We cleaned over 67,000 city streets and neighborhood corridors, 67,187 to be precise. We towed 11,617 abandoned cars and vehicles. Thank you to the Philadelphia Police Department, Parking Authority and Clean and Green. We also cleaned 17,319 vacant lots. Thank you CLIP and thank you PA Horticultural Society. This is intergovernmental collaboration at its best and we are proud. The next issue that I'm going to talk with you about is one that you all know is near and dear to my heart. That's PHLTCB. We promised we'd fund PHL taking care of business, a community based cleaning program that creates economic opportunity at the same time. How did we do? TCB employees 324 workers and we're supporting 39 community based organizations that are cleaning up 155 commercial corridors. By the end of March TCB will add new organizations and more workers to clean 39 more areas across Philadelphia. Now, we'll turn to education. We promised that we would invest in year-around schooling to give our children the same opportunities as children in the suburbs. And guess what, we now want to measure how we did in this effort. We opened 25 extended day and extended year pre and after school promise, traditional public and charter schools offering over 7,000 new slots for educational enrichment, and that's progress. That is progress. We increased the portion of the real estate tax going to school districts to provide an additional $125-million over five years. We also added 125-million over five years for schools going through our property revaluation process. These added funding streams for schools are in addition to the $280-million contribution that we make each year to the School District through the budget process. Now, I want you all to do the math. I want you to do the math. And this is important especially for our state leaders who are present, I think Chairman Hughes and Harris are here. 4 billion in contributions over the next five years, in addition to the $250-million in new support. We see and hear you, Dr. Watlington. And, folks, this is just a snapshot of what we've been able to get accomplished. You can clap for that. That's important. Thank you. I also want to note that we are never satisfied in this administration and note that we is a lot more work to do, but we made progress. And in our first year City Council has been a full partner in that process, Mr. President. We actually did a whole lot more, but we want to get to this budget and our plans for FY 2026. But quickly, before we do that, know that you can go to our brand new data tracking website, Philly Stat 360, and look at that time wide range of city programs and see for yourself how we're doing. Councilmember Landau, you know like I do, that solid data and transparency are essential for making good decisions and everything that we do. Philadelphia, if you haven't gotten a closeup look, go to our new Philly Stat 360 dashboard and see it for yourself. Kristin Bray and Melissa Scott, I see you both. And let me say one more thing before we dive into fiscal year 2026 and my proposed budget. And this -- this is important that I as the Mayor share this with the city. I know there is uncertainty in the air right now. People don't know what to expect from their government and uncertainty can breed fear. I want to people of Philadelphia and our city employees to hear me. Your city is here to keep you safe and to safe guard your basic rights. Our diversity is what makes us One Philly, a united city, and we will never compromise that. ) Let us start with the state of the city's fiscal health. The state of the city's fiscal health remains strong. We continue to make contributions to the budget stabilization fund.
