COUNCIL INTRODUCES BILLS TO END TRASH BURNING, ENFORCE PAPER BAG FEES, AND SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT’S HOUSE SITE

The second City Council session of the Fall term happened this week inside Philadelphia City Council Chambers.

No bills were approved this week by Council, however, 10 resolutions that were on the September 18 final passage calendar for consideration.

Bill #250373, introduced by Councilmember Rue Landau (At-Large), was up for final passage during the September 18 Council session, but was amended on the Council floor and will have a final passage vote during the September 25 session.

If approved, the bill will amend Chapter 9-3500 of Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards,” to amend definitions, add clarifications, and enhance remedies. 

The approved resolutions on the Sept 18 final passage calendar were as follows: Resolutions #250730, #250734, #250735, #250736, #250741, #250743 (nay vote from Councilmember Brian O’Neill, 10th District), #250749, #250750, #250752, #250755 and #250756.

Councilmembers also introduced more than a half of dozen bills during the session. Bill #250768 or “Stop Trashing Our Air Act,”  introduced by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3^rd District) prohibits the City of Philadelphia from contracting with companies that incinerate the city’s solid waste or recyclables.

According to Gauthier’s office, 37% of Philadelphia’s trash is burned, and nearly one-third of materials incinerated at the Reworld (Covanta) trash incinerator in Chester, Pa., comes from Philadelphia. This incinerator alone burns 3,500 tons of trash and industrial waste daily. Over 2,400 tons of scrap tires that are “recycled” in Philadelphia also get incinerated in Chester annually. The City of Philadelphia’s current waste disposal contracts expire at the end of the fiscal year.

Bill #250773, introduced by Councilmember Mark Squilla (1^st District), would charge shoppers a fee of 15 cent per bag for paper bags in grocery stores and other places. The bill is meant to encourage people to bring their own reusable bags when shopping.

Bill #250774, introduced by Councilmember Nina Ahmad (At-Large), would require landlords to provide tenants with voter registration information.

The following are other bills introduced and referred to by the appropriate committee on September 18: #250767, #250769, #250770, #250771, and #250772.

Council also approved the following 10 resolutions that were both introduced and approved on September 18: #250775, #250776, #250778, #250781, #250782, #250783, #250784, #250786, #250787, #250789, #250790 and #250792.

Minority Leader Councilmember Kendra Brooks (At-Large) introduced Resolution #250788 that would condemn the President Donald Trump Administration’s deployment of the National Guard to American cities and calling on leaders across the country to defend democratic governance and civil liberties through every lawful means. The resolution could come up for a final vote during the September 25 Council session. 

Majority Leader Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson (At-Large) introduced Resolution #250776, on behalf of Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2^nd District), that condemns President Donald Trump’s recent efforts to whitewash, suppress, and rewrite American history by removing slavery-related content from national parks – including an exhibit at Independence National Historical Park honoring the nine individuals enslaved by President George Washington, developed by the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition – thereby attempting to erase Black history from the national narrative. This resolution will also come up for final passage during the September 25 Council session.

A group of citizens came to Council chambers to urge Rebuild Philadelphia and the City’s Recreation Department to start building a new Carousel House, the city’s shuttered recreation center for people with disabilities, is located at Avenue of the Republic and Belmont Avenue and has been closed since June 2021.

During the Council session, Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. (4^th District), whose district includes Carousel House, said $12 million was committed to rebuild the facility under former Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration, but the cost is now up to more than $40 million due to inflation. Jones pledged that Carousel House will be rebuilt. Construction work is expected to be bid out in summer 2026 and the project is expected to be completed in summer 2028.

For a link to all the bills and resolutions approved on September 18, visit to City Council’s Legislative Information Center. The site provides quick and easy public access to information concerning Philadelphia City Council bills and resolutions.

COUNCILMEMBERS RUE LANDAU AND KENDRA BROOKS HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE WITH PROVIDERS AND ADVOCATES TO CALL ON CITY TO UPHOLD REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM

Minority Leader Kendra Brooks and Councilmember Rue Landau, both At-Large, held a press conference in City Hall on September 18^th to discuss the impact of recent cuts to reproductive healthcare organizations and to announce City Council hearings on the state of reproductive healthcare in Philadelphia.

Brooks says funding cuts by both the President Donald Trump administration and the City are making it more difficult for Philadelphians to access reproductive healthcare.

The Councilmember introduced and had approved Resolution #250789 that authorizes Council’s Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold a hearing on the impact of these cuts on patients, providers, and public health in Philadelphia.

