy
transcends
just
I,
don't
even
mention
you
mentioned
the
boundaries
go
to
Mayfair,
sir.
So
there
is
another
neighborhood
that
that
is
involved
and
engaged,
and
that
happens
all
throughout
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
by
virtue
of
the
city
zoning
our
CEO
law,
which
we
voted
on
and
you
are
governed
by
and
it
is
20,000
parcels.
C
It
transcends
neighborhoods,
and
it
was
also
mentioned
that
it's
hard
to
get
people
to
get
involved
because
of
fear
of
being
sued
all
right
because
it
seems
to
be
come
a
trending
practice
for
frivolous
lawsuits
and-
and
we
don't-
and
we
don't
want
that
so
I'm
just
gonna-
ask
quickly.
It
has
its
type,
has
it
stalled
membership
drive
and
not
only
membership
drive
for
and
any
of
the
are
CEOs
but
officer
recruitment.
And
how
and
how
do
you
become
a
member?
What
is
required
to
become
a
member
of
of
an
or
co2.
L
C
L
L
L
No,
oh,
no!
These
$10
memberships
basically
pay
your.
You
know
to
run
your
wheels.
You
know
to
pay
the
insurance
to
print
your
flyers
to
hire
somebody
that
deliver
your
to
deliver
the
Flyers
to
to
do
all
kind
of
the
business
of
the
Civic
Association
to
hire
a
band
to
do
that
festival.
That's
what
that
little
bit
of
money
pays
for,
including.
C
L
Would
either
have
to
increase
fees
or
we
would
have
to
close
down?
Do
we
don't
have
a
big
source
of
money?
We're
not
a
grant
writing
organization.
We
don't
look
for
big
pots
of
money.
We
simply
are
a
civic
association
trying
to
keep
our
streets
safe
and
clean
and
our
development,
something
that
we
want
and
five
and
ten
dollars
right
now
is
enough.
It
will
not
be
in
the
future
with
the
lawsuit.
C
L
L
L
L
I'm
sorry
yeah,
the
Planning
Commission
right
notifies
us
independent.
We
ran
our
Co,
we
get
notified
from
them
independently.
We
are
told
what
they,
what
the
request
is
and
from
that
point,
the
the
the
wheels
start
to
turn
there.
The
applicant
is
told
to
contact
the
RCO
they're,
given
the
contact
information
for
the
RCO
and
they're
demanded
to
notify
us
that
they've
submit
this
and
to
schedule
a
meeting,
a
neighborhood
meeting.
L
They
have
to
have
that
neighborhood
meeting
or
the
CBA
is
not
going
to
hear
the
case
they
have
to,
and
they
have
to
show
proof.
You
know
they
have
to
show
that
they
mailed
the
notifications
out.
We
have
to
show
that
we
had
the
meeting
and
zba
here
are
the
minutes
to
those
meetings
and
here's
the
attendance
sheet
and
here's
how
we
voted.
L
The
city
we
need
some
protection
that
will
allow
us
to
freely
discuss
the
pros
and
cons
of
development,
and
if
that
means
that
you
need
to
that,
the
city
needs
to
help
us
with
an
umbrella
policy
or
change
the
rules
of
an
our
CEO
or
change
the
rules
of
the
game.
The
game
I'm
not
sure
what
the
end
result
will
look
like,
but
I
know
that
the
are
SEOs
that
are
in
place
now
are
simple
volunteers
that
need
someone
bigger
in
this
playground.
O
You
chairman
Greenlee
I,
do
want
to
thank
councilmembers,
Heenan
and
Squealer
for
coming
forward
and
putting
this
resolution
in
as
well
as
their
co-sponsors
council
members,
green
Parker
and
Johnson
I
am
somewhat
familiar
with
the
issue.
I'm
also
very
familiar
what
good
work
the
friends
groups
do.
Particular
friends,
Pennypack
I,
am
also
familiar.
What
an
our
CEO
does
as
I
am
a
member
through
the
Berlin
civic
associations
in
town
watch.
Actually,
although
I'm
not
running
many
meetings,
anymore,
I'm
still
listed
as
the
president
I
will
be
resigning
at
some
point
this
year.
O
As
soon
as
the
board
is
ready
to
go
without
me,
the
city
would
be
entirely
different.
If
we
didn't
have
our
CEOs
and
friends,
groups
be
very
directed
the
ability
for
neighbors
to
speak
out
what
might
be
good
or
not
good
in
their
neighborhood
I.
Think
that's
a
freedom
of
being
a
citizen
of
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
O
B
O
They
had
nothing
to
do
with
that.
We've
the
very
same
if
a
trees,
sometimes
they
fall
over
for
whatever
reason
would
fall
on
someone
I.
Don't
think
that
is
the
responsibility
of
the
Friends
group
I'm,
not
so
sure
it's
not
just
an
act
of
God,
but
the
fact
of
the
matter
is
suing
these
groups,
for
these
matters
is
is
so
absolutely
wrong.
After
my
and
I
want
to
talk
to
my
colleagues
after
my
meeting
with
Linda
laughs,
I
called
the
city
solicitor
and
societal,
aunty
and
I
spoke
about
this.
