May 9, 2025
PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL APPROVED 10 BILLS AND 17 RESOLUTIONS DURING THE MAY 9 COUNCIL SESSION
Among the bills approved was Councilmember Quetcy Lozada (7th District)’s #240665-AA, which would regulate vehicular mobile service providers. The bill was first introduced in September 2024. The final vote was 13 to 3 with At-Large Councilmembers Kendra Brooks, Nicolas O’Rourke and Rue Landau, all voting no. Councilmember Brian O’Neill (10th District) had a leave of absence and did not vote on any bills or resolutions this week.
According to a fact sheet released by Lozada’s office, this bill defines various types of mobile services, moderates the areas where they may be performed in the 7th Council District, and calls for a permitting system for those providing certain medical services. The bill permits services at the PAD lot located at 265 East Lehigh Avenue and additional locations may be established by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s Administration in collaboration with the Councilmember.
The bill permits services to be conducted between 11 PM to 6 AM on East Allegheny Ave between Kensington Ave and F Street. Any provider found to be in violation will be subject to a $1,000 fine.
Support of Lozada’s bill came from Kensington residents and students from area elementary schools who testified during public comment. Harm reduction and health providers spoke out against the bill, saying it will restrict access to lifesaving resources for people battling drug addiction. Lozada defended the bill, saying the legislation will help Kensington residents who feel that the mobile service providers in the area attract nuisance crimes and litter and make residents feel unsafe.
If signed into law by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, Lozada’s bill would take effect 60 days after being adopted into law.
Council also approved this week Bill #250065, better known as the POWER (Protect Our Workers, Enforce Rights) Act. It establishes legal tools for Philadelphia’s Department of Labor (DoL) to enforce local labor laws, such as the wage theft and paid sick leave ordinances, and to hold abusive employers accountable for retaliating against workers who assert their rights.
The lead sponsor of the bill is Councilmember Kendra Brooks (At-Large). Co-sponsors of the bill include Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District) and Councilmembers Nina Ahmad (At-Large), Cindy Bass (8th District), Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), Jim Harrity (At-Large), Curtis Jones, Jr. (4th District), Rue Landau (At-Large), Quetcy Lozada (7th District), Nicolas O’Rourke (At-Large), Anthony Phillips (9th District), Mark Squilla (1st District), Isaiah Thomas (At-Large) and Jeffery Young, Jr. (5th District).
The POWER Act offers sweeping protections for all workers in Philadelphia. It will:
- Allow workers to receive direct financial compensation for the damages they have suffered because of retaliation and other violations;
- Establish a process for the DoL to certify immigration protections, critical for undocumented workers;
- Update the standards for a public “bad actors database” of employers who have committed multiple labor law violations;
- Authorize the DoL to conduct “wall-to-wall” investigations of entire workplaces and to initiate independent investigations into workplaces.
- Allow workers to receive direct financial compensation for the damages they have suffered because of retaliation and other violations;
- Establish a process for the DoL to certify immigration protections, critical for undocumented workers.
The POWER Act was supported by the Philadelphia AFL-CIO, the Philly Black Worker Project, the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and SEIU 32BJ.
The introduction of the POWER Act follows 10 years of steady progress by labor unions and pro-worker Councilmembers to establish protections for Philadelphia’s blue-collar workers. In 2020, City Council voted to establish a permanent Department of Labor to house education and enforcement efforts for a growing list of groundbreaking labor laws, including Wage Theft, Fair Workweek, and Paid Sick Leave ordinances. Since then, many workers have faced retaliation from employers when they report violations of these laws.
OTHER BILLS APPROVED THIS WEEK:
Bill #240581 (Jones), #240750 (introduced by Councilmember Cindy Bass, 8th District), #250067 (introduced by Councilmember Brian O’Neill, 10th District); #250068 (O’Neill); #250149 (introduced by Councilmember Mike Driscoll, 6th District); #250323 (introduced by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, 3rd District, for Council President Kenyatta Johnson, 2nd District), #250123 (Bass) and #250151 (Bass).
All the bills approved will now go to Mayor Parker’s desk to either be signed into law or vetoed.
AMONG THE RESOLUTIONS APPROVED:
Resolution #250447, introduced by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), which declares May 13th, 2025, the 40th Anniversary of the MOVE Bombing, as a day of reflection and remembrance in the City of Philadelphia.
On May 13, 1985, the Philadelphia Police Department dropped a satchel bomb on the 6200 block of Osage Avenue home of MOVE, a Black liberation group founded by the late John Africa. The bomb led to a fire that killed 11 people, including five children. The event, known as the MOVE bombing, destroyed two city blocks (61 houses) and leaving 250 Philadelphians homeless. The homes were eventually rebuilt.
