Broad Street Brief: Market East Public Planning Process Kicks Off Next Week

City Hall

Market East Public Planning Process Kicks Off Next Week

Mayor Cherelle Parker’s (D) first meeting to revitalize East Market Street will be held next Monday at the Convention Center, with private property demolitions expected to move forward later this year and short-term activation ideas in the early stages.

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Council Passes Paper Bag Fee, Introduces HOME Initiative Budget Resolution

During Thursday’s meeting, the City Council passed legislation requiring retailers to charge 10 cents per paper bag by a 10-5 vote, though it remains unclear whether Mayor Parker will sign the bill. Resolutions approving the first-year Housing Opportunities Made Easy (HOME) Initiative budget and recognizing the Center for Black Educator Development and new Community College of Philadelphia President Alycia Marshall were also introduced.

Council Unlikely to Reevaluate, Repeal City Soda Tax

During a hearing of the Labor & Civil Service Committee this week, City Councilmember Jim Harrity (D-At Large) called for the reconsideration of Philadelphia’s sweetened beverage tax, citing job losses and declining revenue. Other City officials and advocates have defended the tax’s role in funding pre-K, community schools, and recreation center improvements, making it unlikely that the tax will be reevaluated or repealed.

City Officials Study Hoboken’s Traffic Safety Success

Philadelphia Council President Kenyatta Johnson (D-District 2) and other Council members, state representatives, and community leaders visited Hoboken to learn from its eight-year streak of zero traffic deaths, exploring how its Vision Zero strategies—like daylighting and community accountability—could inform safer street design in Philadelphia.

Upcoming Committee Hearings

The Philadelphia City Council holds several public hearings throughout the legislative calendar year, which can be streamed here.

• The Public Health & Human Services Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 5 at 10 a.m. to examine the impacts of the current crisis affecting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and SNAP-Ed programs in Philadelphia, including barriers to benefits, disruptions to nutrition education, and strategies for a coordinated city and community response.
• The Commerce & Economic Development Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 5 at 2 p.m. to discuss and hear testimony regarding proposed decorative lighting installations and the disposition policy for the Polish American Cultural Center Museum.

Around Town

Shutdown Strains Food Access for Philadelphians, Federal Workers

As the federal government shutdown continues, more than 472,000 SNAP recipients in Philadelphia face a potential loss of benefits. A new food pantry at the Philadelphia International Airport is supporting unpaid federal employees.

PHS Helps Light Up Nicetown-Tioga With Solar Streetlights

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) installed 13 solar-powered streetlights in Nicetown-Tioga as part of a pilot program to improve neighborhood safety, reduce illegal dumping, and lower reliance on the electric grid, while supporting broader community revitalization efforts.

Greyhound Terminal to Reopen on Filbert Street Under PPA Management

The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) plans to renovate and operate the former Greyhound bus terminal on Filbert Street under a 10-year lease, aiming to reopen by May 2026 with improved amenities and traffic routing.

Philly Employers Defend Remote Work Amid National Decline

Despite a drop in remote work citywide, leaders at firms like NBME, Marketri, and Octo Design Group say flexible setups boost productivity, employee satisfaction, and talent retention. These companies are adapting office spaces, setting clear expectations, and offering hybrid options to maintain work-life balance and support staff across the region.

Corporate Investors Reshape Philly Housing Market

One in four single-family homes sold in Philadelphia between 2017 and 2022 was purchased by corporate investors, often in communities of color, prompting concerns about displacement and barriers to homeownership. While some investors have renovated aging properties, others have increased evictions and made landlord accountability more difficult.

Preserving Philly’s Historic Buildings Boosts Affordability, Growth

A new study commissioned by the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia finds that maintaining older properties supports housing affordability, job creation, and population growth in Philadelphia, with historic districts showing higher density and investment despite ongoing debates over preservation regulations.

Wilkerson Wins National Urban Education Award During Philly Conference

Joyce Wilkerson, Philadelphia’s longest-serving school board member, was honored as 2025 Urban Educator of the Year by the Council of Great City Schools for her leadership and advocacy in public education.

Election Update

Billy Penn Publishes Guide to Philly’s 2025 General Election

Philadelphia voters head to the polls November 4 for judicial retention votes, local court races, and a high-profile rematch between incumbent District Attorney Larry Krasner (D) and Patrick Dugan (R). Mail ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day, and dropboxes are available for last-minute submissions.

Ex-Biden Aide Joins Race for PA-03

Pablo McConnie-Saad, a South Philadelphia native and former Treasury Department policy adviser in the Biden administration, has entered the Democratic primary to succeed U.S. Representative Dwight Evans (PA-03), emphasizing his policy experience and outsider perspective. He joins a competitive field of candidates that includes state lawmakers, physicians, and other first-time contenders.

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