O
To
be
very
blunt,
I
am
NOT.
Gonna,
give
you
word
for
word:
cuz
I
did
not
take
notes,
but
I
got
the
drift
of
it.
It
was
not
a
good
conversation,
he
more
or
less
thought.
It
was
a
right
for
people
to
sue
each
other
I
get
that
as
well,
but
these
are
groups
that
help
the
city.
So
somehow
we
must
mr.
chairman
come
together
and
work
out
some
protection
for
these
groups
because
they
need
it
and
for
our
city
to
thrive.
They
must
thrive.
I.
L
O
To
thank
all
the
folks
that
are
here
today
to
testify
and
I
do
want
to
shout
out,
particularly
to
Linda
laughs,
because
I
know
and
her
group
I
know
the
dedication
they
give
because
they
I
work.
I
work,
I
live,
I
live
in
their
neighborhood,
I,
don't
live
far.
I
go
fishing
on
the
penny.
Pack
I
depend
on
their
cleanup
and
their
erosion.
Their
actually
erosion
helps
the
fish
life
there.
You
know
when
they
when
they,
when
they
put
erosion,
preventative
things.
O
B
B
N
Terribly
start:
there's
this
one
birthing,
a
direct
response
to
something
that
councilman
Heenan
asked
about
a
moment
ago.
Okay,
if
it's
not
that's
fine,
but
take
two
seconds
all
right
very
quickly,
because
we
have
about
15
people
since
there's
a
legal
principle
that
actually
protects
individuals
operating
in
a
governmental
or
quasi
judicial
function.
You
can
get
cases
dismissed
for
that.
We
actually
tried
that
argument,
because
we
were
an
our
CEO
and
because
it
was
federal
and
our
ce
o--'s
were
so
new.
It
was
rejected,
but
we're
happy
to
supply
you
with
the
legal
documents.
B
B
B
While
there
you're
approaching
just
again,
there
is
about
15
people
still
and
maybe
more
listen
to
speak.
So
what
I
would
ask
the
witnesses
I
think
we
got
a
good
background
on
what
the
law
is,
what
it's
all
about,
if
you
have
something
particularly
to
add
from
your
association
from
your
involvement
and
again
I
think
with
both
bellavista
and
wit
mayfair,
we
have
your
written
testimony.
So
if
you
could
just
you
know
anything
adding
without
just
you
know
repeating
what
was
already
said
would
be
great
Steve
I
think
your
name
was
mentioned,
for
why?
P
We
ultimately
went
in
a
different
direction
and
came
up
with
some
other
strategies
to
reduce
automobile
insurance
rates
in
the
city,
but
the
groundwork
has
been
laid
and
and
I
know
that
Lance
haver
is
very
familiar
with
that
and
can
be
very
helpful
in
working
with
with
you
and
Councilman
Heenan
in
particular,
to
to
craft
a
insurance
solution.
If
that's,
if
that's,
where
you're
headed
to
I
wasn't
here
for
the
earlier
testimony,
so
I
I.
Imagine
that
there
was
testimony
about
the
current
slap
on
legislation
that
there's.
B
P
Represent
a
number
of
our
SEOs
throughout
the
city
that
are
some
of
them
are
here.
Some
of
them
have
offered
testimony
or
will
offer
testimony,
and-
and
it
is,
is
our
position
that
these
slap
suits
are
not
only
devastating
but
they're,
but
they're,
basically
using
the
courts,
their
weaponizing
in
our
courts
in
a
way
to
subvert
our
democracy
and
our
community.
I
Yeah
I'll
just
highlight
a
few
things.
My
name
is
Brandi
bones
I'm
vice
president
and
treasurer
of
Bella,
Vista,
neighbors,
Association
located
and
councilman's
Willa's
district,
and
we
almost
were
dissolved
out
of
existence
this
past
summer,
when
we
were
unable
to
obtain
insurance
coverage
as
a
result
of
being
named
a
defendant
in
a
lawsuit
that
we
were
ultimately
dismissed
from
and
found
not
liable
in
any
way,
but
over
the
course
of
our
defense.
I
Many
of
those
insurance
companies
have
exited
the
market,
just
in
general,
have
are
just
not
even
considering
insuring
our
types
of
civic
groups
and
it's
just
a
hard
to
cover
risk
area,
and
so
I
think
the
other
things
I
want
to
highlight
from
my
written
testimony
is
the
next
steps.
The
lawsuit
that
was
against
us
was
actually
not
a
slap
lawsuit,
although
we
are
at
risk
of
that
in
our
role
providing
input,
neighborhood
input
on
zoning
variances,
but
I
think
it's.
I
We
would
be
served
by
making
this
a
much
broader
conversation
and
comprehensive
and
reducing
our
risk
profile,
given
our
quasi
governmental
role
and
unfunded
role
as
an
our
CEO
and
so
I
think
there
are
three
things
that
I
would
love
if
you
guys
could
consider
as
you're
moving
forward
with
your
collection
of
information,
which
is
an
umbrella
directors
and
officers.
Insurance
coverage
for
all
qualifying.
