CITY HALL

City Council Committee Holds Hearings on Source-of-Income Discrimination, Rent Control

This week, the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development & the Homeless heard testimony on housing voucher-based discrimination and potential legislation on rent control, during which tenants, housing providers, and local affordable housing advocates and policy leaders weighed in on existing challenges within the city’s current affordable housing system and potential solutions to improve access for low-income Philadelphians.

Upcoming Committee Hearings

Philadelphia City Council holds several public hearings throughout the legislative calendar. You can watch the hearings here.

• The Committee on Rules will be holding a public hearing on Monday, March 27 at 10 a.m. to discuss continuing certain existing zoning overlays and development and improvement districts, among other ordinances.
• The Joint Committees on Public Safety & Education will be holding a public hearing on Monday, March 27 at 2 p.m. to discuss the status of capital programs for infrastructure repair and toxic hazard remediation in Philadelphia public schools, the Philadelphia School District’s use of suspension and other disciplinary tactics, and statistics on in-school violence, current protocols, and teacher safety.
•  The Committee on Appropriations will be holding a public hearing on Thursday, March 30 at 1 p.m. to discuss potential transfers in appropriations for FY23 from the General Fund.

Upcoming Budget Hearings

The 2023 budget season is officially upon us, with the first week of budget hearings scheduled to begin next week. The full schedule of FY24 budget hearings and a link to watch them can be found here. Public Strategies provides a more detailed analysis of Mayor Kenney’s FY24 budget proposal here.

• Five-Year Plan, Capital Program (Tuesday, March 28 at 10 a.m.)
• Mayor’s Office (Tuesday, March 28 at 1:30 p.m.)
• Department of Finance, Department of Revenue, Tax Bills, Office of Property Assessments, Board of Revision of Taxes (Wednesday, March 29 at 10 a.m.)
• Sinking Fund, Board of Pensions, City Treasurer (Wednesday, March 29 at 1:30 p.m.)

Need a Quick Refresher on How City Council Works? 

The Philadelphia Inquirer has you covered.

ELECTION UPDATE

More Mayoral Candidates Bring Campaign Messages to Philadelphia Airwaves; Candidates, Legal Groups Debate Merits of Stop-and-Frisk

Until recently, the crowded Philadelphia mayoral race had been more or less cordial — arguably, a little too cordial. That changed this week, when real estate magnate and former Councilmember At-Large Allan Domb aired the first negative ads of the campaign cycle, aimed at his business-sector rival, grocer Jeff Brown. Meanwhile, former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart entered the television-ad fray with a spot featuring two of her highest-profile endorsers — former Mayors John Street and Michael Nutter. So far, only four campaigns have aired television ads, with more expected in the coming weeks with the assistance of fundraising dollars and independent expenditures.

Meanwhile, with many campaigns sharply focused on public safety and the city’s gun violence crisis, the debate over controversial stop-and-frisk policies is being revisited as well — both by the candidates themselves and advocacy organizations.

City Council Candidate Field Narrows Ever So Slightly

With petition season in the rearview mirror and the ceremonial drawing of ballot positions completed, the robust field of candidates for City Council has more or less solidified. Notably, a potentially viable challenger to incumbent District 3 Councilmember Jamie Gauthier has withdrawn from the race due to a legal challenge to his candidacy.

AROUND TOWN

City Council Meeting Draws Sprinkler Bill Protests

Last week, Philadelphia property owners protested a City Council bill that would require the installation of automatic sprinkler systems in existing high-rise buildings above 75 feet. Some, including former District 7 Councilmember and current mayoral candidate Maria Quiñones Sánchez, have criticized the legislation.

City To Pay $9.25 Million for Use of Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets During 2020 Protests 

Philadelphia officials announced Monday that the city has agreed to pay $9.25 million to more than 300 people who were teargassed, struck with rubber bullets, and detained by police during the 2020 racial justice protests following the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

TAUP To Hold No-Confidence Votes Against Three University Leaders

On Tuesday, the Temple Association of University Professionals (TAUP) — Temple University’s faculty union — authorized votes of no confidence against President Jason Wingard, Provost Gregory N. Mandel, and Board of Trustees Chair Mitchell Morgan over concerns about job performance and the continuing decline of enrollment rates.

SUBURBAN SPOTLIGHT

SEPTA Ceases Work on Norristown High Speed Line Extension to King of Prussia

Late last week, SEPTA announced that it has ceased work on a four-mile extension of the Norristown High Speed Line to King of Prussia after the Federal Transit Administration declined a capital grant application that would have been necessary to support the project.