Mike Africa Jr., son of two of the MOVE members and currently MOVE’s Legacy Director, as well as other members of the Africa family, spoke about the resolution during public comment. Five years ago, at Councilmember Gauthier’s urging, City Council formally apologized for the MOVE Bombing for the first time.
Council held a standing moment of silence on the Council floor for the 11 people killed in the MOVE bombing.
Other resolutions approved were #250428 (introduced by Lozada, 7th District), #250429 (Lozada), #250448 (Gauthier), #250451 (introduced by Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr., 4th District); #250497 (introduced by Councilmember Anthony Phillips, 9th District); #250498 (introduced by Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, At-Large, for Council President Johnson); #250499 (introduced by Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, At-Large); #250500 (Thomas); #250501 (Thomas); #250502 (Lozada); #250503 (Lozada); #250506 (Young Jr); #250508 (O’Rourke); #250511 (introduced by Councilmember Nina Ahmad, At Large); #250512 (Ahmad) and #250513 (Ahmad).
BILLS INTRODUCED:
Bill #250495, introduced by Councilmember Mike Driscoll (6th District), whose mostly Lower Northeast-based district includes a small part of Kensington, would create a zoning overlay for his district that would prohibit mobile medical providers from operating unless they get a variance from the Zoning Board of Approval, which involves feedback from registered community organizations.
Driscoll’s bill would only apply to the 6th District. All bills introduced in Council this week will be assigned to committees for future hearings.
Other bills introduced this week were #250483 (introduced by Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, At-Large, for Council President Johnson); #250484 (Bass), #250485 (Lozada), #250486 (Lozada); #250487 (Gilmore Richardson for President Johnson), #250488 (Gauthier), #250489 (Gauthier); #250490 (Jones); #250491 (Jones); #250492 (Young, Jr.); #250493 (Young Jr.); #250494 (Young Jr.) and #250496 (Driscoll).
For a complete rundown of all bills and resolutions currently before Council, go to City Council’s Legislative Information Center.
COUNCIL HEARINGS ON MAYOR CHERELLE PARKER’S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET ARE STARTING TO COME TO A CLOSE
City Council members heard testimony this week from the Register of Wills, Department of Public Health, Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbilities, Law Department, District Attorney, Defender Association of Philadelphia, Sheriff Office, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) Initiative (second round) and Mural Arts Philadelphia, the final agency scheduled to give budget testimony this year.
During the H.O.M.E. hearing on May 7, City Council members questioned the mayor’s plans to pay for her new housing initiative.
Council President Johnson and other Council members expressed concern about whether this is the right time to borrow $800 million in debt to pay for the program.
City Finance Director Rob Dubow said the City wants to have two borrowings of $400 million each—one this fall and the other in 2026. The debt service (interest) for each borrowing would be approximately $25 million each year for 20 years (a total of about $500 million over two decades) for a grand of $1.3 billion at the end of the 20-year note.
Parker’s chief of staff, Tiffany W. Thurman, sad Council needs to act quickly on the H.O.M.E. plan to deal with the city’s housing crisis. The Administration wants Council to consider the H.O.M.E. legislation before the end of June.
During the Law Department’s testimony on May 6, City Solicitor Renee Garcia said the City would be ready to go to court if federal officials identify Philadelphia as a so-called “sanctuary city” and decide to revoke federal funding under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
Philadelphia got $2.2 billion in federal funding in 2024 and most of it went to fund health and social services programs.
District Attorney Larry Krasner and Chief Public Defender Keisha Hudson also indicated they would protect Philadelphia’s immigrant communities from any illegal activity because of Trump announcing the city as a sanctuary city.
Philadelphia Sherriff Rochelle Bilal asked Council on May 6 for a $20 million increase to her $34 million budget to hire more people and wants to have a new headquarters and a training academy for deputies both in North Philadelphia. There were no detailed discussions during the budget hearing about how the proposals would be paid for.
The hearings on the proposed Operating and Capital Budget with Parker administration leadership are held to help Philadelphians better understand the mayor’s spending proposal.
All FY 2026 budget hearings are held before the Committee of the Whole, chaired by Council President Johnson. These hearings include testimony from department heads and independently elected offices to support their proposed budgets and answer questions from councilmembers. The final budget hearings for this year will feature public testimony on May 13-14.
The City’s budget is the mayoral administration’s plan for spending, adjusted as needed to obtain City Council approval and passage before the start of each fiscal year beginning on July 1.
Before the budget is approved, City Council may adjust funding levels for departments and programs.
City Council passes legislation approving the new budget before the end of the current (Fiscal Year 2025) budget on June 30, and the mayor signs the adopted budget legislation. Fiscal Year 2026 starts on July 1.
To learn more about Mayor Parker’s budget address, Operating and Capital Budgets, proposed FY25-30 Five Year Plan and dates/times/locations of Neighborhood Budget Town halls, visit City Council’s FY 2026 budget page.