H
H
My
testimony
is
already
in
the
record,
so
I'm
going
to
keep
it
very
short
to
a
couple
points
that
I'd
like
to
stress
civic
associations,
especially
when
it
comes
to
the
zoning
we
need
the
insurance
or
some
type
of
protection
and
coverage
to
mitigate
the
potential
lawsuits
from
from
the
different
developers
and
individuals
that
are
required
to
appear
before
the
neighbors
at
our
Civic
Association
meetings.
Okay,
the
the
other
point
is,
since
the
effectiveness
of
local
civic
associations
requires
attracting
training
and
retaining
volunteers
from
the
community.
H
It
is
essential
that
the
insurance
must
be
in
place
or
some
form
of
protection.
Otherwise,
volunteers
may
opt
to
not
participate
due
to
the
need
of
weighing
the
risks
of
litigation
and
potential
impact
to
them.
Personally
and
finally,
in
closing
the
City
Philadelphia
created
the
RCO
s,
so
that
the
local
residents
would
have
a
voice
in
determining
the
direction
of
their
neighborhoods
in
its
current
format,
with
potential
exposure
to
lawsuits,
participation
on
these
boards
has
become
unattractive
to
many
volunteers
in
the
neighborhood.
H
This
may
force
a
number
of
associations
and
our
CEOs
to
shut
down
operations.
The
city
needs
to
provide
a
solution
which
eliminates
the
financial
burden
to
the
neighborhood
associations
and
our
cos,
and
myself
and
I'm
sure
all
the
group
are
very
grateful
and
thankful
for
City
Council's
leadership
in
attempting
to
work
with
us
through
this
issue.
Okay,.
B
B
P
B
B
P
C
You
Steve
and
I
think
I'm
glad
the
Chairman
had
pointed
that
out
and
at
1:38
there
in
the
findings
of
law.
My
question
to
you
is
from
a
legal
position:
would
you
do
you
see
or
CEOs
and
community
organizations
in
its
various
levels
of
Friends
of
groups
as
as
quasi
city,
quasi
governmental
organizations,.
P
Yeah,
no
I,
don't
I
what
I
see
them
as
is
having
a
formal
status
in
our
zoning
process,
but
I
think
it
would
be
a
it
would
be
problematic
to
the
community
groups.
If
we
were
going
to
imbue
them
with
a
quasi
governmental
status,
it
would
restrict
them
and
it
would
probably
be
unconstitutional,
because
citizens
can't
be
restricted
in
how
we
gather
together
to
petition
our
government
and
mobilize
and
agitate
for
whatever
we
want.
P
The
the
issue
is
not
that
there
are
a
quasi
agency
like
the
PID,
C
or
something.
The
issue
is
that,
because
our
zoning
code
has
has
given
a
formal
role
to
them,
then
there's
a
nexus
that
the
city
has
a
legitimate
governmental
interest
in
protecting
those
activities,
and-
and
so
it
makes
sense
and
I-
think
it's
justifiable
for
the
city
to
provide
some
kind
of
remedies.
Well,
however,
you
know.
P
They're
regulated
by
the
Planning
Commission
and
because
of
because
of
the
zoning
code,
and
so
normally
a
normal
neighborhood
association
that
gets
together
that
does
whatever
they
want
they're,
not
on
subject
to
government
regulation
there
they
are.
They
are,
to
the
extent
that
they're
not
going
to
discriminate
against
people
or
hurt
people,
but
but
the
Planning
Commission
tells
them
what
and
what
needs
to
be
in
their
bylaws
and
how
to
how
to
determine
their
leadership.
So
there
are
regulated
they're,
a
regulated
industry.
Let's,
let's
put
it
that
way,
not,
but
not
a
quasi-governmental
agency.
P
P
C
P
It
has
to
be
approved
by
the
Planning
Commission
who,
however,
they
did
they
choose.
Their
leadership
has
to
pass
muster
by
the
by
city
government.
So
that
is
a
very
invasive
type
of
regulation.
I
can't
imagine
something
more
invasive
than
than
telling
them
the
government
telling
a
private
group
of
citizens
who
their
leader
can
be,
and.
B
H
With
Mayfair,
we
generally,
as
I
think,
was
described
earlier,
there's
a
process
that
the
CBA
puts
in
place,
that
the
is
responsibilities
tied
to
the
developer
or
the
person
the
applicant
petitioning,
so
once
they
do
all
their
they're
upfront
work
within
the
process.
We
schedule
them
and
we
put
them
on
our
Facebook
page
on
our
website
and
we
and
we
announce
that
the
hearings
will
be
held.
The
neighbors
are
all
invited
and
they
should
have
received
letters
once
they
come
in.
We
allow
the
applicant
of
the
developer
to
actually
present
generally
15-20
minutes.
H
Some
folks
have
different
types
of
charts
and
or
powerpoints
or
whatever
they
may
do.
We
then
allow
all
of
the
neighbors
present
to
question.
Any
type
of
question
is
on
the
table
as
long
as
it
relates
to
the
subject
matter
at
hand.
Once
the
applicant
is
completed,
answering
the
questions
we
put
it
to
a
vote
of
the
neighbors
that
are
members
of
the
Mayfair
Civic
Association,
so
we
generally
go
through
opposed,
not
opposed
or
not
opposed
with
providers.