Brooks launched the Reproductive Freedom Task Force in the fall of 2024 to respond to emerging threats to Philadelphians’ reproductive rights. The Task Force consists of providers, advocates, elected officials, and leaders of City departments. Members of the Task Force shared updates on their first year of work during the press conference and called on City leaders to restore and expand funding for reproductive healthcare.

CITY COUNCIL HELD A COMMITTEE HEARING THIS WEEK

City Council’s Special Committee on Kensington held a public hearing on September 16^th   to examine how chronic trauma from exposure to the opioid crisis impacts children’s emotional, mental, and behavioral health in Kensington and to explore tools, services, and programs to support these youth.

The hearing featured gripping testimony from children that attend schools in Kensington that described the conditions they see every day going to and from school. Council also heard testimony from mental health organizations, and officials from the School District of Philadelphia and the City of Philadelphia’s The Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services.

As of this moment, the next Council committee hearing will be the Committee on Public Health and Human Services on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 1 p.m. The committee will hear testimony on Resolution #250362 which looks at the policies of the Philadelphia Department Human Services regarding child welfare protections.

PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL KICKS OFF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH WITH ART DISPLAY IN COUNCIL HALLWAYS

Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2^nd District) and Councilmember Quetcy Lozada (7th District) partnered with Creative Philadelphia’s Art in City Hall program to host an evening of art, culture, and community this week in the Council Caucus Room. Also attending the celebration was At-Large Councilmembers Jim Harrity, Nina Ahmad and Rue Landau.

From 215 Con Mucho, Mucho Amor is an art exhibition that includes a mix of mediums including painting, photography, jewelry, ceramic, digital art, and papier-mâché sculpture that reflects the complexity and beauty of what it means to live in Philadelphia as a member of the Hispanic community.

In addition to the 27 featured artists, this year’s exhibition introduces student artwork from two community programs – Visions of Home, a program from Esperanza Academy Charter School wherein participating 27 students explore the meaning of home through individual works and a collaborative group project incorporating the mediums of collage and cyanotype printing; while the Norris Square Neighborhood Project summer youth program features the work of 11 students.

Their display entitled: Young Voices Unmasked, celebrates the tradition and practice of making vigilante spirit masks and costumes, a symbol of Puerto Rican identity and resistance.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, held annually September 15 through October 15, Creative Philadelphia, in partnership with Philadelphia City Council, issued a Call for Art to Philadelphia’s Latino community to submit artwork for a special Art In City Hall juried exhibition.

From 215 Con Mucho, Mucho Amor asked artists to explore the complex meaning of “home.” The exhibition was curated by local artists Gerard Silva, Exhibitions Manager, Fleisher Art Memorial and Council’s Creative Services Director Khara García, with assistance from Tu Huynh, Creative Philadelphia’s curator of exhibitions and program.

The featured artists are as follows: Jessica Barrera Castro, Alberto Becerra, Margery Cedano, Kiara Cruz, Joaquina Cuba, David Enriguez, Linda Fernandez, Pedro Fuller, Kiara Garcia, Gilberto Gonzalez, Johnny Irizarry, Cindy Lozito, Eric Cesar Morales, Ziania Narvaez-Garcia, Sonia Nazario, Emily Nolasco-Barrientos, Selene Nunez-Cruz, Genesis Perez, Alex Rivera, Amber Rivera, Melanys Santos, Jose Sebourne, Kristal Sotomayor, Jacqueline Unanue, Vanessa Vega, Ayiana Viviana and Franchesca Williams.

The artwork is on display in City Hall during normal business hours along Council’s Fourth Floor hallway and in the Creative Philadelphia’s Art Gallery at Room 116, First floor, City Hall.  

FORMER CITY COUNCIL MAJORITY LEADER MARIAN B. TASCO RECEIVES A CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL MARKER

Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2^nd District) and Councilmembers Anthony Phillips (9^th District), Brian O’Neill (10^th District), Nina Ahmad (At-Large) and Katherine Gilmore Richardson (At-Large) plus former Councilmembers Derek Green and Maria Quiñones Sánchez traveled to Northwest Philadelphia recently for the unveiling of a City of Philadelphia historical marker honoring the life and career of former Council Majority Leader Marian B. Tasco.

The marker is located outside of Tasco’s home in Mount Airy. 

She was born in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1937 and moved to Philadelphia in the 1950’s. Tasco became involved in city politics in the 1970s and was elected as one of three Philadelphia City Commissioners in 1983. She was first African-American commissioner.

Four years later, in 1987, Tasco was elected to the represent the 9^th District in Philadelphia City Council after incumbent Democratic Councilman John F. White Jr. resigned from the council earlier in the year to run for Mayor.

