This week, Council approved all resolutions and no bills. Bills that have been introduced since Council started its winter session have been assigned committee hearing dates. Look out for final passage votes on bills in the coming weeks.
Among the resolutions approved this week were:
Councilmember Kendra Brooks (At-Large) led a group of twelve City Council colleagues, labor leaders, and Philadelphia workers who introduced the POWER (Protect Our Workers, Enforce Rights) Act legislation.
The POWER Act (Bill #250065) would establish the necessary legal tools for the City’s Office of Worker Protections to enforce Philadelphia labor laws, such as the Wage Theft Ordinance and Fair Workweek, and to hold abusive employers accountable for retaliating against workers who assert their rights.
Minority Leader Brooks’ legislation is co-sponsored by a veto-proof majority of Councilmember and backed by the National Domestic Workers Alliance, the Philadelphia AFL-CIO, Community Legal Services, and a broad range of pro-worker organizations.
If approved by Council and signed into law by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, The POWER Act would provide for expedited investigations of severe cases of retaliation, such as termination and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement threats, and permits workers to receive compensation for damages they suffer from retaliation and other violations.
Council still must hold a committee hearing on the bill. No date for any of the hearings has been set.
Council held a moment of silence during this week’s session in honor of those killed and injured due to the recent airplane crash in Northeast Philadelphia, which took place in the 6th Council District represented by Councilmember Mike Driscoll.
A Learjet 55 medical transport plane left Northeast Philadelphia Airport on January 31 and crashed in the 2300 block of Cottman Avenue shortly after takeoff.
At the time this Weekly Report was issued, the crash killed six people onboard the Jet Rescue Air Ambulance aircraft — a pediatric patient, her mother, and a four-person flight crew — and at least one other person on the ground, an individual in a car. Dozens of other people have been injured, and some remain hospitalized. The forensics investigation is ongoing.
Since the accident, Councilmember Driscoll’s focus has been on the needs of first responders on the ground, as well as the individuals and families impacted by this tragedy. Philadelphia City Council stands ready to offer any assistance necessary to the residents of Northeast Philadelphia as they deal with the long-term aftermath of this crash.
Driscoll, who received a standing ovation from Councilmembers during the session for his leadership since the plane crash, thanked Philadelphia police and firefighters for their actions that night that he said saved lives. He also praised Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, his fellow Council members and other elected officials for their support of his constituents.
“Northeast Philadelphia and all of Philadelphia is strong [and] compassionate,” he said. “If you could all join in thanking the individuals, agencies, businesses, and organizations for their efforts, it reminds us that Philadelphia is the greatest city in the world.”
City officials report four homes were destroyed, six received major damage, and 11 received other damage. In all, at least 366 properties were impacted in some way.
The City of Philadelphia and The Philadelphia City Fund have partnered to create a One Philly Fund to help victims of disasters in Philadelphia. The One Philly Fund will provide direct support to victims of the plane crash incident. Visit http://philacityfund.org/onephilly to donate.
The inaugural meeting of City Council’s Food and Nutrition Security Task Force took place recently in City Council’s Caucus Room. The Task Force was created last year by a resolution sponsored by President Johnson.
The Task Force is comprised of 25 key stakeholders from food distribution, nutrition, advocacy, and urban agriculture sectors who will work collaboratively to assess food insecurity challenges and develop actionable solutions.
The first meeting included discussions on the Task Force’s goals, strategies for private-public sector collaboration, and an overview of the initiative’s framework to create a strategic plan to address food access for City Council.
More than 210,000 Philadelphians – 13.6% of the city’s residents – struggle with food insecurity, according to Feeding America’s 2023 Map the Meal Gap report, which is based on 2021 data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The United States Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as the lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life.
Within the next year, the Task Force is expected to present a report detailing its findings and recommendations to address food insecurity in Philadelphia.
For public inquiries or to submit comments to the Task Force, email [email protected].
Philadelphians in need of food assistance can visit phila.gov/food to access the citywide meal finder.
Council Chambers were decorated with Philadelphia Eagles signage this week as Councilmembers and staff showed their support of the team as they face off against the Kansas City Chiefs this upcoming Sunday in Super Bowl 59.
Councilmembers and staff got into the spirit by dressing in their favorite Eagles gear or wore green in support of the team. Former Philadelphia Eagles player Trent Cole, a member of the Eagles Hall of Fame, made a special appearance at the event.
The Eagles will make quite a bit of NFL history if they can defeat the Chiefs. If the Eagles win this weekend in New Orleans, they will become one of just 16 teams in NFL history that have won multiple Super Bowls. The Eagles won Super Bowl 52 in 2018. This is the fifth time the Eagles have played in a Super Bowl.
Philadelphia homeowners now have until Friday, February 28 to apply for the City of Philadelphia’s Low-Income Tax Freeze. Submit all the required documentation and the application.
Applicants must meet the income requirements and own and live in the property as a primary residence to be eligible for the Low-Income Real Estate Tax freeze.
Eligible applicant(s) cannot exceed a total yearly gross income of $33,500 for a single person or $41,500 for a married couple.
If accepted into the program, you will freeze your bill to the previous year’s amount. The Low-Income Tax Freeze was enacted in 2024 under legislation sponsored by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (Third District), and first-year applicants will freeze their 2025 bill at the 2024 value.
For more information, go to http://phila.gov/tax-freeze, contact the City Revenue Department at (215) 686-6442 (open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday) or reach out to a District or At-Large Councilmember.
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time at Philadelphia City Council Chambers, Room 400 (Fourth Floor), Philadelphia City Hall.
Tune in by watching Xfinity Channel 64 and Fios Channel 40 if you have cable TV in Philadelphia, stream online at www.PHLCouncil.com/watch or listen to WURD Radio (900 AM/96.1 FM) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Source: phlcouncil.com…
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