Protesters storm Councilman Brian O'Neill's office
A group of education activists made the mistake of targeting the wrong Councilman during a boisterous protest in City Hall this afternoon.
Protesters storm Councilman Brian O'Neill's office
Jan Ransom
UPDATED:
A group of education activists made the mistake of targeting the wrong Councilman during a boisterous protest in City Hall this afternoon.
More than a dozen marchers bee-lined their way up to Councilman Brian O’Neill’s office on the 5th floor with huge signs and a blaring blow horn to demand a meeting.
Education advocate Emmanuel Bussie, 45, said the group wanted to meet with O’Neill because they thought he voted against a resolution –introduced by Councilman Darrell Clarke in May –asking the Law Department to represent City Council in a lawsuit against Gov. Corbett, challenging the legality of the funding for public education in Philadelphia.
Yet the protesters had it all wrong. There was a nay vote cast by Councilman Jack Kelly not O’Neill.
According to the Clerk's Office there was an error in recording the votes which led protestors to believe O'Neill voted against the resolution, we later learned.
“I voted for it,” O’Neill said adding that he was in a meeting concerning capital projects at the time of the protest. “They were acting very unprofessional in my office. When you come in and go against somebody… you better know what you’re talking about.”
Within minutes the group was escorted out by police.
Watch the video of the protest inside of O’Neill’s office.
Comments (126)
Oops. Those Irish. They all look alike, don't they?— Roger Podacter- I could call you a bunch of names and get into a huge debate but what good would it do. Keep talking about us it good for our fight. I mean what I say and I will be back to his office ad anyone else's office that does not fight for education. Oh don't believe everything in the paper, and please share this video with your friend. You will be seeing a lot of me as long as our children are not fairly and adequately funded. This is only the beginning.
Emmanuel Bussie— e_bussie - "...fairly and adequately funded."
By whom?
Bad news Pal, the taxpayers are not only out of cash, they're out of patience. - Very true, Visto. No one wants taxes to go up even more & Philadelphians are at their wits' end with the now married couple: Education and Politics.
...but I think Bussie's proposal for 'fairly and adequately' funded schools wouldn't raise ANYONE'S taxes...Corbett cut a big piece of Philly's education funds and it went somewhere else in the state unfairly giving more to other districts. I'm pretty sure, while looking at the whole budget, he is fighting to take back the money that got sent away from us and into other districts.
Not positive but if that's true -- money doesn't come out of anyone's pocket but goes into Philly schools. I'm okay with that idea if that's the case. - Ooops look what we found, Councilman O'Neill had Official City Council Journal changed without council knowing the next morning. But I have the made a copy of the original Journal before he switched his vote from no to yes. I know for you the true or proof does not matter. Oh this is getting interesting. Glad we stormed in, we have to do it again next week. Who knows what else this guy will pull. Glad you told us to us to "Wake Up, now and look what we find. This storming thing is great for "We the People". If you look carefully like I do this article has been updated but still missing sooo many facts — e_bussie
- Truth Infusion: We spend 1.5 million a day of your tax dollars on horse. Over 100 million has gone to breeders in Kentucky and Arizona. We have the money we just spend in on the wrong things. — e_bussie
- Emmanuel,
I want you to know that when people jumped on the hate train for the umbrella of Ackerman supporters being ridiculous -- I called you out by name and DEFENDED you. I said, "no...this guy seems to be really passionate about education, he makes valid points, he speaks well and listens." What the HECK, I had to eat my words?!
I even, like, GET your cause. I'm totally in support of trying to go after Corbett for more equitable distribution of funds -- it's a fight worth spending time, passion and energy on. Cheers. WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH IT? If you want people to actually play on your team and ***get the money: end goal*** that's not going to happen with bullying policy-makers with blowhorns in their ears ranting about civil disobedience. the "we will not back down" is an impeccable technique on DEFENSE of civil liberties, not OFFENSE to create change. - "Don't believe everything you read in the paper."
...an ambiguous distraction that just verifies people thinking you are ineffective. You are diverting attention and attempting to discredit a source (with 7 minutes of documented evidence) without providing ANY facts to rectify your reputation. What's wrong with what's in the paper? If you want to clarify a point -- state it. What did they say that was incorrect and correct it.
You went in to the office demanding to be heard. You used a megaphone to shout (publicity stunt??) in people's faces and demand they respect your opinion when you can't even respect their workplace. You're all about fair and equitable things -- where is the BALANCE in that?! And what's worse...he voted FOR the very cause you were in to badger him about. Which of those facts are untrue? - PROOF - InspiredApple because you have an open mind and don't just believe whatever fits way of thinking. I will let you in on a little truth the the Daily News failed to report.
The rest of you will you now stop fighting and work with me to get the 1.5 million a day in state tax doolars we spend on horse re-allocated for education please.
