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From YouTube: Philadelphia Officials Call on Wolf, Legislature to Approve Additional Funding for Schools 6-14-2018
Description
Press Conference held Thursday, June 14, 2018:
Councilman Derek S. Green (At Large) was joined by City Council colleagues, state legislators and local educators for a press conference urging Gov. Wolf and the General Assembly to pass legislation that will provide additional funds for the School District.
Green also introduced a resolution on the matter during the Stated Meting of Philadelphia City Council held later in the day.
B
Right
all
right,
good
morning,
good
morning,
good
morning,
I
want
to
thank
everyone
from
being
here
this
morning.
This
week
is
the
end
of
school
for
many
of
our
students,
our
teachers
and
constituents,
and
for
many
of
us
we
are
very
concerned
regarding
our
school
district
and
its
facilities.
For
me,
this
is
something
that's
very
personal.
My
mother
taught
in
the
school
district
for
31
years.
25
of
those
years
are
only
high
school
and
my
son
is
in
10th
grade
in
an
autism
support
classroom
in
the
high
school
as
well.
B
So
one
of
the
first
actions
I
took
when
I
joined
this
body
of
city
council
was
to
have
hearings
regarding
the
state
of
our
schools
and
the
infrastructure
in
our
facilities,
and
this
was
based
on
the
issue
that
happened
where
we
had
an
explosion
at
FS,
Edmonds
elementary
school.
Unfortunately,
a
school
district,
employee
and
a
member
of
SEIU
32bj
Chris
Trackman
lost
his
life
and
then
later
the
Philadelphia
Healthy
Schools
Initiative
was
formed
and
we
were.
It
was
formed
to
really
raise
awareness
regarding
a
number
of
environmental
hazards
in
schools
throughout
our
city.
B
Has
it's
like
lead
paint?
Has
it's
like
lead
in
our
water,
mold
and
asbestos,
and
over
the
past
few
years,
working
with
the
Philadelphia
Healthy
Schools
Initiative
we've
tried
to
raise
his
issues
and
raise
awareness.
Some
of
these
issues
were
profile
in
the
recent
inquiry
series
called
toxicity.
Through
this
work,
we
learned
that
the
school
district
had
a
5.5
billion
dollar
deficit
in
his
capital
projects.
In
fact,
last
year
was
the
first
time
in
many
years
where
a
school
district
was
able
to
raise
20
50
million
dollars
to
a
capital
bond.
B
Currently
there
is
a
legislative
proposal
in
Harrisburg
for
the
Philadelphia
Parking
Authority,
and
this
this
proposal
will
add
a
50
cent
fee
for
every
fare
for
ride
shares
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
Two-Thirds
of
this
feed
will
provide
additional
money
for
the
school
district
about
eight
million
dollars,
and
so
these
eight
million
dollars
should
be
specifically
dedicated
to
capital
projects
in
the
school
district.
For
example,
this
eight
million
dollars
could
be
used
for
debt
service
for
a
capital
bond
for
one
hundred
million
dollars.
B
Considering
this
opportunity
today,
I'm
introducing
a
resolution
calling
on
governor
wolf
and
in
General
Assembly
to
support
the
proposal
to
make
sure
that
we
can
provide
additional
money
for
the
capital
projects
in
our
schools.
I
think
this
is
an
important
opportunity
and
we
need
to
take
advantage
of
this
new
opportunity
for
new
money
for
our
schools.
At
this
time,
I'm
gonna
call
on
Natalie
Kate
in
st.
Louie.
She
is
the
principal
of
the
Nevinger
elementary
school.
C
Good
morning,
as
councilman
Green
said,
my
name
is
Natalie
Kay
in
st.
Louis
and
I
am
the
principal
of
an
amateur
elementary
school.
It's
one
of
the
schools
that
were
that's
been
featured
any
articles
that
have
been
printed
about
the
conditions
of
our
school
I'm
here
and
I'm
here.
For
one
reason,
only
it's
a
stand
up
for
the
children
attended,
Nevinger
and
for
all
the
other
students
attending
schools
throughout
the
city
in
unsafe
facilities.