If
that
may
be
the
situation,
we
want
to
add
something
to
our
normal
provisos.
H
B
Q
My
only
comment
that
I
wanted
just
to
address,
and
so
many
great
people
are
in
the
room
is
that
while
I
understand
the
city
end
of
it
and
thinking
through
some
kind
of
support
for
our
ce
o--'s,
as
we
try
to
figure,
this
out
doesn't
necessarily
tackle
the
central
question
and
I
hope
everybody
in
this
room
and
all
of
us
on
City
Council,
consider
how
we
can
be
very
aggressive
about
supporting
senator
Farr
nazy's
legislation.
That
is
currently
in
the
Senate
it
was
approved.
It's
been
stuck
in
Senate
Judiciary.
Q
We've
got
to
work
as
hard
as
we
can
collectively
to
get
that
out,
because
that's
really
the
solution.
We
need
legislation
at
the
state
level
that
protects
the
RCO.
So
we
are
absolutely
hearing
and
listening
and
I'm
gonna
be
very
active
around
supporting
the
our
ce
o--'s
in
this
endeavor,
but
I
hope
we
can
also
push
that
energy
right
now
and
get
that
legislation
out.
Q
P
Yeah
I
mean
there
there's
one
other
idea
that
I
had
come
when
I
was
listening
to
the
conversation
earlier,
which
is
that
in
our
in
our
Philadelphia
County
Court
of
Common
Pleas,
we
came
up
with
a
mechanism
to
help
in
mortgage
foreclosure
actions
without
having.
We
didn't,
have
the
power
as
a
city
to
change
the
law
around
mortgage,
foreclosure
or
lawsuits.
But
we
did
create
a
process
where
those
lawsuits
were
were
brought
before
a
special
part
of
the
court
and
had
mediators
and
Hetal
and
had
different
processes
that
were
done.
P
B
P
B
Just
had
an
announcement:
yes,
they
counsel
them
gimmes
under
counsel,
Gimmes
leadership,
dealing
with
tenant
issues,
so
I
guess
it's
it
along
the
same
lines:
yeah.
Okay,
great!
Now
this
thing
to
think
about.
Okay,
very
good!
Thank
you.
Thank
you
for
your
free
involvement.
Miss
Marconi
our
next
group,
please
tarragon.
F
All
right,
oh
good
afternoon,
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
on
this
very
vital
issue.
My
name
is
Linda
calls
me.
'the
I
am
vice
president
of
home
circle,
civic
association
or
a
relatively
small
are
co-located
in
Northeast
Philadelphia,
right
off
of
home
Avenue
in
the
boulevard
down
a
little
bit,
we'll
be
celebrating
our
tenth
anniversary
this
year
and
we
are
fortunate
and
that
we
have
not
been
slapped
yet
with
a
lawsuit.
We
do
have
do
no
insurance,
but
we
are
after
listening
to
this
testimony.
I
mean
it's
just
terrifying.
F
All
I
can
say
is
we
agree
with
everyone?
We
hope
that
we
can
get
some
action
on
it
and
we
look
forward
to
working
with
councilman
Heenan
and
the
committee
on
any
legislative
issues
and
if
I
can
just
add
a
personal
note.
26
years
ago,
I
was
in
Harrisburg
working
with
my
former
employer,
a
major
Union
as
a
research
director
trying
to
get
taxicab
regulation
enacted,
and
we
did
the
best
job
we
we
could
at
the
time.
But
the
one
thing
we
didn't
see
coming
was
uber.
F
So
when
we
work
up
when
we
decide
to
work
to
support
senator
foreign
AZ's
bill,
we
really
have
to
pay
attention
to
the
details
and
we
have
to
get
it
done
because
we
don't
want
to
be
back
here.
Ten
years
from
now,
25
years
from
now
like
they're
doing
in
the
taxicab
industry,
we
have
to
stay
strong.
Thank
you
very
much.
Thank.
F
R
Name
is
tarragon
tech,
I
am
the
president
of
Holmesburg
Civic
Association
I
want
to
thank
councilman
Heenan
for
bringing
us
together
and
everyone
else
for
giving
us
an
opportunity
to
discuss
this
very
important
issue.
So,
as
I
mentioned
I'm,
the
president
of
Holmesburg
Civic,
Association
I,
was
elected
as
of
November
2017,
so
I'm
relatively
new,
but
I've
been
a
member
of
the
Civic
Association
for
a
few
years
now,
our
organization,
which
is
located
in
the
sixth
District
in
the
Northeast,
has
existed
in
one
form
or
another.
R
Since
1901
we
have
a
very
long
history,
as
does
our
neighborhood
as
a
whole.
We
have
a
membership
of
about
a
hundred
and
seventy
members
and
our
membership
fees
are
$5
yearly.
So
we
have
a
very
limited
budget
I'm
to
say
the
least,
and
we
actually
do
not
carry
any
kind
of
insurance
because
we
are
just
not
able
to
afford
it.
R
We
have
a
small
board,
we're
overextended,
to
say
the
least,
but
you
know
we
do
the
best
that
we
can
in
addressing
our
CEO
related
issues
with
zoning
and
we're
also
a
very
community
development
oriented
Civic
Association.
