Philadelphia · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Philadelphia public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Child Welfare Commission charter amendment
An ordinance would send a charter amendment to voters in a special election to create a Philadelphia Child Welfare Commission — a new oversight body for how the city handles child welfare.
Fifth District Overlay zoning change
A zoning map change and overlay amendment for the area around Girard Avenue and Ridge Avenue would shape what can be built in that North Philadelphia/Art Museum-adjacent area.
Center City park land acquisition and Love Park concession
Council will consider acquiring parcels between Vine Street, Fairmount Avenue, 8th and 12th Streets for park use, and a multiyear food-and-beverage deal for the Love Park "Saucer" building.
H.O.M.E. housing plan oversight (Resolution 260934)
Both minority leader Kendra Brooks and majority leader Gilmore Richardson called for Finance Committee hearings on the nearly billion-dollar housing bond plan, amid reports that bond money isn't being spent.
School District meal quality
Students described moldy sandwiches, spoiled milk, and inedible lunches and urged the School District to overhaul meal quality. Council held the resolution but adopted a separate resolution authorizing joint hearings on district meal policies.
Land Bank property dispositions
Council approved dispositions of dozens of vacant properties across the 3rd, 4th, and (held) 5th Districts to move land back into productive use.
Incineration of Philadelphia's trash in Chester
An ordinance would bar companies hauling the city's trash, recycling, and compost from burning discarded material. It's an air-quality and environmental justice measure that could change how Philadelphia's waste is handled.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month and survivor services
A Public Safety Committee hearing was authorized to examine how the courts, Sheriff, DA, and police protect abuse victims — Ahmad linked it to the Keda Scott case.
Zero Fare Program and Transit Access Fund
Council adopted a resolution authorizing hearings on expanding student fare passes beyond the current 1.5-mile, weekday-only limits. Advocates said families pay more for transit than summer camp, and 30,000 students get no pass at all.
Unsheltered homelessness
Joint hearings will examine unsheltered homelessness in public spaces and whether city agencies are effectively connecting people to housing and services.
PGW residential shutoffs
Councilmember Jones flagged a nearly 30% spike in gas shutoffs and said he'll introduce a resolution next week examining whether to suspend PGW shutoffs, citing homelessness risk for seniors and working families.
Affordability crisis / We Make Philly agenda
Dozens of Power Interfaith and Transit Forward speakers urged Council to pass the We Make Philly agenda — a wealth tax, homestead exemption increase, and utility relief — citing doubled property taxes and rising costs.
Universal healthcare resolution (Senate Bill 1465)
Council formally asked the state legislature to pass a single-payer healthcare plan covering all Pennsylvanians. Supporters, including a healthcare union president and resident physicians, said over 300,000 Pennsylvanians risk losing Medicaid coverage; opponents warned about proposed payroll taxes of 2.5% on workers and 7.5% on employers.
Lower Northeast rodent infestation
Councilmember Phillips introduced a resolution declaring the Northeast's rat problem a public health emergency, citing research that 70% of regional rats now resist poison. He wants emergency enforcement, fines instead of 60-90 day cure periods, and a city blitz in Oxford Circle and Castle Gardens.
Tenant protections and proactive rental inspections
Tenants organized by the Citywide Tenant Union are withholding a mandatory $25 monthly 'resident benefits package' fee charged by New Age Realty, citing mold, elevator outages, and unfulfilled benefits. Council honored their organizing, and speakers urged citywide legislation against junk fees.
City response to sexual violence
Council authorized hearings on the City's response to sexual violence. Councilmember Ahmad cited 463 reported rapes so far in 2026, the unsolved Raymond Horsch-era disappearances, and an unaddressed spa assault, calling for better survivor support and prosecution.
Black Bottom recognition and reparations demands
Council officially recognized "Black Bottom" as the historic name of a West Philadelphia neighborhood demolished for University City development, displacing an estimated 15,000 Black residents. Speakers demanded reparations from the city, Penn, and Drexel, calling the displacement "stolen wealth."
Senior property-tax relief via digital ad tax
Councilmember Young introduced a resolution backing state legislation that would exempt long-term senior homeowners (75+) from school, county and municipal property taxes on their primary homes.
Nuisance businesses and Stop and Go enforcement
Gilmore Richardson introduced two new bills targeting illegal smoke shops: one holding commercial landlords accountable and one defining and licensing intoxicating substances like hemp products and kratom, with a 21-and-over sales limit.
Black labor legacy and temp worker protections
Bill 250990 makes it illegal to deny someone a job because they're a trafficking survivor. Advocates from the Salvation Army, Women Against Abuse and Delta Sigma Theta testified that stable work is the backbone of recovery. It passed unanimously.
Jail healthcare contractor oversight
Council recognized May as Mental Health Awareness Month; NAMI Philadelphia and Mental Health Partnerships urged sustained investment in community-based services and the peer specialist workforce.
Automatic license plate reader (Flock) surveillance
Council formally asked the state legislature to ban or tightly regulate Flock-style ALPR cameras. Supporters say the cameras help catch car thieves in a city seeing 40 thefts a day; opponents say they track everyone's movements and feed data to ICE and other agencies without consent.
Municipal Ballot Questions
Philly voters will face ballot questions in November 2026 that could amend the city charter and change how local government runs. The exact wording isn’t set yet, but your vote could directly shape city policy.
Water bill relief for defective meters
Council passed Gauthier's 'Just Water' package: residents can get bills reduced when the city's own meters fail, and more low-income households qualify for discounts and payment plans. Speakers described constituents hit with $8,000 back-bills after meter upgrades.
Police response to Pride festivities
Dozens of speakers described chaotic and aggressive police crowd control during the June 7 Pride celebration in the Gayborhood — batons, police horses, tasers and street closures. Council adopted a resolution authorizing hearings into the city's crowd-control tactics, and the Mayor has formed a committee to investigate.
Kratom and intoxicating substances regulation
Council passed Bill 260163 restricting sales of kratom and hemp-derived intoxicating products, 16-0. Roughly a dozen residents, including chronic pain patients and business owners, urged regulation rather than a ban, saying natural kratom saves lives and keeps people off harder drugs.