Philadelphia City Council members approved various bills and resolutions during this week’s regularly stated meeting.
Among the legislation approved were:
- Bills #240176-A, #240177 and #240178 (all introduced by At-Large Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson for Council President Kenyatta Johnson, Second District) will transfer approximately $65.6 million in mid-year funding in the current Fiscal Year 2024 Budget for programs implemented by Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration.
- Resolution #240294 (introduced by Councilmember Quetcy M. Lozada, Seventh District) authorizing the establishment of a “Special Committee on Kensington” to analyze and examine the effectiveness of current polices to further develop data driven solutions and restore stability in the Kensington neighborhood.
- Resolution #240295 (introduced by At-Large Councilmember Jim Harrity for Council President Johnson) that expresses Council’s support for food service workers at the Philadelphia Sports Complex urging Aramark to negotiate fair and equitable contracts that provides workers with a standard minimum wage and healthcare coverage.
- Resolution #240297 (introduced by At-Large Councilmember Nina Ahmad) urging the United States government to take immediate action to protect and enshrine reproductive rights and ensure abortion access for all birthing people.
- Bill #240088 (introduced by Harrity) that will amend Chapter 9-2300 of The Philadelphia Code (“Protection of Displaced Contract Workers”) to provide protections for service employees, including laid-off employees, all under certain terms and conditions.
- Bill #240158 (introduced by Councilmembers Mike Driscoll, Sixth District, and Mark Squilla, First District) amending Chapter 12-900 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Parking Regulations and Penalties,” by providing for parking prohibitions for motor vehicles with sun screening devices, and for penalties and enforcement, all under certain terms and conditions.
Additional Bills and Resolutions approved during the April 18 meeting were:
Resolution numbers #240284 (Richardson), #240286 (introduced by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, Third District) and #240287 (Gauthier).
Bill numbers #240066 (Squilla), #240159 (introduced by Councilmember Cindy Bass, Eighth District), #240021 (Bass), #240022 (Bass), #240086 (Gauthier), #240090 (Bass), #240100 (Squilla), #240121 (Squilla), #240122 (Squilla), #240123 (Squilla), #240155 (Councilmember Jeffrey Young, Fifth District), #240156 (Young), #240186 (Young), #240188 (Squilla), #240189 (Squilla), #240190 (Squilla), #240212 (Gauthier), #240213 (Gauthier), #240214 (Gauthier), #240217 (Young), #240218 (Young) and #240219 (Young).
The more than two dozen bills approved at the meeting now go to Mayor Parker for either her signature or veto.
PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCILMEMBERS HONOR DRAG SUPERSTAR SAPPHIRA CRISTÁL
Philadelphia City Councilmembers Nicolas O’ Rourke and Rue Landau (both At-Large) honored on the Council floor Sapphira Cristál for her outstanding representation of Philadelphia’s unique queer performance art and drag scene culture during Season 16 of MTV’s RuPaul Drag Race. Resolution #240317 was introduced and approved at the April 18 meeting.
Cristál is a nationally-acclaimed, classically-trained opera singer, composer, and drag queen known for her theatrical lip sync style and six-octave vocal range.
“The rest of the country has been introduced to a star who many Philadelphians have been privileged to have had front-row seats for [years],” commented Councilmember O’Rourke. “I’m glad Council had an opportunity to thank her for her work and celebrate her success.”
“I am beyond excited to honor the incredible talent of Sapphira Cristal, a powerhouse Black Drag Queen from Philly who is captivating audiences on Drag Race,” said Councilmember Landau. “As Philly’s first LGBTQ+ person elected to City Council, it is my honor to celebrate and uplift the Black LGBTQ+ community, who have long been leaders and change makers in our city.”
Council President Johnson, along with Councilmembers Young, Lozada, Bass, Anthony Phillips (Ninth District), Harrity, Nina Ahmad (At Large), Isaiah Thomas (At-Large), Landau and O’Rourke (At Large), gathered at Martin Luther King High School (MLK High) in Northwest Philadelphia for the second in a series of Neighborhood Budget Town Halls this month to review and provide feedback on Mayor Parker’s proposed $6.29 Billion Fiscal Year 2025 (FY ’25) budget.
More than 200 people attended the event, hosted by Councilmembers Bass and Phillips.
During each town hall, the public will first hear a brief FY ‘25 Budget overview. Following the remarks, community members can share their input or ask questions on the FY ‘25 budget.
Member of the public must register on site. Council also welcomes community members to leave written and online feedback via survey at every Town Hall.
Additional Neighborhood Budget Town Halls will be held during the following dates, locations, and times in April:
Town Hall hosted by Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr., Fifth District
Date: Thursday, April 25th
Time: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: John F. Street Community Center, 1100 Poplar Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Town Hall hosted by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, Third District
Date: Monday, April 29th
Time: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: West Philadelphia High School, 4901 Chestnut Street (corner of 49th and Chestnut Street), Philadelphia, PA 19139
Council is also scheduling an additional Neighborhood Budget Town Hall meeting to be held in the Seventh District, represented by Lozada. Date, time and location are TBD. Visit PHL Council’s FY ’25 Budget Center for updates.
PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL’S FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET HEARINGS CONTINUED THIS WEEK
Council’s Committee of the Whole held its third week of hearings on the proposed FY’ 25 Budget on April 15-17.
Councilmembers heard testimony this week from the following departments:
- Department of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Office of Homeless Services, Planning & Development, Register of Wills, Managing Director’s Office (including Office of Public Safety), Defender’s Association, Law Department, City Controller, First Judicial District (Courts), Sheriff and Citizens Police Oversight Commission.
Budget hearings will continue in Philadelphia City Council Chambers on Wednesday, April 24.
The budget hearings are currently scheduled to end on May 1.
City Council will allow public comment on the City’s budget at City Hall on Wednesday, April 24 from 1:30-4 p.m. and testimony on the School District of Philadelphia’s funding request to the City will held on Wednesday, May 1 from 1:30-4 p.m.
Speakers interested in making public testimony should call 215-686-3407 or email [email protected] by 3 p.m. the day before the public hearing and submit the following information:
- Full name
- Callback telephone number where you can be reached
- Identify the bill number or resolution number or numbers that will be addressed
The public can sign up on site at Philadelphia City Council Chambers, Room 400 (Fourth Floor).
The public can also watch the City Hall budget hearings live on Xfinity Channel 64, Fios Channel 40, or online.
Check out Mayor Parker’s budget address, Operating and Capital Budgets, proposed FY ‘25-30 Five Year Plan and other information at City Council’s FY’25 Budget Center. The FY’25 Budget Hearing Schedule is subject to change so check Council’s Budget page often for updates.
The next Meeting of City Council is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 10 a.m. The meeting will take place in person in Council’s Chambers on the 4th floor of Council. It will also air on Xfinity Ch. 64, Fios Channel 40, and stream at www.PHLCouncil.com/watch.
