Broad Street Brief: Parker-Johnson Partnership Modeled After Rendell-Street

City Hall

Mayor Parker, Council President Johnson Reviving 90s-Era Collaboration

Over the first year in their respective positions, Mayor Cherelle Parker and City Council President Kenyatta Johnson have intentionally worked to build a close partnership modeled after the 1990s alliance between then-Mayor Ed Rendell and then-Council President John Street to strengthen collaboration between the City’s executive and legislative branches.

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Financing for New Anti-Displacement Fund Remains Uncertain

Prior to the summer recess, the City Council passed legislation allowing for the creation of an anti-displacement fund to support tenants forced to move due to hazardous living conditions. However, the bill does not specify how this fund would be financed and its future may rely on the City allocating money from the broader $2 billion Housing Opportunities Made Easy (HOME) Initiative. The Council also passed a bill allowing renters in larger properties to pay security deposits in installments and capping rental application fees at $50.

City Grant Program Boosts Small Businesses

Philadelphia’s relatively unknown Business Lending Network Incentive Grant offers up to $35,000 to small, disadvantaged businesses and has helped more than 100 businesses grow and recover from setbacks.

Around Town

City Year Graduates 77 Volunteers Despite Major Federal Cuts

City Year Philadelphia celebrated the graduation of 77 AmeriCorps volunteers last week, even as the program faces uncertainty following a $3.75 million funding cut by the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency. Despite the challenges, many corps members plan to return, underscoring the program’s impact on students and its volunteers’ commitment.

Philadelphia Ranks Among Top 15 Global Startup Hubs in 2025

Philadelphia surged to number 13 in Startup Genome’s 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report, with a $76 billion ecosystem driven by strong life sciences, artificial intelligence, and robotics sectors; robust early-stage funding; and collaborative innovation efforts.

School Board Questions Charter School Performance Amid Budget Strains

Last week, the Philadelphia Board of Education reviewed 18 charter schools for renewal, approving 12 and postponing decisions on six due to poor academic performance. Board members expressed frustration over continued underperformance and rising charter-related costs as the district faces a projected $300 million deficit.

Bok-Inspired Creative Spaces Multiply Across Philadelphia

Inspired by the success of Lindsey Scannapieco’s Bok Building, developers across Philadelphia are launching similar projects to create affordable workspaces for artists, nonprofits, and small businesses. New ventures in South Broad Street, Germantown, and the Navy Yard aim to replicate Bok’s community-focused model, though each project faces unique financial and logistical challenges.

West Philly Housing Project Stalls Due to Community Confusion

An affordable housing project in West Philadelphia is delayed over community concerns about its primary purpose. Gaudenzia, the nonprofit substance use and treatment provider leading the project, has stated that the development would be open to anyone who meets the income eligibility requirements and not be limited to people in recovery. The project requires City Council legislation to release the necessary land in order to proceed.

Teachers, City Workers Authorize Strikes

AFSCME District Council 33, which represents more than 9,000 municipal workers, voted last week to authorize a strike as contract negotiations with the City concerning wages, job protections, and scheduling policies continue. The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers also voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike as their contract negotiations continue, marking the first such vote since 2001 and raising pressure ahead of the August 31 contract expiration.

Mawn Chef Wins Coveted James Beard Emerging Chef Award

Phila Lorn, chef and co-owner of South Philadelphia’s Mawn, won the 2025 James Beard Award for Emerging Chef, highlighting the growing acclaim for Philadelphia’s culinary scene and the impact of his Cambodian-inspired cuisine.

Suburban Spotlight

Volunteers Work to Preserve Kennett Square’s Underground Railroad Legacy

As Juneteenth approaches, volunteers in Kennett Square—once a key stop on the Underground Railroad—are working to preserve its abolitionist history through tours and plans to expand the Kennett Underground Railroad Center into a historic home once owned by a prominent Quaker abolitionist.

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