It was a big day for Philadelphia's City Council, as the body held its first meeting of the new year -- all in-person, undoing restrictions set during the pandemic -- as well as welcoming new members and a new council president.
When new president Kenyatta Johnson, of the city's 2nd councilmanic district, banged the gavel it was the first time since 2012 that someone other than former council president Darrell Clarke did it.
And, Johnson presided over the session with four new councilmembers and a body that will include 14 democrats, two members of the Working Families Party and one sole republican -- 10th district councilmember Brian O'Neill.
A return to form
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During the day, along with being the first fully in-person session since COVID-19 restrictions were put in place in March of 2020, council brought back "all of the Council traditions" that were put on hold during the pandemic.
“It is a new day for the Philadelphia City Council,” Johnson said in a statement released ahead of Thursday's meeting. “This first Council session in Council chambers is going to be exciting for all of my colleagues to experience a traditional Council session. It is also a signal to all Philadelphians that City Council is fully open once again and accessible to the people.”
Along with the in-person meeting, City Council resumed the practice of meeting in the Council Caucus Room, across the hall from Council's chambers, prior to each Thursday Council session.
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A statement from Johnson's office said that this session is intended to let members of City Council "members use the meeting to "discuss and gain clarity on what bills and resolutions will be introduced or voted on during that day’s meeting."
Councilmembers haven't met in a caucus session since March of 2020.
New councilmembers
For four new councilmembers -- Jeffery Young in the fifth councilmanic district, Rue Landau, an at-large councilmember and first openly LGBTQ+ member of the body, councilmember at-large Nina Ahmad and at-large councilmember Nicholas O’Rourke -- attended their first meeting on Thursday.
Johnson is also brought back in-person presentations of resolutions to honorees during the start of each Council session and, starting with Thursday's Council session, all committee hearings-- including the upcoming Fiscal Year 2025 City budget hearings ---will be held fully in-person at City Hall.
Johnson's office noted that public committee hearings have been virtual since May 2020.
Proposed legislation targets landlords, city's homeless services
On City Council's first meeting of the year, councilmembers introduced a bill that is aimed at adding accountability for landlords.
The move comes after several shootings during eviction processes last year, including one in which a woman was shot in the head.
NBC10's Miguel Martinez-Valle was on hand on Wednesday when legislators unveiled the proposed bill.
Also, during the meeting, councilmember-at-large Katherine Gilmore Richardson introduced legislation that would authorize council's committee on finance to investigate the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Homeless Services' work under former mayor Jim Kenney's administration.
In a statement on the bill, Gilmore Richardson said the committee should investigate the office's work "as it relates to their significant overspending, as well as investigate the quality of services provided in the homeless services system."
She has also introduced a bill that would change the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to establish the Office of Homeless Services Ombudsperson-- who could act as an advocate on behalf of those experiencing homelessness and their families.
The office would be able to conduct investigations, including the power to subpoena testimony and records to the extent legally permissible, she noted in a statement on the bill proposed on Thursday.
“I was extremely appalled to see that the Office of Homeless Services claims that they can no longer provide services to residents who need immediate shelter,” she said in a statement. “I am even more disappointed to see that some people think this is connected to City Council not providing $5 million in current year spending. After years of questionable mismanagement of funds and providing poor customer service, despite significant increases in funding from City Council, it is time to ensure unhoused constituents have an advocate working directly for them.”
These bills will be discussed at a future council meeting.
Protest planned against 76ers arena proposal
Also at City Hall on Thursday morning, the Save Chinatown Coalition held a protest against an arena proposal that would create 76 Place at Market East -- a new Center City home for the Philadelphia 76ers.
In a statement on the protest plan, organizers said they want to show that they opposed the plan and want to hold City Councilman Mark Squilla of the city's first councilmanic district, "accountable to his commitment to ensure 76 Place does not take any city, state, or federal money."
City Council's next meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1.
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