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Recognizing and Thanking Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller on Her Retirement after Sixteen Years of Dedicated and Excellent Service to the Citizens of Philadelphia, and Particularly the People of the Eighth Council District.
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WHEREAS, Donna Reed Miller served with distinction and dedication as a member of Philadelphia City Council, representing the Eighth Council District from 1996 to 2011. Throughout this time she has given unsparingly of her time, energy, and leadership as Chair of City Council's Public Safety Committee; Chair of the Disabled & Handicapped Committee; and Vice Chair of Public Property & Public Works; and Public Health & Human Services. She also has provided valuable insight as a member of Council's Committee of the Whole; Appropriations; Housing and Homeless; Transportation and Public Utilities; Streets and Services; Ethics; Environment; and Rules. She is also former Chair of the Philadelphia Black Elected Officials; and
WHEREAS, Councilwoman Miller has introduced and co-sponsored landmark bills and legislation such as the Video Surveillance Camera Referendum, which has made an impact on the City's war on crime; Ban the Box, legislation making it easier for ex-offenders to be considered for employment; and the implementation of count-down pedestrian timers. She has been a staunch defender of workforce diversity and has introduced amendments requiring more inclusive long-term goals, strategies and strict enforcement of minority participation in the Pennsylvania Convention Center Expansion; and
WHEREAS, Councilwoman Miller fought for the City of Philadelphia to control its own gun laws. In 2008, she was part of a joint lawsuit which maintained that the PA General Assembly created a state of danger by refusing to act on several ordinances passed in Philadelphia to address the proliferation of illegal firearms that have significantly contributed to the epidemic of gun violence in the City. The suit asked the Court to revisit the 1996 ruling in Ortiz v. Commonwealth of Pa which denied two home-rule municipalities, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the right to regulate gun ownership; and
WHEREAS, Councilwoman Miller successfully brought to the Eighth District hundreds of millions of dollars in demolition and revitalization projects; and has been responsible for countless numbers of commercial and residential development projects. In addition, her efforts have led to a large number of affordable housing units, and economic development. These projects have had a positive impact on blighted and have stabilized neighborhoods in the Eighth District. She has been consecutively recognized and honored by the Philadelphia Tribune, the nation's oldest African American-owned newspaper, as one of Philadelphia's most influential African Americans. Between 1996 and 2011, she provided over 10,000 Thanksgiving turkeys and food baskets to families in her district and has coordinated programs providing summer jobs to high school students in City Council and the Philadelphia courts; and
WHEREAS, Councilwoman Miller's streetscape project that stretches from Germantown to Chestnut Hill is considered the longest streetscape project in the United States. Throughout her career in City Council, Councilwoman Miller's principles and compassion have served her well. She has steadfastly championed causes for senior citizens, youth and the economically disenfranchised and helped support disaster relief efforts for victims the Hurricane Katrina and the Haiti Earthquake; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes and thanks Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller on her retirement after sixteen years of dedicated and excellent service to the people of Philadelphia and, particularly, the citizens of the Eighth Council District. We wish her good health and success as she continues to serve her community.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller, further evidencing the admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.
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