Broad Street Brief: Mayor-Elect Parker Begins Assembling Roundtables

City Hall

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies’ Joe Hill, Brianna Westbrooks Named to Parker Transition Team

Philadelphia Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies’ Managing Director Joe Hill and Government Affairs Associate Brianna Westbrooks have been appointed to the Philadelphia Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker’s transition team. Joe will serve on the Commerce & Economic Development subcommittee, and Brianna will serve on the Housing, Planning & Development subcommittee. View the full transition team here.

Mayor-Elect Parker Begins Assembling Intergovernmental Roundtable

Mayor-elect Parker is assembling a first-of-its-kind Intergovernmental Roundtable composed of three dozen elected officials and stakeholders at the local, state, and federal levels. The goal of the group is to devise strategies to address some of the City’s toughest challenges.

Kenney Reflects on Time as Mayor

With mere weeks left in his final term, Mayor Jim Kenney sat down with the Philadelphia Inquirer and WHYY to reflect on his time in office and his legacy. His first term was defined by the success of the sweetened beverage tax to fund K-12 education and repairs to recreation centers and libraries, while his second term was largely dominated by unprecedented challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, racial unrest, and a surge in gun violence.

City Council Advances Legislation to Amend Existing Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban

On Wednesday, City Council’s Committee on Licenses & Inspections advanced legislation that would amend the city’s existing ban on single-use plastic bags, which would establish a minimum fee for the provision of bags to customers and clarify definitions in the original bill.

City Expands Right to Counsel Program to 19132

Philadelphia’s Right to Counsel program, which provides eligible renters with legal help when facing eviction, has been expanded to 19132 in North Philadelphia, now the fifth ZIP code where the program will be offered.

City Council Fishtown Food Truck Ban Vote Delayed

A vote on a proposed food truck ban at Girard and Frankford Avenues in Fishtown has been delayed until later this month.

Upcoming Committee Hearings

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

• The Committee on People with Disabilities and Special Needs will hold a public hearing on Monday, December 11 at 1 p.m.
• The Committee on Commerce & Economic Development will discuss strategies to ignite business and job growth in Philadelphia and the City’s capacity to prepare individuals of all educational backgrounds for careers in the growing life sciences industry on Tuesday, December 12 at 1 p.m.
• The Committee of the Whole will discuss the administration, management, operations, and finances of the School District of Philadelphia as well as coordinating plans for improvements, and appointments to the Board of Ethics and Center City District Board of Directors on Tuesday, December 12 at 3 p.m.

Around Town

Philadelphia Leaders Announce Renewed Focus on Shoplifters, Retail Theft

Following the fatal stabbing of a security guard in the Center City Macy’s, District Attorney Larry Krasner was joined by several state and local officials and SEPTA and Philadelphia police to announce a renewed focus on shoplifting and retail thefts. Though rates have been high in recent years, 2023 has seen a decline in violent crime.

NIH Grant Awarded to Temple Health Trauma Surgeon for Media, Gun Violence Research

Trauma surgeon Dr. Jessica Beard of Temple Health has been awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to study media coverage of gun violence, focusing on its impact in communities of color.

Safehouse Continues Fight to Open Safe Consumption Site in Philadelphia

On Monday, Nonprofit Safehouse continued to argue in favor of supervised consumption sites  at the federal level, this time saying that their right to operate such a site constitutes religious freedom under the First Amendment. Earlier this year, Philadelphia City Council passed a near blanket ban of supervised consumption sites.

Former Philadelphia Deputy Mayor, Transportation Expert Passes Away

Former Philadelphia Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Utilities Rina Cutler passed away last week at the age of 70. She served as Parking Authority director under Mayor Ed Rendell and deputy mayor under Mayor Michael Nutter.

Suburban Spotlight

Central Bucks School Board Authorizes Legal Challenge of Former Superintendent’s $700,000 Payout, Rolls Back Library Book Restrictions

On Monday, the newly Democratic-controlled Central Bucks school board authorized a legal challenge to a $700,000 payout to the former superintendent. The board also rolled back several controversial policies restricting library books.

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