Moves on the Board: Week of February 24-28, 2025
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♟️CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Parker Administration
On Tuesday, February 25, Mayor Parker and members of her cabinet provided a Kensington clean-up progress report at Impact Services. Mayor Parker, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, Public Safety Director Adam Geer, and other officials detailed the administration’s progress toward curbing the opioid epidemic and improving public safety in Kensington.
Mayor Parker joined IBEW Local 98 to open IBEW’s new headquarters at the Navy Yard on Wednesday, February 26. Mayor Parker was joined by Council President Kenyatta Johnson and other union leaders to unveil the new headquarters.
The Parker administration announced the appointment of Dr. Asata Mehta as the Director of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Division of Maternal, Child, and Family Health. Philadelphia is a national leader in maternal health research and policy.
Philadelphia City Council
The Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission released its long-awaited report on Tuesday, February 25, calling for the elimination of the Business Income & Receipts (BIRT) tax and reducing the wage tax below 3%. Recommendations from the Tax Reform Commission’s report are expected to be featured in Mayor Parker’s upcoming FY26 Budget Address.
Want to take a deeper dive into the Tax Reform Commission’s report? Join Bellevue Special Counsel & Tax Reform Commission member, Derek Green, on Wednesday, March 5 at 12 PM for Talking Taxes, an exclusive event for Bellevue Strategies clients. Click HERE to register.
The Special Committee on Kensington met twice this week to review the Parker administration’s Kensington Revival Plan’s progress and discuss how to help individuals who suffer from substance abuse. The Committee on Streets & Services met to review several pieces of legislation related to parking, sidewalk cafes, and district-specific legislation.
The Committee on Fiscal Stability and Intergovernmental Cooperation met this week to discuss the Quarterly City Managers Report and the City's overall fiscal health. Finance Director Rob Dubow discussed trends in the city’s Five Year Plan and various aspects of the municipal government in need of additional investment. Questioning from members of City Council provided an early look at discussion topics and themes that may be championed by Councilmembers as City Council prepares to review Mayor Parker’s FY26 Budget in a few weeks.
📜 Legislation We’re Watching
Councilmember Mike Driscoll introduced a Resolution No. 250169 legislation on behalf of Council President Johnson to honor the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) on 25 years of job growth in the Navy Yard and March 31 - April 6 as Navy Yard Week in the City of Philadelphia.
Congratulations to our client, PIDC, on this milestone and 25 years of economic impact in Philadelphia!
Councilmember Isaiah Thomas introduced Bill No. 250148 authorizing the use of speed cameras and speed enforcement systems in school zones.
Councilmember Cindy Bass introduced Bill No. 250152 & Bill No. 250151 aimed at nuisance businesses which would require businesses that sell tobacco to post signage if they aren’t compliant with state and local laws.
Councilmember Jim Harrity introduced Resolution No. 250164 authorizing the Special Committee on Kensington to hold hearings on the implementation of art therapy to support individuals suffering from substance abuse and mental health challenges.
Councilmember Mark Squilla introduced Bill No. 250150 which would require entities selling scrap metal to acquire a license.
Councilmember Quetcy Lozada introduced Resolution No. 250160 authorizing the Committee of Streets and Services and Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold joint hearings to examine the underlying causes of sink holes in the Seventh Councilmanic District.
Reports from Committee
The 2026 transfer ordinance legislative package was favorably reported by the Appropriations Committee and received First Consideration with a suspension of the rules at Council’s voting session on Thursday, February 27. This legislation is expected to pass finally at next week’s Council voting session on Thursday, March 6.
NEXT WEEK’S MOVES
City Council’s meeting schedule.
The Committee on Streets & Services will meet on Monday, March 3, to examine Bill No. 240827, the city’s response to illegal dumping. Add it to your calendar.
The Joint Committees on Public Safety and Legislative Oversight will meet on Tuesday, March 4, to hold hearings examining actions necessary to significantly reduce the Philadelphia prison population in an effort to permanently close Philadelphia’s oldest and most inhumane prison facility, The Detention Center. Add it to your calendar.
The Committee on Public Health and Human Services will meet on Tuesday, March 4, to hold a hearing on the prevalence of vaping among children and the effectiveness of current enforcement efforts. Add it to your calendar.
The Committee on the Environment will meet on Wednesday, March 5, to evaluate progress on implementing the Philly Tree Plan, determine how to expedite progress, and consider what additional policies might promote the City’s sustainable greening goals. Add it to your calendar.
Other News
For the second year in a row, Philadelphia was named the “Best City for Street Art” by USA Today. Congratulations to our client, Mural Arts Philadelphia!
♟️COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Shapiro Administration
President Trump appointed Governor Josh Shapiro to the bipartisan Council of Governors. The Council is tasked with strengthening intergovernmental relationships on key issues such as national security and disaster relief.
On Monday, Governor Shapiro announced that the $2.1 billion federal dollars allocated to Pennsylvania has been unfrozen. This decision comes after he filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for an “illegal” freeze on all federal funds.
Education advocates joined state Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday to call on Congressional leaders to protect funding that supports the United States Department of Education. Lawmakers criticized votes that would eliminate $2.8 billion for education in Pennsylvania and highlighted the negative impacts this would have on taxpayers.
📰 Updates from the Governor’s Newsroom
♟️PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The House and Senate Appropriations Committees continued their hearings this week on Governor Shapiro’s FY 2025-2026 budget. The following agencies participated in the hearings:
Department of Education
Department of Environmental Protection
Department of Aging
Department of Agriculture
Office of the Attorney General
Department of Community & Economic Development
Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
Next Week’s Moves
The House Democratic Policy Committee will hold an intergovernmental meeting with Philadelphia City Council on Wednesday, March 5 at 2 PM to discuss transportation and critical infrastructure that supports the Greater Philadelphia economy.
The General Assembly’s Appropriations hearings will conclude next week. The following agencies are on the schedule to testify:
Department of Corrections
PA Parole Board
Public Utility Commission
Department of Human Services
PA Emergency Management Agency
Office of Fire Commissioner
Department of Insurance and PENNIE
PA Treasury
Governor’s Budget Office/Executive Offices
Office of Auditor General
Follow the links below to view each chamber’s hearing schedule with state agencies.
The House of Representatives will reconvene for a legislative session on March 17. The House and Senate will be in session the week of March 24.