Broad Street Brief: $5.2 Billion City Budget Goes Into Effect, Councilmembers Gauthier And Qui'ones S'nchez Target Gentrification With Mixed Housing Bill

• Published date: 09 July 2021
• Subject Matter: Government, Public Sector, Real Estate and Construction, Government Contracts, Procurement & PPP, Real Estate, Landlord & Tenant - Leases
• Law Firm: Cozen O'Connor
• Author: Ms Beth A. Brennan, Joseph Hill and Brianna A. Westbrooks

CITY HALL

$5.2 Billion City Budget Goes into Effect

Philadelphia's latest budget goes into effect today, containing $5.2 billion in spending and a host of programs designed to curb Philadelphia's increasing gun violence rates. Over $200 million is directed towards anti-violence programming and community support. Additionally, with federal support and policymaking, the $400 million budget deficit predicted at the beginning of the pandemic has been filled. For more, please see our Public Strategies policy alert.

Councilmembers Gauthier and Qui'ones S'nchez Target Gentrification with Mixed Housing Bill

Certain tracts in the 3^rd and 7^th Council Districts are targets of a new bill aiming to stem gentrification by requiring developers building 10-or-more-unit construction projects to build or fund at least 20 percent of those units as affordable housing (10 percent of those units could be off-site or satisfied with an equivalent donation to the city's Housing Trust Fund.) For more, please see our Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies policy alert.

Mayor and City Council to Appoint Tax Reform Group

Mayor Kenney and Council President Clarke announced that they will create and appoint members to a working group to evaluate and make recommendations to change the city's tax structure. City leaders say the group will determine how to ensure an "equitable, inclusive economic recovery" for Philadelphia. Please see the press release for more.

Councilmember Johnson's Airport Worker Wage Bill Passes Council

Last week, City Council approved a bill that would provide roughly $15-per-hour wages, health benefits, and paid sick leave to certain workers at Philadelphia International Airport. Implementation of the new benefits, however, will be staggered over the course of the next several years, with some restaurant and retail workers set to receive full benefits in 2023.

Curfew and Career Pathway Bills Pass Council

New curfew laws for minors and a career pathway transparency bill for minors passed City Council. The new curfew law simplifies requirements and is less punitive. The career pathway law requires employers to provide employees with listings for "job training and...