It will have $280-million by the end of the proposed five-year plan. That fund will be especially important as we face economic and federal policies uncertainties moving forward. I want to thank you, Katherine Gilmore-Richardson for your strong leadership on this issue. The trajectory of the City's Pension Fund continues to move in the right direction. We've now reached a 65 percent funding level the highest in decades. That's an increase of more than 20 percentage points in just eight years. And it's due to reach 80 percent in FY '29, and 100 percent by FY '33. That was a key factor, you know, that led S&P global ratings to upgrade the city of Philadelphia to its highest combined credit rating in decades. Finance Director, Rob Dubow; Deputy City Treasurer, Matt Bowman, and all of the dedicated finance employees, take a bow and thank you very much for your service. I also want to thank you the members and staff of the Pension Board, our Municipal Unions, City Council and our Philadelphia delegation to the general assembly. Everybody has played a role in the stabilization of our pension fund and enormous fiscal consequences for our city. We all know that higher credit ratings are a key factor in determining the interest rate the city pays to borrow money. Lower interest rates mean we pay less to borrow and can invest more in city services for our residents. But our discipline with the Pension Fund does even more. Once these obligations to our workers are fully funded, our annual General Fund cost will drop more than $430-million. That's real money we can use for our biggest priorities. We will face fiscal challenges ahead. 3-billion in the 1990s to sure up our Pension Fund. And guess what, we are still paying for it today. From now until FY '29, we'll pay $1-billion in debt service, including an $80-million balloon payment in FY '29. But no worries, we'll meet our obligations as we always do. I will not allow anything to compromise our fiscal stability. Now, let's turn to FY '26 and see what's in the budget for Philadelphians. We are continuing to make big and bold investments in our city and our residents, just as we did in our first year. Let's start with public safety, my No. 1 priority as your Mayor. As I said earlier, our model of PIE, prevention, intervention, enforcement, the baseline for all of our public safety efforts. We cannot police our way out of the problems with associates gun violence or open air drug markets in our city. We can't, police alone won't do it. It is our comprehensive public safety strategy that is making a difference. Councilmember O'Rourke, we all know that a comprehensive strategy is essential. And our PIE strategy is beginning to show results. Under Chief Public Safety Director Adam Gear many action steps are underway and we are making further investments in public safety in FY '26. Neighborhood Wellness Court. We opened a neighborhood Wellness Court as a pilot in January in Kensington. I want to thank, wholeheartedly thank the First Judicial District for working with the Parker Administration on this innovation. The Wellness Court offers fast track diversion for people arrested for drug-related offenses. 7-million investment in wellness that will be well spent. In addition -- thank you. In addition to a judicial hearing and warrant clearance, the defendants can receive same day medical and behavioral health assessments, treatment intake and other services all in one setting. This innovative new program compliments our existing Police Assisted Diversion or PAD, which provided pre-booking diversion for drug-related offenses and over 1,000 cases last year. 8-million investment.
Both of these public safety investments are designed to get more individuals suffering from a multitude of ailments off the street and connected to the treatment services that they deserve. Public safety is not about programs, it is about real Philadelphians. With this in mind, I'm proud that one of them is here with us today, Allen Burrel. Allen was shot 10 times. He was referred to our group violence intervention initiative by a family member. His aunt believed that GVI could help Allen. He has engaged actively with our GVI program and dedicated himself to making a change. He enrolled in work force development programs. And today, he is working full-time with the city of Philadelphia. Allen, please stand and be recognized. We appreciate you in your journey. ) You are why we do this work, Allen. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Allen. It wasn't 10 times, it was 25 times. These were just some -and he's still standing. Give that a round of applause. ) These are just some of the many prevention and interventionbased programs that our Office of Public Safety is leading on everyday. , and all of City Council for creating this office just over a year ago. It is making a difference in helping Philadelphia to become safer. Councilmember Jones, I believe the Office of Public Safety is practicing intergovernmental collaboration exactly as your blue print a safer Philadelphia called for. You helped lay the road map and we thank you. ) You heard the numbers already. Our homicides and shootings are down significantly in Philadelphia compared to a year ago. And they're declining more sharply here than in other big cities. But no one is exhaling or shouting mission accomplished around here. Every homicide, every incident of violence is a loss for Philadelphia and a stain on our city's soul. Someone's son or father, daughter or mother, family member or friend, they are not statistics, they are human beings. And I will never rest until every family and individual in every neighborhood feels safe in their home and walking the streets of their community. We have much more work to do and our police department under the leadership of the greatest police commissioner in the nation is more than up for the job. What else are you doing with public safety? We're embracing technology to improve our performance. The police department will move forward with a new forensics lab to assist the force with forensic investigation to help solve crime. Now, I got a first-hand look at how good our department is at forensic science. During its painstaking investigation following the plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia, Dr. Michael Garvey, our Police Departments Director of Forensic Science, thank you for your service doing this difficult investigation. We're investing -thank you, Doc. Thank you. Thank you. ) We're investing in forensic sciences now to get you and the department more support. Dr. Garvey, we want you to know that our FY '26 through FY '30 plan, we are excited about it. It includes an additional $67-million for a new forensics lab and related costs. It's money well spent to help us solve crime and to keep Philadelphia safer. We listened to you. I'm also proud to publicly announce that the new lab will be located in West Philadelphia at 4101 Market Street. This will mark a giant step forward in forensics technology and crime solving ability for our police department. And, Doc, as you can see, we've been listen, listen, listening. We're also making progress you should know at recruiting, training and hiring new police officers, too. Last year, 369 officers went through our police academy and joined the force.
