City Hall
Property Reassessments to Raise Homeowners’ Tax Bills $330
Though Mayor Cherelle Parker and City Council left the real estate tax rate unchanged this year, Philadelphia homeowners can expect to see property taxes increase by $330 on average this year as the Parker Administration gears up for a citywide reassessment. Tax bills are due on March 31, 2025, and the deadline to file an appeal with the Board of Revision of Taxes is October 7.
Philadelphia Public Pools Offer Sensory-Friendly Swim Times
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation plans to offer sensory-friendly hours for people with autism and neurodivergence at eight public pools across the city. In an allotted time frame, pools will enforce stricter limits on crows and noise to limit disruptions.
City Council Committee Hearings
Philadelphia City Council holds several public hearings throughout the legislative calendar year. Watch here.
· The Education Committee met Thursday, August 8 at 10 a.m. examining the sudden closing of the University of the Arts and its impact on the Philadelphia higher education system, students, and staff.
Election Update
Harris-Walz Ticket Debuts in Philadelphia
Mere hours after Vice President Kamala Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate on Tuesday, they both took the stage at Temple University’s Liacouras Center in the first of several scheduled battleground-state rallies, emphasizing a message of unity. Several city, state, and federal officials also addressed the crowd, including Mayor Parker, U.S. Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who was widely considered a contender for the Harris ticket. Meanwhile in South Philadelphia, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance took the podium at a rally for former President Donald Trump.
Around Town
PPA Announces Overhaul of Residential Parking Permit Policy
The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) announced plans to double the yearly residential parking permit cost to $75 and cap the number of permits per household at three. The PPA will initiate the changes on September 1, in the hopes of mitigating curbside congestion.
Recent Apartment Glut Making Developers Anxious
A surge in multifamily construction is prompting fears of a potential rental surplus among Philadelphia developers and landlords. With competition skyrocketing, landlords have found creative incentives to attract tenants, leading to a phenomenon in which “concession surfers” seek to repeatedly reap benefits offered in hyper-competitive neighborhoods.
Barnes, St. Joe's Teaming Up to Offer Museum Education Graduate Degree
The Barnes Foundation and St. Joseph’s University are launching an online graduate degree program in museum education, combining the museum's expertise with the university's resources, marking their first major collaboration since 2018.
RAM Coming to Philadelphia
Remote Area Medical (RAM) will open its free pop-up medical, dental, and vision clinic in Philadelphia on August 24. The clinic will offer medical exams, eye glasses, and teeth cleanings to walk-in patients at no cost.
Suburban Spotlight
Delaware County Seeks to Uplift Chester Pike Businesses
Delaware County boroughs have requested a Keystone Communities main street designation for Chester Pike to boost business and development opportunities along the multi-municipality thoroughfare. An economic development agency has invested $25,000 along with an equivalent state grant to devise a five-year revamp strategy.
$2M in Federal Funds Allocated to Bucks County Community College
Bucks County Community College received a $2 million federal investment to bridge student networks with 170 businesses all aimed at reducing carbon footprint. The institution plans to use the federal capital to fund manufacturing apprenticeships and education in clean energy HVAC technology.