New Worker Protections
Councilmember Jim Harrity’s worker protection legislation passed council by a vote of 13-2 (voting no was Councilmembers Young and O’Neill; Councilmembers Gauthier and Brooks were excused).
The legislation provides protections to service employees at any property in the following fields: security, janitorial services, building maintenance, food and beverage, hotel service, health care services, parking employees, concierge services, door attendant services, hotel service, health care services, and airport service employees.
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The new protections include ensuring employees have at least 15 calendar days notice before employment is terminated, and must keep employees based on seniority if fewer employees are needed at a certain point. If more employees are needed at a later date, the employer must contact the laid-off employees in order of seniority and offer them their previous position, or provide rationale for not bringing them back.
A laid-off employee is qualified for a spitions is the employee held the same or similar position at the time of being laid-off, or is qualified for the position with same training overhead by the employer or successor employer that would be provided to a new employee hired into that position.
Also, employees must be offered 60 day notice if a property at which the employees work is closing. If the property is sold, a list of contracted employees must be transmitted to the new owners, and the provisions mentioned above are still applicable.
If any of the new stipulations are violated by an employer, city agencies as designated by the Office of the Mayor will be authorized to take action by issuing fines.
Landau Recognizes Fair Housing Act
Councilmember Rue Landau introduced a resolution “Recognizing April as Fair Housing Month in the City of Philadelphia and celebrating the anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, a landmark federal civil rights bill that protects individuals and families from discrimination in the housing market.”
Celebrating the 56th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, which codified fair housing policies for all Americans regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, familial status, and physical disability, the resolution renews the call for enforcement of the law, acknowledging the continued cooperation of government, real estate professionals, builders, insurance professionals, and public housing organizations.
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Philadelphia home ownership rates remain around 53%, according to a recently released report by the Pew Charitable Trusts. But costs are increasing, in part due to higher interest rates and dwindling housing stock. Further complicating the issue is the age of Philadelphia’s housing stock, which averages 85 years per property, which requires a greater investment in home repairs.
Jones Introduces Gun Violence Resolutions
Councilmember Curtis Jones introduced two resolutions aimed at curtailing gun violence in Philadelphia. the first honors and recognizes “the Philadelphia Law Department, The GIFFORDS Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and the Hausfeld Law Firm for their work in upholding public safety for all Philadelphians by ensuring accountability for ghost gun suppliers.”
Last year the Law Department, the GIFFORDS Law Center and the Hausfeld Law Firm filed the lawsuit against Polymer80 and JSD Supply, two of the largest ghost gun suppliers in Philadelphia.
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Ghost guns are weapons made by assembling individual pieces purchased in kits, which are not subject to background checks. The weapons do not have serial numbers, ma,in them difficult to track. These types of weapons have been used in many Philadelphia shootings.
According to the resolution, 575 ghost guns were seized by the Philadelphia Police Department in 2022. In 2023, 87% of the ghost guns recovered in criminal investigations were manufactured by Polymer80.
The lawsuit was recently settled, with Polymer80 prohibited from selling or advertising ghost guns kits in Philadelphia. Additionally, they are not permitted to advertise or selling the kits surrounding counties for the following four years. The city will also received $1.3 million to prevent gun violence.
Jones also introduced a resolution “Resolution Calling on the Pennsylvania State Senate to pass House Bill 1130 to create the Safer Communities Grant Program, which will make Philadelphia safer by providing funding for lighting and security cameras around schools, playgrounds, community centers, and other high crime areas.”
Low visibility is considered a significant contributor to reducing violent crime.
Council Honors Sapphira Cristal
Councilmembers Nicholas O’Rourke and Rue Landau co-introduced a resolution “Honoring and congratulating Sapphira Cristál, “Philly’s Crown Jewel,” for her outstanding representation of Philadelphia’s unique queer performance art and drag scene culture on MTV’s RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Cristal has an extensive background in show business, including training as an opera singer and winning 14 drag pageant crowns. She is also a member of the drag queen girl group “Philly’s Foxes,” and performs regularly in the area.
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Cristal’s message was one of love and acceptance, walking through her background and the issues she had with her father and bouts with homelessness while pursuing her career. Cristal also touted Philadelphia as one of the most accepting cities in which she lived and performed.
“When I got here it was just like, ‘oh wow,’” Cristal said. “I have never seen so much freedom. This the true home of freedom because when I go traveling I see what the rest of the country has to deal with.”
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