It's
simply
unjust.
C
That
basic
needs
such
as
clean
air
or
safe
buildings,
cannot
be
met
every
day
we
act
students,
teachers,
staff
and
administrators
to
attend
crumbling
schools.
Children's
safety
should
not
should
always
come
first
and
should
not
be
above
should
not
be
above
politics
and
should
also
be
above
zip
codes.
I
stand
here
today
supporting
my
councilman
green,
dark,
green
and
the
other
elected
officials
in
their
efforts
to
make
a
difference.
We
have
a
great
community.
We
have
amazing
teachers,
we
have
fantastic
students,
but
without
funding
we
cannot
be
successful.
Thank
you.
D
Come
on
everybody
minute
morning,
Council!
This
is
a
real
solace
day
for
me,
because
the
gentleman
that
he
mentioned
Chris
chicken
Amos
was
my
Union
brother,
who
perished
at
the
fs
Edmonds,
and
for
33
years
we've
been
working
together,
trying
to
make
sure
we
could
do
the
best
job.
We
can
possibly
do
to
service
the
children
and
right
now,
with
the
district
being
in
the
position
at
the
end,
it
seems
not
to
be
getting
better
seems
to
be
getting
worse,
so
I
applaud
councilman
for
stepping
up.
D
B
Like
to
bring
up
senator
Vincent
Hughes,
the
Democratic
appropriations
chair
and
Senate
are
Haywood.
Surely,
after
the
explosion,
they
actually
had
a
briefing
at
FS
Edmond
schools.
Talking
about
the
things
we
need
to
do
to
improve
our
school
district
facilities.
Both
senators
have
been
leaders
in
this
issue
and
trying
to
address
our
school
district
facilities.
E
Senator
use
is
a
tremendous
leader
here,
not
just
in
Philadelphia
but
around
the
state
for
education,
and
this
I
just
want
to
briefly
say
that
the
F
s
Edmond
schools
in
my
district
and
as
councilman
Greene
mentioned
sooner,
you
used
convened
a
meeting
at
that
school
shortly
after
the
explosion,
and
we
have
any
duty
to
all
who
work
in
the
schools.
We
have
a
duty
to
all
the
children
who
attend
the
schools
and
that's
the
duty
of
safety,
and
that
safety
includes
responding
to
lead.
E
F
It
is
the
second
largest
infrastructure,
the
second
largest
public
infrastructure,
behind
roads
and
bridges
and
highways,
and
they
need
our
attention
globally
and
they
intended
our
intention
locally.
The
face
of
an
equitable
funding
and
education.
The
clearest
face
of
an
equitable
funding
and
education.
The
clearest
face
is
the
conditions
of
our
schools.
F
Looking
at
our
schools,
taking
a
snapshot
of
our
schools
and
seeing
the
inequitable
funding
right
there
painted
right
there,
I
represent
Plymouth
White
Marsh
high
school
I
represent
Upper
Dublin
high
school,
as
well
as
over
Brook
Strawberry,
Mansion,
Roxboro
and
Westfield
off
your
high
schools
and
a
host
of
others.
There.
F
The
the
difference
that
exists
in
those
suburban
communities
as
it
relates
to
Philadelphia
and
other
low-income
school
districts
across
the
Commonwealth
is
stark,
it's
real
and
it
sends
a
message
of
where
we
need
to
be
what
we
need
to
achieve
and
what
we
should
not
settle
for
now
we
are
looking
at
a
number
of
options.
The
the
the
the
option
of
of
the
assessment
on
our
on
our
ride
program
is
is
one,
but
we
need
to
understand
this.
F
We've
got
a
short-term
problem,
a
midterm
problem
and
a
long-term
problem
in
the
next
24
hours
in
the
next
24
hours,
the
last
adult
will
walk
out
of
the
public
school
buildings
in
the
school
district
and
Philadelphia
in
the
next
24
hours.
As
schools
come
to
a
close,
there
should
be
an
emergency,
clean
and
repair
program
that
jumps
in
place
immediately.
