By James Williams, Editor

Mayor Parker addressed the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, City Council, state representatives, business and civic leaders, and members of her administration, reflecting on the past year’s accomplishments and outlining future plans.

She began by celebrating the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl victory, sharing the city’s excitement over their championship win. She then acknowledged the tragic Learjet crash in Northeast Philadelphia, which resulted in seven deaths and multiple injuries. She praised first responders for their dedication and assured the community that the city remains committed to supporting recovery efforts.

Emphasizing her “One Philly” vision, she spoke about the importance of unity in addressing city challenges, with a focus on making Philadelphia safer, cleaner, and greener while expanding economic opportunities. She highlighted significant improvements in public safety, noting that homicides have decreased by 37% and shootings by 36%. She credited the deployment of 200 new community policing officers and strengthened partnerships with anti-violence organizations. She reiterated her administration’s commitment to the “PIE” strategy—Prevention, Intervention, and Enforcement—which has been instrumental in reducing crime.

Mayor Parker also underscored her administration’s success in making the city cleaner and greener. She pointed to the creation of the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives and shared progress, including the cleaning of over 63,000 blocks, the towing of 4,717 abandoned vehicles, and the cleanup of 17,311 vacant lots. She announced a pilot program for twice-a-week trash collection that will expand citywide.

Economic opportunity and workforce development were central themes of her speech. She introduced the City College for Municipal Employment (CCME), which will train Philadelphians for government jobs, and emphasized investments in workforce training programs. She announced a $5 million Small Business Catalyst Fund designed to provide early-stage funding for businesses, particularly those in historically underserved areas.

Discussing business growth and economic competitiveness, she highlighted the impact of her PHL Open for Business Executive Order, which has streamlined processes and reduced bureaucratic hurdles for businesses. She credited the Mayor’s Business Roundtables for generating 27 pro-business policy recommendations and noted that Business Navigators have been resolving business concerns swiftly, with nearly three-quarters of cases resolved in less than two days.

On the topic of wages and tax reform, she reaffirmed her support for Governor Shapiro’s proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. She also acknowledged the importance of tax reform and pledged that her administration would carefully review recommendations from the Tax Reform Commission to create a more competitive economic environment.

Education was another focal point of her remarks. She announced that the city is providing nearly $250 million in additional funding for schools over the next five years. She celebrated the launch of expanded after-school programs in 25 schools, creating 7,000 new enrichment slots. She emphasized the importance of addressing teacher shortages and improving school facilities.

Mayor Parker also introduced her administration’s housing strategy, known as “Mission 30,000,” which aims to create, repair, or restore 30,000 housing units. She announced an upcoming executive order to streamline housing development and increase density while making housing more affordable. She committed city financial resources to support new housing production and preservation efforts.

As Philadelphia prepares for major events in 2026, including America’s 250th anniversary, the FIFA World Cup, and the MLB All-Star Game, she emphasized the city’s efforts to ensure proper infrastructure, marketing, and planning. She praised VISIT Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau for their leadership in attracting visitors and investment.

Regarding the development of the 76ers’ new arena, she acknowledged the shift in plans from Center City to South Philadelphia. She framed this as a win-win situation, ensuring both the revitalization of Market Street East and the continued investment in the city’s sports and entertainment sector. She also announced that Jerry Sweeney of Brandywine Trust will serve as a civic leader in the next steps of this project.

Addressing the ongoing crisis in Kensington, she reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to tackling open-air drug markets and homelessness. She highlighted the launch of Riverview Wellness Village, a key component of the city’s new Wellness Ecosystem, providing recovery housing and supportive services. She credited collaborations with healthcare leaders from institutions such as Penn, Jefferson, and Temple for making this initiative possible. She also pointed to the newly established Wellness Court in Kensington, which aims to provide an alternative approach to handling substance abuse and mental health crises.

Closing her speech, she reflected on the transformation taking place in Philadelphia. She quoted Maya Angelou, saying, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” She expressed confidence that residents can feel the change happening across the city, from improved public safety and cleanliness to expanded economic and educational opportunities. She reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to building on these successes and making Philadelphia a safer, cleaner, and greener city with economic opportunity for all.

The Town Crier is a Rapid Response news blog that is written by James Williams and created in collaboration with ChatGPT for research assistance and content editing.