Philly's power players on City Council pushed through a slew of resolutions and bills at their May 9 meeting, with only five sessions left before they hit the summer break. High on the agenda was bolstering the Philadelphia Land Bank's board and putting a spotlight on Kensington's recent clean-up, as reported by PHLCouncil.com.
Meanwhile, Council members gave the nod to bills that range from appointing new directors to the Land Bank to rolling out performance audits. Among the resolutions passed were #240386 through #240390, introduced by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier of the 3rd District on behalf of Council President Kenyatta Johnson, and a smattering of others introduced by reps across the districts, as documented by the weekly council report.
It wasn't just routine legislation that dominated dialogue this week. The resolution of the Kensington Avenue encampment earlier this week got Councilmember Quetcy Lozada speaking up. Kensington, a part of her 7th District, has battled with homelessness and substance abuse issues for years. Armed with a plan that saw 312 individuals receiving vital services like detox and housing, Lozada praised the collective effort in clearing the area.
"Our city is bringing much-needed relief, resources, and support to this community," Lozada told PHLCouncil.com. While addressing the successful team-up with Rock Ministries and local service providers, she added, "I am thankful to the Mayor, Rock Ministries, service providers, and law enforcement for changing the lives of these individuals during the encampment resolution."
In a move to ensure financial transparency, Lozada secured approval for Resolution #240397, demanding a performance audit on the funds funneled into Kensington's aid by the Philly government. Overflowing with gratitude for the City Council's collaborative spirit, she stated, "I am grateful for our ability to work together as a Council to bring much needed oversight on how our city has addressed the crisis that exists here today and to develop a better plan to stabilize and strengthen the Kensington community," according to PHLCouncil.com. The eyes of Kensington residents and lawmakers alike are keenly watching the Mayor's next steps as the approved bills head to her desk for signing.