F
And
we're
working
we're
working
to
try
to
find
new
money
to
fund
it.
Okay,
but
I've
said
to
dr.
heit
and
I've
said
to
the
mayor
and
I've
said
they're
my
good
friend
Council
mr.
Holmes
I've
said
everybody.
Okay,
you
find
two
three
four
move
money
around
in
your
current
budgets
to
help
address
that
reality.
Now.
F
Now,
I'm
going
to
work
to
find
and
Senator
Haywood
9,
the
rest
of
us
are
going
to
work
to
find
more
money
out
of
Harrisburg,
and
hopefully
we
can
find
it.
We've
met
with
the
governor
his
folks.
They
understand
the
message:
they're
listening
and
they're
working
intensely
to
try
to
get
this
done.
Okay,
but
then
there's
a
long
term
problem.
Okay
and
the
state
is
the
principle
fault
in
the
long
term,
funding
of
public
education.
It
is
not
City
Council,
it
is
not
City
Council
City
Council
has
stood
up,
Thank
You
council
president.
F
You
have
stood
up,
leading
this
council
and
our
our
council
colleagues
to
drive
more
money
consistently,
but
the
state
is
the
problem
and
I
want
to
be
real
clear
about
that.
So
walk
away
from
this
microphone.
We
should
all
be
angry.
We
should
all
be
upset.
We
should
all
be
in
the
business
of
not
being
willing
to
tolerate
anything
less
but
be
clear,
be
clear.
The
state
is
where
the
fight
must
be
enjoying.
Okay,
it
is
the
Commonwealth
of
Pennsylvania.
That's
why
we've
all
signed
on
to
the
lawsuit?
F
That's
why
we
all
need
to
fight
aggressively
for
more
funding
and
understand
that
focus
our
attention
and
time.
We
mandate
children
to
be
in
classrooms
that
in
principle,
180
days
a
year,
we
mandate
that
it
is
by
law
that
must
be
in
classroom.
We
are
mandating
children
to
be
in
classrooms
that
are
public
health
hazards,
and
that
is
wrong,
so
we're
here,
I
hope
I
hope
to
be
able
to
announce
soon.
That
would
bring
us
some
help
from
a
smart.
Mr.
F
B
Thank
You
senator
Hewes
earlier
we
were
joined
by
state
representative
Jim
Roebuck,
who
is
a
Democrat
chair
of
the
House
Education
Committee
and
unfortunately
was
not
able
to
stay
with
us.
However,
his
former
colleague
who's
now
the
executive
director
on
the
foot
of
a
parking
authority,
Scott
Petry,
is
here.
G
Good
morning,
I'm
pleased
to
be
here
to
support
City
Council
on
the
councilman
in
his
initiative,
I'm
here
to
tell
you
that
this
is
a
very
creative
proposal
that
he
is
contemplating.
It
is
certainly
thinking
outside
the
box.
I
served
in
Harrisburg
with
Senator
Hughes
in
the
Philadelphia
delegation,
and
we
have
been
meeting
consistently
from
January
to
present.
We
often
debate
and
discuss
the
various
funding
issues
that
drive
money,
that
a
rate
that
is
raised
through
the
Philadelphia
Parking
Authority
to
the
city
and
I
can
tell
you
they've,
been
extremely
open,
transparent
and
helpful.
G
They
ask
all
the
tough
questions
they
should
be
asking
and
we
are
giving
them
the
answers
that
you
and
they
deserve.
Today.
You
have
before
you
a
proposal
that
would
extend
some
funding
that
was
created
under
an
act
involving
ride-hailing
services
in
the
final
hours
when
this
bill
was
originally
enacted.
It
was
your
Philadelphia
delegation
that
was
wise
enough
and
smart
enough
to
say
to
ride-hailing
providers.
G
If
you
want
to
be
involved
in
business
in
Philadelphia,
you
will
help
contribute
to
our
schools
that
existing
funding
formula
provides
some
regulatory
money
about
one-third
of
a
typical
ride,
Hale
fee
with
2/3
going
to
the
Philadelphia.