City Council also hopes to have additional Neighborhood Budget Town Hall meeting before the end of this month. Stay tuned for dates, times, and locations.
All City Council budget hearings inside City Hall air live on Xfinity Ch. 64, Fios Channel 40, and stream at PHLCouncil.com/watch. All Neighborhood Budget Hearings have been recorded by PHL GOV TV and air on Channel 64 at various times throughout the week. The Budget Hearings are available to watch on City Council’s FY 2026 budget page.
COUNCILMEMBER CINDY BASS LAUNCHES “PLAYING IT SAFE IN THE 8TH” TO ENHANCE SAFETY AT RECREATION CENTERS
In response to growing concerns about youth safety at local recreation centers, Councilmember Cindy Bass (8th District) has launched a bold, proactive initiative called “Playing It Safe in the 8th” to protect and support families across the 8th District. The 8th District covers Germantown, Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill, Logan, and parts of North and Northwest Philadelphia.
The initiative introduces Community Partnership Hubs—on-site, shared spaces staffed by trained violence intervention specialists from PAAN (Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network) and Community Relations Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department. These hubs will be embedded inside targeted recreation centers to establish a daily, trusted presence focused on de-escalation, engagement, and real-time conflict prevention.
Phase one will launch at four pilot locations: Jerome Brown, Happy Hollow, Lonnie Young, and Belfield Recreation Centers, strategically selected for their high youth engagement and histories of safety concerns.
“We know our recreation centers are safe havens for families—but we also know they need to feel that way every day,” Bass said. “This initiative brings together trusted community voices and trained professionals to provide a consistent, non-enforcement presence that supports our youth, prevents violence, and builds lasting trust.”
PAAN’s involvement brings deep experience in violence interruption, while Community Relations Officers serve in a non-policing role to foster safety and connection without criminalization. The goal is to bridge public safety with community-based care, and to ensure young people have the freedom to thrive in safe, supportive environments.
This initiative is being delivered in partnership with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, PAAN, and the 14th, 35th, and 39th Police Districts.
READ THE 2024 PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL YEAR IN REVIEW
Philadelphia City Council has created a booklet to highlight what happened in City Council in 2024. Council has created year-in-review booklets in the past, and this is the first booklet under Council President Johnson and the Council Leadership Team.
This 2024 Year in Review highlights the milestones achieved in Council—from advancing affordable housing and public safety to fostering economic opportunity. It also emphasizes the power of partnership among members, as well as with residents, advocacy organizations, city agencies, the business community, and other grassroots organizers.
In Council’s attempt to get information directly into the hands of as many Philadelphians as possible, hardcopies of the 2024 Year-in-Review booklet have been mailed to a limited number of residents throughout the city. They are also available at Councilmembers’ offices and have been given away at various Council events since mid-April. Hardcopies of the booklet will be available while supplies last.
Click here to read the booklet online.
COUNCILMEMBER JEFFERY YOUNG, JR.’S JOB AND EDUCATION FAIR WILL TAKE PLACE ON MAY 10
Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr.’s (5th District) Young Adult Job and Education Fair will take place on Saturday, May 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Community College of Philadelphia’s Bonnell Building, 1700 Spring Garden Street.
At the event, the public can explore career and education opportunities, meet employers and connect with resources. For more information, contact Young’s office at 215-686-3443.
DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR A MAIL-IN BALLOT FOR THE UPCOMING MAY 20TH PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARY IS FAST APPROACHING
Just a few days left to request a mail-in ballot for the May 20th Primary! The last day to apply is Tuesday, May 13th. Apply online at http://vote.phila.gov/votebymail, or in person at any of the City Commissioners Satellite Election Offices. Find a Satellite Office near you: http://vote.phila.gov/seos.
SATURDAYS WITH CITY COUNCIL RADIO SHOW AIRS LIVE THIS SATURDAY, MAY 10
Tune in and listen to the next Saturdays with City Council show on Saturday, May 10 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Eastern Time for Saturdays with City Council on WURD Radio (900 AM/96.1 FM) or online at wurdradio.com
The show is hosted by Council Communications Director Vincent Thompson, and this week’s topics include Mayor Parker’s proposed FY 2026 budget, Councilmember Lozada’s mobile service providers legislation, the POWER Act legislation and other issues.
The Saturdays with City Council shows for the rest of May will air on Saturday, May 24 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Eastern Time each day on WURD Radio.
THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL SESSION WILL BE ON THURSDAY, MAY 15
The next Regular Stated City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 15 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time at Philadelphia City Council Chambers, Room 400 (Fourth Floor), Philadelphia City Hall.
City Council will not meet on Thursday, May 22.
Tune in live 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…