WEEKLY REPORT – PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL APPROVES LAND BANK BILLS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

At the second Philadelphia City Council session of the fall season, City Council approved Resolutions #240691, 240692, 240693, 240694, 240695, 240696 and 240728 that transfer nearly 70 vacant lots in Councilmember Jamie Gauthier’s 3rd District from the Philadelphia for new housing units as part of the City of Philadelphia’s “Turn the Key” (TTK) initiative.

TTK is a Philadelphia Land Bank, PHDC, Philadelphia City Council and City of Philadelphia program to build over 1,000 new affordable homes across the city, and dramatically lowers the out-of-pocket cost of purchasing home.

Recently, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District), Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr. (5th District) and other community partners took part in a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and celebration of the milestone of the 100th TTK home purchased in North Philadelphia. TTK Homes are on sale now or will be in the fall of 2024 in the following Philadelphia neighborhoods: Brewerytown, Carroll Park, East Kensington/Port Richmond, Grays Ferry, Sharswood/Blumberg, and Wharton/South Philadelphia.

---

DOZENS OF PRO- AND ANTI-ARENA SUPPORTERS ATTENDED COUNCIL SESSION

The Council Chambers were packed on Thursday with people representing organizations that are for or against any proposed 76ers Arena (76 Place) in Center City. The proposed site is in Councilmember Mark Squilla’s district (1st District). Mayor Parker recently held a listening session about the proposed stadium this week at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

City Council is awaiting a formal package of legislation on any possible Sixers Arena to be transmitted to Council for consideration. Council would need to approve any legislation for the project to become a reality in Center City.

---

APPROVED BILLS FOR PROPERTY TAX ASSESMENT APPEAL, STREET RENAMING, OPEN STREETS AND MORE

Below, the following bills and resolutions already on the final passage calendar were approved during the September 12 session. They were:

• Resolution #240708 (introduced by Councilmember Rue Landau, At-Large): Urging the Board of Revision of Taxes (BRT) to adopt a policy of accepting all informal and formal property assessment appeals filed for Tax Year 2025 by March 31, 2025, due to the delay in mailing of property reassessment notices until August 7, 2024.
• Resolution #240713 (Introduced by Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr., 5th District): Calling on the City of Philadelphia to explore the funding of a pilot program for free doorbell cameras to enhance public safety in the City of Philadelphia.
• Resolution #240714 (Young, Jr.): Calling on the City of Philadelphia to explore the resumption of annual Philly Free Streets days.
• Resolution #240717 (introduced by Councilmember Kendra Brooks, At Large): Authorizing a task force to advance recommendations and coordinate initiatives to ensure that all people in Philadelphia can exercise their fundamental right to bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom. Councilmember Brian O’Neill (10th District) voted no on the resolution.
• Resolution #240721 (introduced by Squilla): Calling upon The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) to use projected climate rainfall information to prioritize actions to fix raw sewage overflows and urging PWD to use real world climate related rainfall data to project the impacts of their Green City Clean Water (GCCW) plans.
• Resolution #240722 (Squilla): Continuing the Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District (“District”).

• Resolution #240723 (introduced by Councilmember Cindy Bass, 8th District): Renaming the 3700 block of Blaybon Street “Lou and Choo’s Way” to honor Louis Crump and Charles Franklin’s of “Lou and Choo Lounge”.
• Resolution #240725 (introduced by Bass): Renaming the Waterview Playground to the “Donna Reed Miller Playground” to honor the life and contributions of the late Councilmember Donna Reed Miller, who served in City Council form 1996-2012.

• Bill #240416-A (introduced by Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, At-Large, on behalf of Council President Kenyatta Johnson, 2nd District): Authorizing an increase in the non-electoral indebtedness of the City within the Pennsylvania constitutional limit, sources for the bonds in connection with the issuance of the bonds, and certain other actions.

All Bills approved during the September 12 session on now go to Mayor Parker’s desk for consideration. Bills can either be vetoed, sign it into law or allow it to become law without her signature.