"Daily News doesn't check facts and stirs up racial tension and comments"
THE RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED.
http://legislation.phila.gov/meetings/2011/6/3263_M_CITY_COUNCIL_11-06-02_Meeting_Minutes_(Long).pdf
Resolution No. 110462: Resolution Authorizing a request to the Law
Department to represent City Council in a lawsuit or lawsuits against the
Governor of Pennsylvania and any other appropriate State officials, challenging
the legality of the funding for public education in the Commonwealth and
particularly in Philadelphia, and seeking to compel the Commonwealth to carry
out its constitutional duty to provide for the maintenance and support of a
thorough and efficient system of public education; and, if the Law Department
declines to render such service to City Council, authorizing the retention of
outside counsel to provide such services.
THE RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED.
The Ayes and Nays were as follows:
16 - Councilmembers Blackwell, Clarke, Council President Verna, DiCicco, Goode, Green,
Greenlee, Jones, Kelly, Kenney, Krajewski, Miller, Reynolds Brown, Rizzo, Sanchez and
Tasco
Ayes:
Nays: 1 - Councilmember O'Neill
— e_bussie - I'm revisiting this article for entertainment, and yet I STILL see your nonsense!! Do you think people won't visit your website of "proof" that clearly lists the Nay as Councilmember Kelly? It pains me to read your words. Again, I ask you to please stop. — imsteena
- Councilman O’Neill called and had the official approved City Council journal changed after we stormed in, check my FB page I put both up journals up there. Our brilliant attorneys discovered HIS approval of HIS recorded no vote.
However it was not about the journal the papers allowed you to miss it and some to go racial. This visit was about him not meeting with us to answer why HE approved his recorded NO vote (June 9th he approved his June 2 recorded vote) and for him to ask the city solicitor to respond to HIS (council’s) resolution. He is the top ranking member of City Council that sits on the education committee, this is an education fight. We uncovered the no vote, and we demand accountability not just talk about it.
But even after I provided proof and the article has been updates to prove he had it changed, the "TALKERS" still choose to believe what they want. Ok so be it, keep chatting and commenting, I have so much fairness to fight for and injustices to battle, the schools need those willing to roll up their sleeves leave our jobs at time and go battle.. I'll give the hate filled and the couch potatoes so much more to cry about. I came back to Philly in February to take on this effort and I have just begun to fight!
— e_bussie - Mr. Bussie. I hate to inform you of something else you don't know, but just about every person above the age of 8 knows that the Federal and state governments are BROKE!!!! The money be ALL GONE! Why? Your friends like Chaka Fattah and others have squandered millions on useless projects (like sending inner city kids on vacations to the Caribbean Islands..where they spend their time on the beach, or shopping) as well as hundreds of other wasteful things....as well as possibly dipping into those funds for their own. God knows that you and your crew there are in need of education...or at least, in need of knowing who voted how ( you dopes!) ....but the well is dry. Instead of running around town with your hand out, the day of judgment is here. You and your fellow graduates of clown college ouught to be thinking about how to fund and sustain yourselves....just as it was intended with most of humanity. The panhandler who mutters "Give me a dollah" gets no respect. Remember that.
— Alfred-King of Wessex - Good people across the country, these comments do not represent the views of this great city. These are the some of the same hate filled talkers that comment on every issue that pertains to public schools (TALKERS). Since this is getting so much national attention allow me to share some additional truth. According to the (original as of yesterday) official Journal From the meeting here are the results:
The Ayes and Nays were as follows:
16 - Councilmembers Blackwell, Clarke, Council President Verna, DiCicco, Goode, Green,
Greenlee, Jones, Kelly, Kenney, Krajewski, Miller, Reynolds Brown, Rizzo, Sanchez and
Tasco
Ayes:
Nays: 1 - Councilmember O'Neill
If you go the office city site now it has been change to:
The Ayes and Nays were as follows:
Ayes: 16 - Councilmembers Blackwell, Clarke, Council President Verna, DiCicco, Goode, Green,
Greenlee, Jones, Kenney, Krajewski, Miller, O'Neill, Reynolds Brown, Rizzo, Sanchez and
Tasco
Nays: 1 - Councilmember Kelly
So a councilman had a motioned and second and approved journal change after 2 months to reflect a different vote. After he himself approved the no vote recorded on this issue: He is his own scheduler so we came to see him to hold him accountable to his approved vote.
The News papers never did their homework never check until we placed the true journal out for the country to see.
Again the over whelming majority support our actions and these hate filled, divisive remarks are from people who make a living comment here and spreading hate. They will watch and comment while we work and transform. You have not heard the last of this issue (stay tuned). The images proving the quick switch and facts are here - Facebook/ebussie
— e_bussie - Our typical informed voters. Dopes. IF they were truly informed, they would know math and 'our tax dollars' can only go to so many wasted entities— keapitreal
- what a bunch of dopes!!!!— rufftuffdh
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Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns. E-mail tips to brennac@phillynews.com
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Follow Chris on Twitter
David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
Follow Dave on Twitter.
Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans. E-mail tips to ransomj@phillynews.com
Follow Jan on Twitter
Sean Collins Walsh is from Bucks County and went to Northwestern University. He joined the Daily News copy desk in 2012 and now covers the Nutter administration. Before that, he interned at papers including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times. E-mail tips to walshSE@phillynews.com
Follow Sean on Twitter
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