That is a significant increase from previous years when only 201 officers joined the department. I'm also very proud to report that every police officer on the streets of Philadelphia will be outfitted with a body worn camera by the end of this year, 2025. Yes. But that's not all, we're moving towards installing dash cam cameras in every police patrol car, too. That's critical. It's a critical tool that's used by the Pennsylvania State Police. We know that these investments protect our officers and the public. And I've always made it clear, I fully support every police officer on the front lines protecting and serving Philadelphians, so long as they do so without any misuse or abuse of their constitutional authority. We support those who protect and serve. That is important for me to mention, Philadelphia, because I've often been criticized for being too pro police. I don't agree. Philadelphians want to be safe and feel safe and they deserve that basic human right and I am unapologetic about supporting our police department. I have one more thing to say about our police department. We all hear about the sacrifices that the police officers make to be on the front lines protecting Philadelphians. It's one thing to hear about those sacrifices, it's another thing to live them. Last June, Police Officer Jamie Roman was on patrol in Kensington, when he made a routine car stop. The stop turned deadly and when a suspect shot Officer Roman, he was gravely wounded. Officer Roman clung to life before succumbing to his wounds in September. He gave the last true measure of devotion to our city. His widow Jasmine Hernandez is here with us today. Please let us all rise to honor Officer Roman's ultimate sacrifice for Philadelphia. Jasmine, we will be here for you and your family. It's a tragic -- tragically tough time. We thank you. Now, we also deserve public safety on our roadways and streets, so we'll start talking about Vision Zero. This time last year I signed an executive order recommitting the city of Philadelphia to the goal of reaching zero traffic deaths. In alignment with the Vision Zero Task Force, my administration has moved to advance safety projects across the city, with a focus on every mile of the high injury network where the majority of fatal and serious crashes occur. The speed cameras on Roosevelt Boulevard, one of the most dangerous roads in the nation, have saved over 50 lives. Meanwhile, Councilmember Isaiah Thomas who has been a leader on this issue is pressing for more red light cameras that will help to us safe. Thank you, Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, for your work. This public safety work matters. And I also want to give a special thanks to State Representative Ed Neilson and our delegation in Harrisburg. This program is permanent and allowing us to expand to five more corridors. Yes, five more corridors. Five more. Since then and working closely with this body, including Councilmember Jeffrey Young, who chairs the Streets Committee, we're installing cameras on North Broad Street and PA 13, two more major roadways on the highway injury network. However, we know far more needs to get done and will get done to finally eliminate all traffic fatalities in our city. This is why our proposed budget and plan includes major investments for a slate in Vision Zero projects. We're committing $5-million for Vision Zero in FY '26, and $30-million in capital investments over six years for speed cushions, line striping and other traffic safety measures. But this isn't even close to the whole story. Why? Because we've secured and put to work millions of dollars. Millions more from the state and federal government. All of this will help us reach our goal.