When
the
councilman
told
me
and
gave
me
more
details
about
the
concerns
of
the
physical
property,
I
thought
about
my
own
schools
and
I
thought.
Why
shouldn't
we
try
to
contribute
the
bill.
The
councilman
is
supporting
would
provide
more
money
how
the
school
did
tricking
City
Council
uses
that
money
whatever
they
decide.
G
G
Thank
you
for
looking
out
for
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
thank
you
for
having
the
wisdom
to
believe
that
when
we
as
riders
ride
in
a
taxi
or
a
hail
riding
service
that
we
are
proud
and
I
am
proud
that
part
of
that
revenue
that
I
pay-
and
that
is
passed
on
to
me
by
that
ride.
Hailing
service
goes
to
support
Philadelphia,
School
District,
and
if
it's
not
enough,
then
I
and
we
all
need
to
pay
more-
to
take
care
of
these
major
safety
issues.
So
thank
you
for
allowing
me
to
express
my
appreciation
for
everything.
B
At
this
time,
I
want
to
bring
up
the
leader
of
our
legislative
body
here
in
City
Council,
our
council
president
council
president
Clark.
He
is
always
coming
up
with
creative
ideas
and
suggestions
on
how
we
can
provide
more
money,
not
only
to
provide
resources
for
our
city,
but
also
for
our
schools,
through
his
leadership.
We've
put
together
package
this
year
to
provide
additional
funding
for
the
schools,
and
the
council
presents
always
been
a
leader
in
the
initiative
and
leading
us
and
how
we
do
the
best
that
we
can
to
support
our
city
and
our
schools.
H
H
B
As
we
close
I
just
want
to
bring
up
two
and
one
thing
all
members
of
council
for
being
here,
but
just
as
we
close
I
just
want
to
bring
up
two
final
council
members
that
have
been
pivotal
in
reference
to
this
issue.
One
our
education,
chair,
councilman,
Jamie,
Blackwell
and
also
councilmember
Allen
Berger,
is
a
member
of
the
parking
authority
board.
I
Thank
you
very
much
good
morning.
As
always,
we
thank
our
Heavenly
Father
first
for
the
privilege
of
being
here
and
then
also
for
the
pleasure
being
with
all
of
you
this
morning.
This
is
very
important.
We
are
very
happy
to
be
here.
It's
exciting
legislation
and
it's
legislation
that
will
make
a
big
difference.
It
will
make
a
big
difference.
People
say
don't
raise
taxes,
but
they
want
us
to
try
to
help
fund
our
schools.
I
We
try
to
do
so
with
the
parking
authority,
the
amnesty
program
we
have
so
many
great
people
on
council
and
obviously
across
the
state
who
are
joined
together
to
try
to
make
life
better.
So
we're
doing
our
part.
We
thank
you
for
being
here.
Thank
You,
councilman
Greene
for
this
and
God
bless.
Everyone.
J
Councilman,
Greene
and
I
want
to
thank
you
for
your
leadership
as
a
parent
of
a
fall-off
of
coffee
of
public
school
children,
I
think
when
the
parent
leaves
their
children
at
the
door,
they
they
want
to
be
ensured
that
their
safety
and
safety
means
a
good
building,
a
strong
building,
a
building
that
doesn't
have
hazards
in
it
because
as
parents,
we
are
really
a
little
worried.
You
know
how
are
children
going
to
be
how
they
going
to
do
the
day
for
multiple
reasons.
J
J
B
And
I'll
be
remiss
if
I
did
not
acknowledge
the
Philadelphia
Federation
teachers
Hillary,
thank
you
for
being
here
and
for
your
support
as
well
as
Gretchen
doll
Kemper,
who
is
also
a
parent
who
helped
write
the
op-ed
and
inquire
with
our
principal
Natalie
Cates
in
st.
Louis
I.
Don't
thank
all
of
you
for
being
here.
This
is
truly
a
multi-faceted
approach.
Initiative
I
know,
there's
another
press
conference.
So
there's
any
additional
questions
we'll
take
questions
to
decide.
It's
no
way
that
other
press
conference
can
get
started.
Thank
you.