So
we
take
on
a
number
of
projects
in
the
neighborhood
to
encourage
economic
development
and
improve
general
quality
of
life
in
the
neighborhood.
So
it
really
comes
down
to
a
choice
between.
Do
we
want
to
carry
insurance,
or
do
we
actually
want
to
make
our
community
a
better
place
to
live
and
work?
R
So
we
chose
the
latter,
but
it
is
difficult
for
us
to
recruit
board
members.
Knowing
that
you
know
any
potential
board
member
could
risk
losing
their
home
simply
by
giving
their
opinion
in
you
know
our
city
sanctioned
setting.
You
know.
We've
we've
received
our
CEO
training
from
the
Planning
Commission.
You
know
we
are
or
operating
within
all
of
the
regulations
of
the
city.
So
you
know
we
essentially
have
to
follow
all
of
the
rules,
but
we
carry
all
of
the
risk
and
my
fear
is
you
know.
R
While
we
have
not
had
to
deal
with
this
issue
as
of
yet
knock
on
wood,
I
fear
that
not
only
will
we
cease
to
exist,
but
if
this
continues
to
happen
in
other
parts
of
the
city,
the
RCO
program,
as
we
know
it
will
cease
to
exist
just
from
lack
of
interest.
You
know
we
can't
we
can't
risk
losing
our
homes
and
our
livelihood
and
everything
that
we
are
currently
working
so
hard
to
protect,
ironically
through
the
same
process.
B
S
Good
afternoon
councilman
Greenlee,
thank
you
for
hosting
this
hearing.
My
name
is
full
grits
mocker.
I
am
secretary
and
the
zoning
committee,
member
of
the
lawn
crest
community
association
and
I'm
here
to
ask
that
the
city
do
extend
some
kind
of
protection
to
the
registered
community
organizations.
We
do
a
lot
of
good
work
in
our
community
I.
Pretty
much
have
to
echo
exactly
what
the
previous
speaker
said
about
the
way
we
operate
we're
one
of
the
small
civic
associations
that
was
referred
to
by
the
first
testimony
and
get.
B
S
Yeah
I
mean
I've
been
involved
since
the
late
70s
and
my
Groupon
an
office,
an
officer
since
then,
and
we've
been
lucky
to
have
no
kind
of
lawsuit
filed
against
us.
We
depend
on
just,
though
our
incorporation,
as
a
non-profit,
to
hope
the
officers
get
covered
and
only
the
group
itself
can
be
sued,
but
we
have
never
had
any
lawsuits,
but
it's
terrifying
to
listen
to
what
happens
here
and
it
is.
It
is
very
important
that
we
continue
our
role
and
it
is
required
by
the
city.
I
mean
that's
been
mentioned.
S
You
know
multiple
times
here.
This
is
part
of
the
new
zoning
code
and
it
is
an
important
improvement
from
the
previous
zoning
code
to
require
developers
and
applicants
to
come
before
us
and
to
speak,
but
without
public
input,
a
free
free
public
input,
it
really
kind
of
right
the
this.
This
is
very
destructive
of
the
process
and
we
do
need
the
city
to
do
some
kind
of
umbrella
policy
or
indemnify
the
the
officers
and
and
citizens
in
this
process.
Okay,.
B
B
F
Please
councilman
I'm,
also,
president
of
the
friends
at
Arsdale
library
and
I'm,
one,
the
transitional
Advisory
Council
for
the
Friends
of
the
Free
Library
of
Philadelphia.
We
are
cut,
we
have
a
policy,
a
citywide
dno
policy
that
covers
all
officers
and
every
specific
branch
where
there
is
a
friends
group,
it
makes
recruitment
much
easier
I'm.
This
is
something
we
need
for
our
cos.
We
have
to
know
that
our
members
are
protected
and
that's
the
way
we
can
increase
more
participation.
As
councilman
hyuna
noted.
F
B
B
B
J
Committee,
my
name
is
Lucia
Esther
and
I'm,
president
of
the
West
Pelton
Saunders
Park
our
CEO,
and
we
agree
with
many
of
the
things
that
the
people
have
said,
but
yeah
a
little
point.
That's
a
little
different
is
the
difficulty
of
obtaining
insurance
for
our
SEOs
begins
at
the
Zoning
Board
of
Adjustment.
The
CBA
requires
corporations
and
nonprofits
to
be
represented
by
a
lawyer
to
be
to
participate,
cpa
hearings.
J
Our
community
has
many
CBA
cases
a
year
as
many
as
five
a
month,
which
means
losing
pay
time
to
go
down
there
to
hire
a
lawyer
for
all
these
cases
would
be
an
enormous
expense
in
neighbouring
our
CEO,
a
court
occasionally
hires
a
lawyer
at
a
cost
of
10,000
per
case.
Our
community
cannot
under
any
circumstances,
afford
such
a
legal
bill.
This
would
be
an
enormous
expense
of
over
under
a
thousand
dollars
a
year
with
much
difficulty.
J
We
have
raised
the
fun
to
defend
the
CBA
against
an
appeal,
since
the
city
does
not
support
its
communities
by
supporting
the
CBA
in
court.