Every Philadelphian deserves to travel safely throughout our city and return home safe and unharmed. It doesn't matter where you live or work, your age, your race your or ethnicity, income or how you choose to travel, you deserve to be safe traveling on our streets. Now, one more thing I have to mention because people talk to me about more than other issue as it relates to travel in the city of Philadelphia. I am proud to report that once the Martin Luther King bridge behind the Art Museum is completed, that Martin Luther King Drive will fully reopen and you will be able to drive through straight through the parkway. If you live in Northwest Philadelphia or in West Philadelphia, you know how valuable that route is to get downtown, so we are really, really excited. They're saying it will be done by September. Streets Commissioner Kristin Delrossi, I know you're on it and we are grateful. Give that another round of applause, please. ) Now, we'll turn to SEPTA. Public transportation is critical to sustainable resilient neighborhoods, so let's talk about SEPTA for a moment. SEPTA is facing its own set of fiscal challenges, that's why this budget and five-year plan includes $716-million in operating support to SEPTA over five years, and a $76-million capital match over the capital program. Philadelphia, this is important. Don't let anyone tell you that we're not contributing our fair share to help SEPTA while we await the Commonwealth's support to put the system on solid ground. We are and we will continue to support mass transit. Public transportation is absolutely vital for our city's future. And we hear you, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, mass transit and SEPTA matters. )
Clean and Green, FY '26. As with public safety, there's no other issue I hear more from residents than Clean and Green and they tell me they can see and feel a difference, but we're just getting started ed. First, Director Carlton Williams and our departments are going to partner with non-profits, community groups and philanthropy to implement a new 10-point greening plan. We're talking about neighborhood actions here, like tree planting, vacant lot cleaning and greening, improving our parks, supporting community gardens and much more. Councilmember Kendra Brooks, we know how important community gardens are and we'll lift them up through Clean and Green. In addition, that's why my administration strategized and drafted the priority bid legislation for the Land Bank and asked you to introduce it because of your work, your partnership is invaluable, Councilmember Brooks, and we will address the greening and ownership of vacant lots. Please give green space a round of applause. ) At the same time a new Anti-litter Task Force is going to coordinate efforts across government to enforce litter and violations while we target with increased fines and hundreds of surveillance cameras, the illegal dumping that plague so many neighborhoods. We're also going to be removing graffiti from highway passes and hot spots in our neighborhoods. 4-million over three years to redirect graffiti artists energy through powerful programs run by mural arts to display their talent for all to enjoy. Why? Because we can't forget that this is what many thousands of people will see when they visit our city in 2026. A first impression matters and we're going to make good one. 2-million in planters to be installed along neighborhood commercial corridors. These will beautify our streets while helping to improve traffic safety. If they can work in Center City and Chestnut Hill, then we deserve them all over the city. As for the programs we started last year, the One Philly city-wide cleaning program, twice weekly trash collection and residential cleaning crews by council district, none of this is going away. Now the game plan going forward is to expand them and make them more effective. Twice a week trash collection in Center City and South Philly now, Mr. President. And we'll bring it next to North Philly this year. We see you, Councilmember Young and Senator Street. Housing, housing, housing. Last month I was thrilled to formally launch our housing initiative by signing an executive order creating the housing opportunities made easy initiative or HOME for short. My promise is this, 30,000 units of housing created or preserved while I serve as your Mayor. Now to accelerate the planning process, the executive order I signed sets several important steps into motion. First, some 25 city departments and offices are charged to make housing one of their top priorities. They have 30 days to come up with recommendations, to streamline processes, cut red tape and make legislative and regulatory changes that will help spark the faster production and restoration of housing without, without sacrificing health and safety. Councilmember Cindy Bass, we'll need your expertise on zoning issues as we work together on housing. At the same time, and this is important, we are engaging an advisory group and dozens of external stakeholders. You can only get big work done around a big table. So I'm talking about developers and CDCs. Partners like Philadelphia Works, PHDC, PHFA, and the Philadelphia Housing Authority. And keep players in the industry like the BIA, GBCA and the building and construction trades and carpenters. All of these folks will be helping to shape our housing plan.