Tasco served in Council from January 1988 until the end of 2015, part of which as Council’s Majority leader and Majority whip. She retired from Council in January 2016 with over 50 years in public service. During her career, she also served as chair of the Philadelphia Gas Commission.

Tasco has helped prepare women to run for office and established the Black Women's Leadership Council in 1989. She is a co-founder of the Northwest Coalition, an alliance of African American politicians from Northwest Philadelphia.

COUNCILMEMBERS JOIN MAYOR CHERELLE L. PARKER, FORMER MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF THE PHILADELPHIA CYCLING CLASSIC

The Philadelphia Cycling Classic, once a crown jewel of the American and international pro cycling calendar and last run in the city in 2016, will return after a 10-year on August 30, 2026 with renewed energy, civic pride, new leadership, and an inspired vision to unite sport, culture, and community.

Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. (4^th District) and Councilmembers At-Large Gilmore Richardson and Ahmad joined Mayor Cherelle Parker and former mayor Michael Nutter during the announcement this week at Philadelphia City Hall. Much of the racecourse is in Jones’ Council District.

Nutter, who served as a 4^th District Councilmember from 1992-2006 and Philadelphia Mayor from 2008-2016, is part-owner of Race Street Partners, the group that owns the race and is leading the new organizing team.

Renowned for its challenging course, elite international field, and stunning urban backdrop, the Philadelphia Cycling Classic presented by AmeriGas will travel the original race route, spotlighting treasured Philadelphia landmarks, including the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Kelly Drive, the legendary Manayunk Wall, Strawberry Mansion, Lemon Hill, and Boathouse Row.

Both the pro women's and men's races will start and finish on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

The women's race will total about 62 miles on the 14.4-mile circuit with the men's race totaling about 120 miles.

The Philadelphia Cycling Classic is envisioned as a multi-day festival that supports neighborhoods, small businesses, schools, and civic engagement while creating opportunities for lasting economic and social impact throughout the city.

For more information, visit www.philadelphiacyclingclassic.com

COUNCILMEMBER JEFFERY YOUNG TO HOST DONALD “DUCKY” BIRTS CEREMONIAL STREET RENAMING ON SEPTEMBER 20

Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr. (5^th District) will honor the life of civil rights fighter and businessman Donald “Ducky” Birts with a ceremonial street renaming on Saturday, September 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Broad and Jefferson Streets in North Philadelphia.

Mr. Birts was born in Camden, New Jersey. In 1964, he opened a haberdashery called “Ducky’s Dashery” in Camden and, in 1968, he relocated to Philadelphia and met the late Reverend Dr. Leon Howard Sullivan, the Pastor of Zion Baptist Church in North Philadelphia.  Rev. Sullivan became a helping hand in his quest to establish “Ducky’s Dashery” at Progress Plaza, the first multimillion-dollar shopping center, built, developed, continuously owned, and managed by African-Americans in America.

Birts is a longtime member of the Philadelphia NAACP Branch; former Executive Committee Member; chaired the Political Action Committee; served as Vice President under the leadership and presidency of the late J. Whyatt Mondesire. With his wide experience in politics, he later served as Special Assistant to the late Philadelphia U.S. Congressman William H. Gray III.

Birts was the Project Director of the Wade Wilson Football Classic of Cheyney University from 1982 until 1997. During that time, more than 200 students received scholarships.

The 1300 block of Jefferson Street between Broad Street and 13th Street will also be known as “Donald ‘Ducky’ Birts Way”

COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON, PENNSYLVANIA STATE REPRESENTATIVE JORDAN HARRIS HOST POINT BREEZE NIGHT MARKET ON SEPTEMBER 24

The Point Breeze Night Market will be held on Wednesday, September 24th from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., taking place at Point Breeze Avenue and Reed Street in South Philadelphia. The event is hosted in partnership with Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2^nd District), Pennsylvania State Representative Jordan Harris (186^th State House District) and the Point Breeze Business Association.

With more than 30 vendors, live performances and more, the Point Breeze Night Market will be a celebration of community, culture, and great food.

For more information, contact Council President Johnson’s District Office at 215-686-3412.

NEXT COUNCIL SESSION IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

City Council’s next Stated Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 25 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time at Philadelphia City Council Chambers, Room 400 (Fourth Floor), Philadelphia City Hall.

The public can watch City Council sessions live in Philadelphia on Xfinity Channel 64, Fios Channel 40, streamed live at PHLCouncil.com/watch or heard on WURD Radio (900 AM/96.1FM) from 10a.m.-1 p.m.



Note: Thank you to the Philadelphia Cycling Classic, Mayor’s Office of Communications, and the offices of Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Jeffery Young, Jr. for contributing information to this edition of the Weekly Report.