This
makes
it
even
more
likely
we
will
face
an
eventual
slap
suit
and
we
do
have
a
developer,
who
has
been
denied
twice
over
a
period
of
two
years
in
between
times,
and
we
do
have
a
court
case
in
May
coming
up
and
we've
just
had
to
pass
the
Hat
among
the
neighbors
to
supply
the
money.
J
For
the
lawyer,
we
observed
that
few
are
SEOs,
come
to
the
CBA
hearings
in
person.
To
present
their
case,
we
suspect
that
the
need
to
hire
a
lawyer
is
preventing
them
from
participating.
This
leaves
the
community
to
great
disadvantage,
one
of
the
causes
of
the
90
percent
variance
approval
rate,
because
we
cannot
afford
legal
representation.
We
cannot
incorporate
a
basic
requirement
to
obtain
insurance
without
even
incorporation.
Everyone
who
has
ever
attended.
One
of
our
meetings
is
at
risk
of
losing
everything.
J
Should
an
applicant
sue
for
this
reason,
some
community
residents
do
not
participate
in
community
meetings.
His
sad
commentary
on
the
state
of
civic
affairs
in
Philadelphia.
We
urge
City
Council
to
work
not
only
on
protection
from
slap
actions,
but
also
to
work
on
revising
the
CBA
regulations,
so
that
our
CEOs
can
incorporate
and
still
participate
in
the
CBA
hearings
without
the
expense
of
legal
counsel.
Thank
you
very
much.
Thank.
T
You
my
name
is
Madeline
Chicago.
I
represent
the
north
of
Washington
Avenue
coalition,
the
organization
that
represents
the
area
known
as
the
Graduate
hospital
I
come
here
today,
I've
heard
so
much
from
different
people
already,
as
you
can
see,
many
developers
have
become
very
abusive
and
have
used
various
various
methods
in
order
to
prevent
our
CEOs
from
opposing
them
on
their
variance
request,
I'm,
not
a
lawyer,
but
from
listening.
What
other
people
say:
I'm
going
to
make
these
suggestions,
whether
or
not
they're
legal
I,
don't
know.
T
T
The
velvet
developer
is
having
problems
with
our
CEO,
have
a
venue
available
to
him
we're,
but
he
can
bring
his
concerns
to
them,
such
as
city
agency,
before
our
suit
is
filed.
I
think
some
of
this
will
eliminate
some
of
these.
Previously
we,
as
our
SEOs,
are
facing
a
battle
on
two
fronts,
not
just
from
the
developers
but
from
the
CBA
Zvi
to
me
is
very
biased,
discriminatory
and
high
any
partial.
T
Why
can
I
say
that
I've
been
before
him
so
many
times
people
come
before
them,
because
they're
asking
for
a
variance
according
to
the
Z,
the
zoning
regulations,
the
CBA
before
the
proves
and
variance
must
make
sure
they
meet
the
basic
requirements
of
section
14,
303,
subsection,
8e
point
1.2,
basically
talks
about
hardship.
These
are
the
rules
they
don't
follow.
They
give
up
or
give
approval
for
variance
for
no
reason.
T
T
Now,
according
to
section
14
303,
you
have
to
have
a
hardship,
the
heart
of
it.
They
complain
about,
while
respecting
I
want
to
have
children
or
it's
down
the
street
having
children.
I
didn't
think
it
was
a
hardship,
I
didn't
think
having
and
your
neighbor
having
what
you
want
to
have
it's
a
hardship
but
they're
allowing
them
to
do
this
and
it's
destroying
two-story
block,
neighborhoods
and
I'm
tired
of
it.
We
are
tired
of
being
short
circuited
by
the
CBA.
We
go
there
before
them
and
we
are
squashed
and
what
we
want
to
say.
T
We
don't
need
to
hear
what
you're
going
to
repeat.
There's
somebody
else
that
said
it
and
all
we
got
to
hear
chairman
say
my
vote
is
yes
and
the
no
less
time
like
robots
say.
My
vote
is
yes,
and
my
vote
is
yes,
you
don't
feel
that
we
are
getting
a
fair
hearing
to
see
PA,
but
that's
why
we
sing
on
this
one
now
getting
back
to
my
original
complaint
about
these
frivolous
suits.
We
are
our
CEO.
T
We
are
volunteer
organization,
we
don't
get
paid
and
thank
you
don't
have
any
money
in
our
account
to
pay
for
a
lawyer.
We
have
been
able
to
get
some
pro-bono
lawyer
representation,
which
has
helped
us
to
win
a
couple
of
suits,
but
that's
we're
and
in
between.
My
fear
is
this:
if
Amazon
gets
this
contract-
and
it
comes
to
the
city
I'm-
not
in
favor
of
it-
why?
T
T
What
who
gets
hurt
the
poor?
They
get
moved
out
of
their
homes
to
probably
get
taken
over
all
because
they
want
to
build
different
things
to
a
comfortable
to
accommodate
the
Olympics
and
after
the
Olympics
leave.
The
city
is
poor
than
what
it
was
when
it
came
in
there
and
saddled
with
various
bills.
T
T
T
You
I
wanted
to
certainly
thank
both
of
those
I
know
that
with
them
them
talking
about
Amazon
coming
in
50,000
jobs
of
$100,000
or
more.