Now, I know you may be wondering, how much is this going to cost or where is the actual housing plan? I am proud to announce one part of the funding strategy today. I am also pleased to reveal that for the first time in the history of our city, we will have a special session on housing hosted by my friend and our legislative leader, Council President Kenyatta Johnson and this council, March 24th. March 24th, that's the day. D day for housing. That's when we'll share all the details of the proposed housing plan. This is going to be a historic unprecedented investment for Philadelphia. Council President Johnson, in our meetings and when we talk, I have long said that this plan, housing preservation and the building of new, will be one of our Maynard moment. Referencing the late Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson who real and tangible and ongoing economic communities for Atlantans. To get started with the first part of the funding strategy, I want you to know that over the course of my five-year plan, this administration will issue $800-million in bonds for our housing plan. Yes, 800-million. And not only that, we will begin by issuing 400-million of those bonds in FY '26, and we plan on spending that money as quickly as possible. I want shovels in the ground and I want houses rehabbed and restored. So let me clear, we started this work on day one and we will not spend years in planning mode. this cannot wait. If you know anything about me, you know I understand the urgency in our communities. We are here to take action. Philadelphians need more housing and they need it now. More housing now. I want Philadelphians, renters and homeowners in the best possible housing until they can attain the ownership and the quality that they desire. And I want more Philadelphians to become homeowners if that is what they so choose. This also means that we will not -- let me say it again, this also means that we will not in any way, shape or form pick the have-nots against those who have just a little bit. Chairman Harris, this is about ensuring Philadelphians across income levels and across the city have a safe and secure and affordable place to live and I won't play politics on this. We won't pick the have-nots against those who have just a little bit. We won't do it. Not in the Parker Administration, we won't do it. I'm beyond excited to work with this council to get this done and I look forward to laying out the full plan in the special session on housing on March 24th. But the while we're talking about housing, you should know that we are going to eliminate the construction impact tax. We cannot incentivize the building of new housing with this levy, so we will be removing the construction tax in our efforts to create more housing in the city of Philadelphia. Education for FY '26. We are proud and as proud as we are of our efforts to improve the quality of our educational system during the first year of the Parker Administration, we know how much more work remains to be done. Senator Hughes, I was heartened to see Governor Shapiro propose millions more for teacher stipends to tackle the dire teacher shortage in the Commonwealth. I was a secondary English teacher trained at Lincoln University. The first historically black degree granting institution in the nation. I had to say it, Ryan Boyle, I couldn't help it. And I know what a stipend would have meant to me when I was doing my teaching at Coatesville High School. This is why I'm proud to note the city is making another mileage shift in the real estate transfer tax in FY '30, to increase funding for public education by another $12-million a year to be specifically earmarked for teachers salaries.
Our teachers deserve to earn a living wage and this is part of our ongoing commitment to our teachers as we pull on every lever from stronger recruitment to work force housing to make Philadelphia the best place in the country to work in the classroom. Officer Steinburg, we hope that you are proud, we look forward to work with you, the PFT, and the School District to get this achieved. Dr. Watlington, we hear you. I'm also proud to announce that we are expanding our extended day and extended year program of before and after school educational enrichment opportunities by 15 more schools. Ten district operated and five charter schools. This will be our extended day and extended year initiative to a total of 40 schools serving thousands of children and their families. Study after study shows that these programs matter greatly when it comes to children's educational development and we're doing what we said we would do. I want to thank Chief Deputy Mayor Vanessa Garrett-Harley and Chief Education Officer Dr. Deborah Carrera for all of their work here. And over the course of this none of this progress would be possible without the close working partnership that we have with the best school superintendent in the country, Dr. Tony Watlington. Councilmember Anthony Philips, I'll note that this program and value, you and I share and support together. I'm happy to note that one parent whose child is thriving because of extended day, extended year is here with us today. Lindsey Russel is the mother of Sidney, who is nine-yearsold and attends Gompers Elementary School. Sidney is benefiting from extended day and extended year and her mom wanted to be here today for us. Thank you, Lindsey. Thank you. One more young person to lift up this morning and I'm excited about her. I want us all to welcome Jeanine Gaskins. She's a sixth grader at Edmonds School, another one of our extended day and extended year schools. Now, listen, you got to hear about her. Listen to what she just achieved. She recently won first place in the One Philly Black History Month oratorical show case that was held at City Hall. Jeanine is here today with her father, Donavan Gaskins and her Principal Wendy Sharp. Jeanine, I, too, won that oratorical contest in City Hall. We want to say congratulations and we're so proud of you. Now, on to something extremely important. Fair, multiyear contracts for our municipal work force. As Philadelphia readies itself for the world in 2026, and as we focus on 30,000 housing units through out home initiative, it is well worth pausing to remind ourselves of exactly who does all the work for the residents of the city of Philadelphia. The dedicated municipal work force that rises to every occasion, that's our city employees are. Whether its the Philadelphia Police on the front lines or our fire fighters and emergency responders running into harms way, or the hard working individuals who pick up the trash everyday and keep our streets and sewers clean, or every social worker, librarian, housing employee or prison correctional officer who shows up everyday to serve the people of Philadelphia, or the thousands of other workers and other departments. Our work force makes me proud and humbled to serve as their Mayor. It's important for us to know that city workers are our people, not assets. And we will treat them with the respect and the dignity that they deserve. Councilmember Jimmy Harrity, Chair of council committee on labor, I know you support this sentiment and believe what I'm talking about. We must lift up our municipal workers. So let's just come out and say what many are thinking today.
