The Philadelphia City Council Committee on Oversight heard testimony on the impending closure of the Academy of Natural Sciences on Monday, October 26th.
The meeting began with an incredulous Council lamenting the fact that officials from Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Administration, who were slated to testify, abruptly cancelled their appearance.
Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, chair of the Committee, took the unusual step of having the testimony of Trish Wellenbech, Deputy Mayor of Strategic and Philanthropic Initiatives, read into the minutes. The short statement extolled the virtues of the Academy, briefly explained efforts to rectify the situation, and concluded with the statement “to respectfully manage the expectations of the Committee, I want to make clear that I am not the appropriate person to testify on this matter, as I cannot speak on behalf of Drexel of the Academy.”
Councilmember Jay Young took particular exception to the absence of an Administration official, and the notion that the read statement “respectfully manage the expectations of the Committee.”
“I’m disappointed, Mr. Chair,” Young said. “Just looking at the last words of that written testimony. The last word of the written testimony is respectfully. (It is) disrespect(ful) not being here.”
Young added “This is what I think,” as he tore the testimony in two.
In order to compel the Administration to testify, Young said the Committee would be issuing subpoenas, which it did later in the week.
Councilmembers were continually critical of Drexel University President Antonio Merlo, who did not attend the hearing. Merlo was later subpoenaed.
What became clear from the hearing, however, is the cost concerns expressed by Drexel are significantly less than originally thought. While Dreel is ostensibly maintaining the museum’s collection and making it available to researchers, guests are no longer allowed to attend because of a $900,000 deficit. To operate the forward-facing aspect of the museum, Drexel required $3.6 million in funds, but earned only $2.7 million in revenue.
The hearing has been scheduled to resume on November 16th.
Brooks Calls for HOME Hearing
Minority Leader Kendra Brooks introduced a resolution “authorizing the Committee on Finance to conduct hearings on the Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) plan.”
The $2 billion plan was approved by City Council last year, and was designed to “build, restore, and preserve” 30,000 housing units. To date, the city has borrowed $277.5 million of the proposed spending, but spent only $37.7 million. The full amount is meant to be spent by July 1, 2027.
The funding has been used on various programs, including the Adaptive Modifications Program and the Basic Systems Repair Program. As it stands, the city has over $200 million in borrowed funds sitting in an account not being used while the city is making interest payments on the money.
FOP Contract Process Begins
Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson introduced a resolution “authorizing City Council’s Committee of the Whole to hold the public hearings required pursuant to Chapter 17-2300 of The Philadelphia Code (“Public Hearing Prior to Execution of a Labor Agreement Concerning Police Employees Represented by the Fraternal Order of Police”), which Code Chapter requires that the Council hold a hearing in connection with the City’s contract proposal in anticipation of collective bargaining between the City and the Fraternal Order of Police.”
This resolution sets into motion the beginning of contract negotiations between the city and the Fraternal Order of Police, the labor organization that represents the rank-and-file officers of the Philadelphia Police Department. The Council made this hearing part of the negotiation process in 2020, giving the Councilmembers a say in how the negotiations are handled.
The legislation requires the Mayor to notify the Council of an impending contract proposal thirty days before the proposal is sent, which then triggers the hearing that will take place prior to the end of the legislative session.
Phillips Continues Efforts to Improve School Lunches
Councilmember Anthony Phillips continued his advocacy around improving Philadelphia School District students lunches by introducing a resolution “authorizing the Committees on Children and Youth and Education to hold a joint hearing examining the School District of Philadelphia’s school meal policies and practices, including meal quality and nutrition, food preparation and procurement, kitchen infrastructure, student participation, and the school dining experience.”
Currently, the District provides no-cost breakfast and lunch options to students. These meals are crucial for about a quarter of the District’s students, who suffer from food insecurity. Nearly 40% of District principals consider food insecurity a “moderate or great challenge to student learning.”
Surveys of students identify the quality of the meals as substandard; according to testimony provided by students, many of the meals are made outside of Philadelphia, frozen, and reheated prior to serving, Students say the meals are often under-prepared and made with poor ingredients.
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