Philadelphia City Council, February 01 2024
Highlight of Introductions:
Councilmember Gauthier introduced a package of legislation aimed at tackling the City's increasing housing affordability crisis and displacement of residents. The "Defying Displacement Campaign" covers a range of issues, including housing voucher discrimination, real estate tax liabilities, and the earmarking of density bonus payments within the Housing Trust Fund. As explained by the Councilmember's Office, the legislative package aims to:
Strengthen Protections for Residents Using Housing Vouchers
Identifies rental vouchers, more specifically PHA's Housing Choice "Section 8" voucher as "housing assistance program" protected from discrimination;
Prohibits landlords from purposely failing to process rental vouchers in a timely fashion;
Allows tenants to take a private right of action after 100 days; and
Directs the Human Relations Commission to provide tenants with a notice of right to sue if the Commission cannot complete its investigation within 100 days.
Freeze Property Taxes for Low-Income Homeowners
Invest Revenue Generated by Developers Buying Density Bonuses Back into Neighborhoods
Would amend the Home Rule Charter to require, among the City's other allocation requirements, that the "payment in lieu of affordable housing" provision must be added to the Housing Trust Fund as new deposits in following years; and
Require density payments be spent in certain geographic boundaries of the City and would lower the maximum household area median income ("AMI") benefitting from the density bonus payments to 100% AMI, amongst other provisions.
**Please find Councilmember Gauthier's press release on the "Defying Displacement Campaign" here.
Councilmember Jones introduced an ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," to create a distinction between hospitals and alcohol or substance use rehabilitation facilities.
Majority Leader Gilmore Richardson introduced a resolution recognizing February 2024 as Career and Technical Education Month in the City of Philadelphia.
Councilmember Thomas introduced a resolution authorizing the Committee on Legislative Oversight to hold hearings to investigate the City's progress on its carbon neutrality goals to meaningfully participate in the planet-wide effort to mitigate the effects of global warming.
Councilmember Jones introduced a resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold public hearings to explore the effects of recent Rite Aid and pharmacy closures in Philadelphia, understand the impact this has on prescription access and vital pharmacy health services for senior citizens, and examine the use of urgent care centers to fill the void in prescription care.
Councilmember Jones introduced a resolution authorizing the joint City Council Committees on Public Safety and Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings investigating the mapping out of trauma centers across the city and how they are selected when transporting shooting victims.
Councilmember Lozada introduced a resolution establishing the Kensington Caucus to represent a united legislative front in addressing the crisis in the Kensington area.
Councilmember Bass introduced a resolution authorizing Philadelphia City Council to hold hearings and meetings investigating "stop-and-go" establishments that violate restaurant liquor license requirements and further diminish the health, safety, and well-being of the surrounding community.
**Schedule of Upcoming Council hearings is forthcoming.