If we can find the money for tax investments and job growth, then surely we can find the money to give our hardworking municipal workers the fair contract agreement they deserve. On today, I am proud to stand before you council, colleagues, and I am proud to report that we have $550-million in the labor reserve fund in this proposed five-year plan. It's a historic and unprecedented figure. I am committed under the leadership of our Chief Deputy Mayor Sincere Harris and her team of labor negotiators to reach a fair and fiscally responsible multi-year agreements with all four of our municipal unions this year. ) Listen, with all that's going on in the country right now with government workers, our One Philly philosophy has never been more important. Roosevelt Poplar of Lodge 5 of the Fraternal Order of Police; Mike Bresnan of Local 22 of the Philadelphia Fire Fighters and Paramedics Union; Greg Boulware of District Council 33 of AFSCME and April Gagetts of District Council 47 of AFSCME. I want you to know that we will continue working together to find common ground and get to yes on our multi-year agreements for our city's work force that pay a fair wage with a health and pension benefit that you can be proud of, while maintaining our city's fiscal stability. Presidents Poplar, Bresnan, Boulware and Gagetts, and all of the hardworking men and women represented by AFSCME and Local 22, please stand if you're here in the chambers. Please stand, the leadership. I want to be clear about our priorities so that we can make it plain. Economic opportunity. Creating economic opportunity is essential to the Parker Administration in so many ways. Through our innovative city college for municipal employment, we are working in partnership with community college. The School District of Philadelphia and others to train Philadelphians for careers in city government. We're talking about good paying city jobs with health benefits and pensions that will mean brighter economic futures. We are upskilling existing city workers, too, training them to advance on their career paths. I am super excited to announce that this Spring, and please listen to me closely, 32 high school seniors will receive CCME training that will give them the opportunity for city employment with fleet services, the water department and public property. And we will continue to work with other departments on growing quality opportunities for direct pipelines from our high schools into city employment. So that's right, from the School District of Philadelphia to city employment, that's the kind of pipeline the Parker Administration is building for our young people. And we are very excited about it. Now, one of our CCME students is Alena Chandy, who's enrolled in the computer support specialist program at Community College of Philadelphia CCME. Alena hopes and plans to work for the city of Philadelphia while supporting herself and family. Please welcome Alena here with us today. Alena, you are the future that we are fighting for in Philadelphia. Dr. Guy Generals, CCP; Pat Clancy of Philadelphia Works; and of course, our terrific superintendent Dr. Watlington, thank you for collaborating with us on CCME. You can learn more Philadelphia about CCME and start your pathway to a good job with the city of Philadelphia. phila/CCME. And to our city team who make this possible everyday. Chief Administrative Officer Camille Duchesa, CCME Executor Director Carl DeFris and Chief Human Resources Officer Candi Jones, thank you, thank you, thank you. Please give them a huge round of applause. Y'all stood it up and I'm grateful. ) More on economic opportunity for all.
