Broad Street Brief: Arena Hearings Continue

November 21, 2024

Editor’s note: The Broad Street Brief will be taking a break next week for Thanksgiving. Regular updates will resume on Thursday, December 5.

CITY HALL

Center City, South Philly to Receive Twice-Weekly Trash Collection

In December, Philadelphia will begin trash pickups twice a week in Center City and South Philadelphia as part of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s “clean and green” effort to combat litter and illegal dumping.

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250th Celebration Expected to Cost $100M, Generate $1B Tourism Boost

City officials estimate that events for America’s 250th birthday celebration in 2026 will cost approximately $100 million, with the potential for a billion-dollar return in tourism revenue.

Arena Legislation Hearings Update

This week, the City Council heard from SEPTA about the projected cost for expanding transit service to support the proposed Center City Sixers arena. Representatives from Chinatown, Washington Square West, Philadelphia’s local building trades, and many others also provided their input on the $1.55 billion project.

The full schedule of arena legislation hearings and a link to watch them can be found here. The following hearings are coming up next two weeks:

  • Arena Legislation Hearing (Tuesday, November 26 at 10 a.m.)
  • Public Testimony (Tuesday, November 26 at 1:30 p.m.)
  • Public Testimony (Monday, December 2 at 6 p.m.)
  • Arena Legislation Hearing (Tuesday, December 3 at 10 a.m.)
  • Arena Legislation Hearing (Tuesday, December 3 at 1:30 p.m.)

Upcoming Committee Hearings

Philadelphia City Council holds several public hearings throughout the legislative calendar year. Watch here.

  • The Public Property & Public Works Committee will meet on Friday, November 22 at 10 a.m. to discuss and hear testimony regarding several ordinances authorizing the City to lease, sublease, acquire, or transfer various properties for municipal use, public services, and development purposes.
  • The Joint Committees on Public Safety and Public Health & Human Services will meet on Friday, November 22 at 11:30 a.m. to discuss and hear testimony regarding the effectiveness and potential expansion of mobile mental health units administered by the Department of Behavioral Health & Intellectual Disability Services.
  • The Streets & Services Committee will meet on Monday, November 25 at 10 a.m. to discuss and hear testimony regarding proposed revisions to street layouts and property boundaries and updates to the traffic code including smart loading zones, camera enforcement for parking violations, revised stolen vehicle procedures, and towing regulations.
  • The Public Health & Human Services Committee will meet on Monday, November 25 at 1 p.m. to discuss and hear testimony regarding proposed updates to how leave benefits are managed during pandemics or epidemics.
  • The Rules Committee will meet on Wednesday, December 4 at 1 p.m. to discuss and hear testimony regarding several zoning ordinances.

Around Town

School District Seeks Community Input for Facilities Plan

The Philadelphia School District is forming advisory groups of parents, teachers, and community members to shape its facilities master plan that could lead to school closures, consolidations, and new construction. Public listening sessions are ongoing, and volunteers will provide feedback on draft recommendations to address the district’s aging infrastructure and unmet facility needs.

SEPTA Reaches Deal With TWU, Avoiding Strike

SEPTA secured an agreement with its largest union, the Transit Workers Union (TWU), successfully avoiding a strike and ensuring continued transit service by providing workers a raise and improved safety measures.

City Awarded $1.75M for 2026 MLB All-Star Game

Philadelphia is set to receive $1.75 million from Pennsylvania’s Sports Marketing & Tourism Program to support the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park. This funding is part of a $5 million statewide grant to boost the economy through major sporting events, expected to generate $240.2 million in impact.

Philadelphia Launches Flood Alerts for Eastwick Neighborhood

Philadelphia launched a new flood alert system for the Eastwick neighborhood as part of its ReadyPhiladelphia program. The system provides neighborhood-specific warnings to help residents prepare for flooding, using forecasts and historical data to track potential risks from nearby creeks.

Authors

About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.

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