---

PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT KENYATTA JOHNSON, COUNCILMEMBERS RALLY FOR ADDITIONAL SEPTA FUNDING FROM PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE, SENATE AND GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO

Council President Johnson was recently joined by members of Philadelphia City Council, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Board Chair Kenneth Lawrence, Jr. and transportation advocates inside Philadelphia City Council Chambers yesterday (September 12) to call on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and the members of the Pennsylvania Legislature for immediate action on long-term statewide transit funding to address SEPTA’s estimated $240 million budget shortfall.

“Public transit is vital for fostering sustainable, inclusive, and efficient urban communities,” Johnson continued. It ensures that residents have access to equal opportunities for education, employment, and social engagement. SEPTA’s continued operations are critical to the success of the upcoming Semiquincentennial (250th) celebration of America and other large-scale events in Philadelphia in 2026. It is critical for the Commonwealth to increase the allocation for public transit to address SEPTA’s deficit and secure its future.”

Johnson recently sent a letter to Gov. Shapiro, signed by 17 members of Council, seeking funding for SEPTA.

“SEPTA is grateful to Council President Johnson for his unwavering commitment to SEPTA and the riders we serve,” said SEPTA Board Chair Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. He continued, “SEPTA has made major strides on safety and security, improving reliability and controlling costs, and the City of Philadelphia and the counties are supporting these efforts with more local funding. We look forward to working closely with City Council as we continue to take our urgent transit funding message to Harrisburg this fall.”

While SEPTA received $46 million in one-time assistance as part of the 2024-25 state budget, these funds are only a temporary relief. A permanent funding solution is critical to ensure the sustainability of SEPTA services for the Greater Delaware Valley region.

Council yesterday approved Resolution #240711, calling on the State Legislature to provide $161 million in state funding this year to help SEPTA, and Resolution #240712 asking Philadelphia’s colleges and universities to adopt the SEPTA Key Advantage UPass Program for all students. Both resolutions were sponsored by Councilmember Young, Jr.

---

CITY COUNCIL HONORS THE PASSING OF PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICER JAIME ROMAN

Councilmembers had a standing moment of silence during this week’s Council session in honor of Police Officer Jaime Roman, who passed away on September10.

Roman, who was assigned to the 25th Police District in Kensington, had been hospitalized since being shot during a traffic stop while on duty back in June. The 31-year-old officer was a husband and father and had six and a half years on the job.

---

THE LONE SURVIVOR OF THE 16TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH BOMBING IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA IN 1963 WAS HONORED IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

Mrs. Sarah Collins Rudolph, lone survivor of the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama which took the lives of four little girls — 14-year-olds Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and 11-year-old Cynthia Wesley — was the guest of Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. in the Council chambers. Council also approved a Resolution honoring Rudolph. She was greeted with a standing ovation from Councilmembers and the audience.

The deaths of the four little girls shocked the nation and drew international attention to the violent struggle for civil rights in Birmingham.

---

PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL KICKOFF CITYWIDE PROPERTY TAX WORKSHOPS

In response to the City’s Office of Property Assessments (OPA) property tax increase, Philadelphia City Council is holding property tax relief workshops throughout the various Council Districts designed to help residents stay in their home and relieve financial burdens.

The Council President’s District Office held the inaugural workshop at the Grand Yesha Ballroom in South Philadelphia while the second workshop was hosted in partnership with Councilmember Gauthier at the Salt and Light Church in Southwest Philadelphia. More than 300 people attended both workshops.

More workshops are taking place over in the next few weeks, and they are open to anyone in Philadelphia who owns a home.

Representatives from OPA, Revenue Department, Community League Services, Register of Wills, Recorder of Deeds will be on hand to answer questions and sign people up for programs like Homestead Exemption, Longtime Owner-Occupied Program, Senior Tax Freeze or Low-Income Tax Freeze on the spot or assist with appealing their assessment. Citizens are asked to bring their ID, proof of income and property tax assessment letter, if available.

For more information or to apply for these programs, please contact the Revenue Department at 215-686-6442 or email [email protected]. You can also contact your District Councilmember or any At-Large Councilmember for assistance.

---

TUNE IN ON SEPTEMBER 14TH AT 10AM FOR SATURDAYS WITH COUNCIL

First show of the fall session will be hosted by Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr. on WURD Radio (900 AM/96.1FM in Philadelphia).