Broad Street Brief: Mayor Parker Delivers First Budget Address

City Hall

Mayor Parker Proposes $6.29B “One Philly” Budget in First Annual Address

Mayor Cherelle Parker delivered her first budget address to City Council this morning. The $6.29 billion proposed spending plan — which does not include any new taxes or planned cuts to wage and business taxes  — focuses on public safety, clean and green initiatives, economic opportunity, housing, and education as top priorities.

Parker Administration Demonstrates Policy Departures from Previous Administration

Mayor Parker’s recent decisions to halt the construction of tiny homes in Northeast Philadelphia and not to allocate the City’s $180 million in opioid settlement funds to syringe exchange programs signify a significant departure from her predecessor’s policies.

City Council Confirms Inaugural Chief Public Safety Director, Advances Several Bills Before Budget Address

City Council confirmed Adam Geer as the City’s inaugural chief public safety director during this morning’s meeting, before Mayor Parker’s budget address. Geer will be responsible for coordinating cross-agency crime response. City Council also advanced bills to impose a curfew on certain businesses in Kensington and ban license plate flipping devices.

City Council Postpones Legislation to Mandate Data Collection on Overdose Reversals, Homeless Encampments

On Tuesday, City Council postponed legislation requiring the collection and sharing of data on homelessness and drug overdoses amid debate over the most effective ways to address the opioid crisis.

Valerie Gay Appointed Head of Arts, Culture

Valerie Gay was appointed Philadelphia’s head of arts and culture, a position which Mayor Parker is expected to elevate to the cabinet level. Gay is a graduate of both Temple University and University of the Arts, and has held several leadership positions at the Barnes Foundation.

Finalists for School Board Selected

Philadelphia’s Educational Nominating Panel unveiled the list of 27 finalists for the Board of the Philadelphia School District, including current members and city residents with diverse backgrounds. Mayor Parker is expected to name her board within the next 10 days.

Upcoming Committee Hearings

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

• A Commerce & Economic Development Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 20 at 9 a.m. will include testimony on legislation that would mandate that commercial tax preparers disclose fees and offer free alternatives to customers.

Around Town

Philadelphia Selected for Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities

Philadelphia was selected as one of 25 cities to participate in the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities initiative. The three-year, $200 million initiative is intended to help cities implement transformative solutions to address climate change and racial wealth inequity.

FOP Does Not Plan to Grant CPOC Investigative Power

Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) President Roosevelt Poplar does not plan to grant investigative power to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) — the police watchdog created in the wake of nationwide protests following the murder of George Floyd — potentially hindering its ability to independently probe police misconduct.

“Chinatown Stitch” Receives $159M Federal Grant

Philadelphia’s plan to cover the Vine Street Expressway and reconnect the divided Chinatown neighborhood received a significant boost this week with the announcement of a nearly $159 million federal grant.

Transportation Secretary Buttigieg Inspects Progress on MLK Bridge Construction

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited Philadelphia this week to inspect progress on the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Bridge rehabilitation, which is being funded by President Joe Biden’s 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

DoorDash Helps Deliver Food to Philadelphia-Area Seniors in Need

A partnership between DoorDash and Share Food Program helps make more than 1,000 free monthly food box deliveries twice a week to seniors in need in Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Chester Counties. The North Philadelphia pickup location is one of the company’s largest.

West Philadelphia Skills Initiative Receives Surprise $4M Grant

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott surprised the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative this week with a $4 million grant — the largest grant of its kind in the city’s history — allowing the organization to continue its workforce development efforts without strings attached.

Participation in Medicare Shared Savings Program Increases in Philadelphia Region

Participation in the Medicare Shared Savings Program, an initiative to coordinate care and reduce costs spurred by the 2010 Affordable Care Act, has seen a notable increase in the Philadelphia region in recent years. This is evident through the establishment of several Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) by healthcare organizations such as Tandigm Health, Doylestown Health, Penn Medicine, and Aledade.

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