We
know
that
we
need
more
even
low-income
and
modern
income
jobs,
but
we
always
think
Madeleine
should
come
ball,
though
season
Kenyatta,
Johnson
theory,
she
always
represents
our
entire
city
well,
and
we
want
to
thank
miss
Esther
west
pal
pasanda
spark
our
CEO.
They
are
very
diligent
whenever
there's
something
in
the
area
we're
there,
and
we
want
to
thank
her
for
all
the
work
they
do.
B
B
A
J
A
A
We
try
to
get
businesses
to
any
up,
50
bucks
and
we
plug
them
with
our
newsletters.
Actually,
you
had
asked
earlier
whether
anybody
had
any
success
with
a
countersuit
and
our
one
experience
with
a
slap
suit
involved.
Our
least
favorite
run
amok,
auto
dealer
who
drove
Roxboro
crazy
and
is
now
elsewhere,
but
he
sued
us
about
ten
years
ago,
a
little
bit
more
for
$50,000
and
we
countersuit
and
it
ended
up
being
settled
with
no
liability
on
either
side.
We
have
had
officers
and
directors
insurance
for
over
ten
years.
We
had
it
at
the
time.
A
A
We,
it
is
correct
that
if
we
go
before
the
Zoning
Board,
we
have
to
come
with
representation.
We
deal
with
approximately
three
zoning
issues
a
month
and
it
all
costs
money.
So
we
have
raffled
off
a
NordicTrack.
We
have
had
every
kind
of
raffle
known
to
man
to
raise
whatever
little
bit
of
money
that
we
have
so
I.
Think
just
even
getting
some
sort
of
something
through
that
will
protect
us
from
slap
suits,
will
be
a
big
help
and
thank
you
very.
G
Good
evening,
I
like
the
fact
that
councilmember
Bobby
Heenan
for
inviting
us
all
here
for
this
hearing
and
President
himself
for
the
chairman
of
the
hearing,
my
name
is
Dan.
O'dare,
president
of
Brides
Park
Community
Action
Alliance
were
a
newly
formed.
Our
Co
group
in
Brides
Park,
section
of
City
we're
about
two
years:
young
I'm
here
with
other
seat
rCOS
and
groups
and
speaking
on
slap
and
the
pending
the
guilty
that
it's
that
is
weekly
worded
passing
will
effect
monetary
drained
to
our
finances.
G
As
a
group,
we
appreciate
the
efforts
of
the
state
legislation
and
passing
legislation,
but
it
doesn't
go
far
enough
in
addressing
the
drain
to
our
monetary
funding.
As
a
group
being
a
newish
foreign
group,
we
already
face
many
obstacles
in
obtaining
funding
being
one
of
free
rCOS
in
brides
burg.
Any
attempt
by
outside
forces
impeding
lawsuits
against
our
group
would
destroy
financially.
G
Our
group
I
joined
our
other,
our
Co
groups
in
the
ass,
completing
City,
Council
and
Planning
Commission,
to
consider
all
to
the
alternative
options
in
obtaining
and
helping
a
financing,
lower
costs,
director
and
group
insurance
for
all
our
Co
groups.
Our
Co
groups
are
voluntary
staff
and
serve
a
function
of
city
government
and
not
only
zoning
issues,
but
as
a
community
link
to
all
of
City,
Council
and
city
government
pertaining
to
our
communities.
B
B
S
S
I
just
wanted
to
come
down
and
speak
today.
I
have
been
a
member
of
the
East
torso
Civic
Association
for
for
30
years.
I
am
currently
on
their
Executive
Board
and
when
the
issue
of
the
slap
lawsuits
came
up,
we
as
a
Executive
Board
discussed
and
talked
about
it.
We
looked
into
insurance,
which
is
takes
up
quite
a
bit
of
the
budget.
We
do
currently
right
now
have
insurance,
but,
like
all
the
other
civics,
we
charge
a
$10
individual
membership
fee
$12
for
family.
It's
a
yearly
fee.
We
meet
monthly,
the
Executive
Board
meets
monthly.
S
We
not
only
deal
with
zoning
issues,
but
we
deal
with
all
issues
in
the
community.
The
Civic
Association
over
the
years
that
I've
been
a
member
has
fought
to
maintain
and
improve
the
quality
of
life
in
our
community,
which
our
boundaries
come
from.
Basically
the
Academy
Road
or
Liam
on-ramp
of
95,
and
it
runs
north
to
the
poquessing
Queen
Creek,
and
we
run
from
Frankfort
Avenue
to
the
river
and
in
the
years
that
I've
been
there,
we've
had.
S
The
Civic
has
done
tremendous
work
in
improving
and
maintaining
the
neighborhoods
and
the
quality
of
life
that
people
come
to
enjoy,
and
that's
why
people
like
to
stay
when
those
issues
start
to
deteriorate
and
when
there
is
no
representation
from
the
people,
you're
gonna
have
them
leave
and
I'd
really
don't
want
to
see
that
I've
been
a
member
I've
been
lived
in
the
city,
all
my
life
and
I
would
continue
to
do
so.
Thank
you
for
your
time.
Thank.
