Broad Street Brief: May 28, 2026

City Hall

Mayor Parker Revises Tax Plan, Proposes 6% Hike on Short-Term Rentals

Mayor Cherelle Parker has introduced a revised tax plan that would raise short-term rental taxes by 6% — from 15.5% to 21.5 % — while reducing her proposed hotel-tax increase to 0.6%, bringing it to 16.1%. The changes are aimed at generating $15 million annually for homelessness services, including shelter beds and behavioral health programs. The proposal, which would require approval from both City Council and the state legislature, comes after concerns that Parker’s original 2% hotel-tax hike was too steep for the hospitality sector. Airbnb has urged the Council to reject the plan, calling it unfair to homeowners who rent out their properties.

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Kratom, Hemp Advocates Push Back on Proposed Smoke‑Shop Regulations

Philadelphia City Council heard objections from kratom and hemp industry advocates during debate over two bills that would tighten oversight of smoke shops. The proposals, led by Councilmembers Gilmore Richardson and Gauthier, would classify certain hemp‑derived THC products and kratom as “intoxicating substances,” require a special license to sell them, mandate product testing, and limit sales to people over 21. Advocates argued the measures could restrict access to natural products and harm small businesses, while supporters said the regulations are needed to address safety and quality‑of‑life concerns around unregulated sales. Both bills advanced for a first reading.

Council Seeks Expansion of Fair Housing Commission Staffing

Philadelphia City Council is proposing a budget increase that would double staffing at the Fair Housing Commission, adding three investigators and a deputy director to help the agency manage a rising caseload and new renter‑protection laws. Councilmember Landau, who previously oversaw the commission, said the expansion is needed to reduce delays and prepare more cases for hearings as the commission is expected to process more than 700 cases next fiscal year. Councilmember O’Rourke argued that increased capacity is essential as recent legislation expands “good cause” protections, adjusts security‑deposit rules, and limits application fees, bringing more tenants under the commission’s authority.

Six Philly Principals Urge Council to Approve Parker’s Ride‑Hailing Tax

Six Philadelphia school principals, backed by Teamsters Local 502, urged City Council to pass Mayor Parker’s proposed $1‑per‑ride Uber and Lyft tax, saying the revenue — estimated at about $48 million annually — is needed to help close the district’s $300 million deficit and prevent the loss of up to 340 school‑based positions. As Uber and Lyft continue to oppose the tax, principals highlighted how the cuts would significantly reduce staffing at their schools at a news conference at Potter‑Thomas Elementary. Some council members, including Isaiah Thomas, are still weighing potential unintended impacts.

Activists Arrested at City Hall Amid Push to Influence Philly Budget

Two Sunrise Movement activists were arrested at City Hall after attempting to meet with Mayor Parker as part of a hunger‑strike campaign, urging the city to add $400 million for housing, schools, transit, libraries, recreation centers, renewable energy, and food assistance in the upcoming budget. One activist has been on hunger strike since May 21, while another shifted to direct action and was detained for obstructing employees, according to the mayor’s office. Councilmember Jamie Gauthier shared her support for the activists’ housing‑related demands.

Around Town

Philadelphia School Board Set to Approve $4.6B Budget with Classroom Cuts

The Philadelphia school board is expected to approve a $4.6 billion budget that includes about $50 million in classroom cuts and $169 million in central-office reductions, as the district faces a $300 million deficit following the loss of federal COVID relief funds. The plan would eliminate 148 teaching positions and 117 climate staff positions. Mayor Parker’s proposed $1‑per‑ride Uber and Lyft tax could restore the cuts, though the measure faces City Council opposition.

Philadelphia Hotel Workers Set Strike Deadline Ahead of FIFA World Cup

Hotel workers represented by Unite Here Local 274 say they will strike beginning June 12, if remaining Philadelphia hotels without new contracts do not reach agreements, a move that could affect accommodations for the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected during the FIFA World Cup. The union, which has already secured wage increases from $19 to $30 an hour at several Center City hotels after past strikes, is seeking similar terms at properties still without contracts. Workers are demanding $30‑per‑hour wages for all non‑tipped positions by 2028, reduced room‑cleaning quotas, pension increases, affordable family health insurance, and protections for immigrant workers and against guest harassment.

Slavery History Erasure Fight to Continue in Federal Court

Philadelphia and federal attorneys will argue before the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on June 2 over the National Park Service’s removal of slavery‑history panels from the President’s House Memorial, which a judge previously ordered to be restored under a 2010 agreement with the city. The case has drawn national attention, including the site’s placement on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2026 endangered places list. While  70% of the panels have been reinstalled, local groups such as the Ona Judge Coalition and Avenging the Ancestors Coalition are seeking to intervene, arguing the memorial’s depiction of enslaved people must be protected.

Opposition Builds Against School District’s Fare Evasion Program

Education advocates and community groups are pushing back against the School District of Philadelphia’s revised SEPTA student fare compliance initiative, arguing it could criminalize students, while officials say the goal is to reduce revenue losses tied to unswiped student fare cards. The district also notes that consistent card‑swiping is required for SEPTA to receive state reimbursements, and its compliance effort is intended to support that process. The plan includes a diversion program that replaces most citations with school‑based interventions, but critics say enforcement will still fall hardest on low‑income, Black, and Latino students and urge the district to expand transit access instead of relying on penalties. Superintendent Tony Watlington said the effort is part of broader systemwide enforcement, while Councilmember Landau has called for a hearing on universal student fares, arguing the city should focus on helping young people reach school, jobs, and activities without fear of punishment.

Krasner Calls on Bob Brady to Step Down as Party Chair

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner publicly urged longtime Democratic City Committee chair Bob Brady to resign, saying the party needs leadership that embraces its progressive future. The call came days after State Representative Chris Rabb — a democratic socialist — won the Democratic nomination in the third congressional district, despite Brady and party leaders supporting his opponents. Brady, who has led the party since 1986 and plans to seek another term, declined to comment.

Hiring Season Unfolds as Philly Schools Face Cuts & Closures

Philadelphia’s school budget uncertainty has led to a slowed school-hiring process, 17 planned school closures, and the potential loss of more than 300 school‑based positions—leaving candidates and principals reporting delays, limited communication, and stalled approvals. Internal transfers are being prioritized in subjects where openings are fewer than the number of displaced staff, and some principals say they were told to pause external hiring even after selecting candidates. With Superintendent Tony Watlington ordering $50 million in cuts, unless City Council approves a rideshare tax, many educators say they still do not know where they will work next year.

Pew Charitable Trusts Awards $2.5M for Workforce & Neighborhood Initiatives

Pew Charitable Trusts has awarded $2.5 million in grants to support life‑sciences workforce development and neighborhood improvement efforts in Philadelphia. The Skills Initiative will receive $1.5 million over three years to help build a regional workforce hub, connecting 11 life‑sciences employers with seven training providers. North10 Philadelphia will receive $1 million over four years to expand the Broad‑Germantown‑Erie Collaborative, supporting community‑development work in Hunting Park and East Tioga. Pew emphasized how the grants align with its broader effort to improve economic mobility in a region that ranks last among the nation’s 50 largest metro areas.

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