H
Madison
with
the
Philadelphia
Parks
Alliance
I
just
wanted
to
quickly
address
sometimes
brought
up
earlier,
which
is
the
umbrella
insurance
for
a
number
of
either
either
for
the
are
SEOs
or
the
park.
Friends
groups
or
the
rec
centers.
The
advisory
councils
were
the
the
pillar
of
a
parks.
Lines
provides
the
umbrella
insurance
for
all
the
advisory
councils
throughout
the
city,
but
I
can
tell
you
last
door
this
year.
Rather
it's
not
like.
We
just
are
able
to
call
up
the
flow
from
progressive
and
get
a
quote
like
we've
got
to
get.
H
B
C
First
I
want
to
again
thank
everybody
who
took
the
time
to
come
out
here.
You
volunteer
your
time
on
a
daily
basis
back
in
your
communities
and
believe
me
believe
me,
chairman,
Greenlee,
understands
the
importance
of
the
quality
of
life.
When
it's
related
to
zoning
and
everybody's
neighborhood
I
mean
he
is.
He
runs
an
incredible
ship
when
it
comes
to
the
Rules
Committee.
He
understands
owning
and
servicing
neighborhoods
for
four
decades
here
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
so
he
sees
how
things
have
transformed
and
have
morphed
into
you
know:
licious
a
slap
isn't
new.
C
It's
been
around
Councilman
Swilley
looked
into
it
in
2016
and
before
that
someone
else
doing,
but
we
heard
tonight,
or
we
heard
today,
two
other
organizations
that
have
an
umbrella.
You
know
policies
that
that
provides
for
other
members
to
to
get
insurance,
so
I'm
gonna
end
with
a
brief
statement,
but
I
again
want
to
thank
the
chairman
for
his
extreme
consideration
and,
more
importantly,
Noel
who
stances
this
committee
and
my
staff
working
with
all
the
members
of
City
Council
Councilwoman
who's
here
remaining
same
thing:
we're
at
custom
Blackwell
on
everybody.
C
This
is
an
important
issue
to
all
members
of
City
Council
because
and
I'll
you'll
get
what
I'm
saying
in
a
second
in
2012,
the
City
Philadelphia
incorporated
registered
community
organizations
into
the
zoning
process,
with
the
underlying
value
that
the
surrounding
community
deserves
to
have
their
voices
heard
when
development
is
occurring
in
their
neighborhood.
In
the
absence
of
a
strong
anti
slat
law
at
the
state
level,
which
should
be
resolved
in
the
PA
house,
because
it's
a
new
judiciary.
Now
it
is
Senator,
st.
or
senator
for
Daisy's
bill,
but
it
lies
in
the
House
of
Representatives.
C
So
you
need
to
lobby
your
statement
representative
and
especially
a
new
judiciary
committee,
because
that's
where
it
sits
right
now,
so
in
any
way,
they
must
now
consider
what
as
a
city
can.
We
now
must
consider
what
the
city
could
do
to
protect
the
values
that
we
have
already
codified,
which
is
our
zoning
code
now
that
our
neighborhood
and
our
civic
associations
or
friends
of
groups
and
in
communities
play
a
vital
role
in
developing
our
communal
environment.
Their
perspective,
your
perspective,
is
something
that
we
require.
C
We
require
for
cases
that
end
up
to
go
to
before
the
Zoning
Board
of
adjustments
and
I
feel
fairly.
Confident
and
I
can
speak
for
all
members
when
I
say
this
of
City
Council,
that
before
an
issue
or
a
statement
that
we
weigh
in
on
and
make
a
public
comment
on,
and
we
always
always
ask
for
the
opinion
of
our
local
community
organizations
that,
when
it's
occurring
in
in
throughout
the
city
and
the
north
districts,
so
it
is
important
to
hear
what
the
community
has
to
say.
C
We
want
to
know
whether
you
were
comfortable
with
the
changes
and
what
is
being
proposed
throughout
the
various
neighborhoods
and
the
various
types
of
development.
So
we
must
find
ways
to
help
protect
your
voices
or
we
must
work
collaboratively
to
make
it
easier
for
the
community
groups
to
state.
Your
opinions
in
your
opinions
is
freedom
of
speech.
C
Last
I
heard
all
right
so
today,
I'm
calling
one
of
the
administration
to
work
together
with
and
not
just
my
office,
but
my
colleagues
as
well
and
the
various
community
groups
that
have
graciously
given
up
your
time
to
come
here
to
develop
a
pathway
towards
providing
dno
insurance
and
coverage
for
all
our
cos
until
the
state
is
able
to
come
up
with
a
long-term
solution.
I
feel
it
is
our
responsibility
to
take
action
and
to
protect
the
short-term
interests
of
our
citizens
to
City
Philadelphia,
so
I.
Thank
you
all
for
your
input.
C
B
Thank
you
for
your
leadership
on
this,
as
I
said
before
a
very
important
issue,
and
it
work
will
continue
with
that.
The
Committee
on
rules
on
a
resolution
hearing
on
resolution,
one
seven,
zero,
nine
six
eight
will
be
held
to
the
call
of
the
chair
again.
Thank
you
all
very
much
for
your
participation.