I signed the PHL Open for Business executive order last Spring and our Commerce Department led by Director Alba Martinez is working to get it faster, easier and less costly to do business in Philadelphia. You all know that Commerce just announced a new $5-million small business catalyst fund to provide what Della would call love capital, patient capital to businesses early in their growth journey, especially those from historically under invested neighborhoods. I want to thank you for getting the job done. Thank you, Alba Martinez. Wellness for FY '26. Let's talk about the new wellness eco system that we are building under the Parker Administration, and what it means not only for Kensington, but for our entire city. Before I say another word, it is very important to me that I personally thank a group of public officials who are working everyday to improve the quality of life and public safety for the people of Kensington. In speak, of course, of none other than Kensington Caucus. Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, Councilmember Mark Squilla, Councilmember Mike Driscoll and Councilmember Jimmy Harrity. Thank you for everything that you are doing to help restore the community of Kensington. You should know that I recently started hours in Kensington and I head a well-attended a community stakeholder meeting and will continue engaging with the people. I want to thank you for a your support and you have not been moved on standing firm and delivering for the people of Kensington and for that, we are grateful. Please give them a round of applause. ) Since day one we have worked shoulder to shoulder with the residents of Kensington to end this Opioid driven humanitarian crisis once and for all. So first, we assembled the most experienced people in our city's health care system to learn what was working and what wasn't and how we can work together to create a new eco system of wellness care for people struggling with substance use, addiction, mental and behavior health challenges and homelessness. It had never been done before, but we assembled that network of experts, we listened and we took action. We put $100-million in capital investments, the FY '25 budget. Thank you to City Council for helping us to begin building out that network and for the facilities we needed to provide wellness care. I also went to thank our City Solicitor, Ranee Garcia, and her dynamic team of lawyers for their relentless work to secure tens of millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds that's re-enforcing so much of our wellness work. Thank you. Now, there were some who said that it couldn't be done. That it was too much, too fast. Where would the facility be located? Where's the plan? We did not have time to wait. We are in the middle of a humanitarian crisis and we acted with urgency, focus and a plan. Under the leadership of Managing Director Adam Thiel, Capital Programs Director Aparna Palentino, and a host of city agencies and with the tremendous work of Philadelphia building trades and other unions, we gutted and rehabilitated an existing city facility in Northeast Philadelphia in 88 days. Record time. And we opened the Riverview Wellness Village in January. Riverview has a 336 bed capacity and I think some of our providers are here. Merakey, Gaudenzia and the Black Doctors Consortium and it is serving people from across Philadelphia right now. Please give our providers a round of applause. ) Folks, we believe that what we are doing with our wellness model at Riverview can set the standard with how we treat the homeless and unhoused throughout our city.
I want to thank Dale Construction and the building trades for working with the Parker Administration on developing a proof of concept plan as we continue on this journey address housing for those who are homeless and unhoused in our city. There is nothing we cannot do when we work together, Philadelphia. This is just the beginning. And we will continue building out the Riverview site as I promised we would during FY 2026. This additional building you all heard us describe it, it's plan will add hundreds of additional bed which can be adopted to meet the eco systems evolving needs. We will invest another $216-million over the next five-year plan to support all of our wellness operating costs. Riverview provides not just food and shelter, but medical care, behavioral health care, job training and a host of other services. I'm with you, Councilmember Nina Ahmad, in wanting every Philadelphia to have access to health care, including the most vulnerable. This is how we demonstrate our compassion, care and love for the most vulnerable people in the city of Philadelphia. In a little over a year America will be celebrating its 250th anniversary. And I assure you Philadelphia, the birth place of democracy, is ready to welcome the world in 2026. We will engage every corner of Philadelphia with meaningful investments, economic opportunities and a spirit of celebration across every neighborhood. At the same time, we'll ensure that the nations birth place and first World Heritage City takes center stage as we host a slate of major events that will elevate Philadelphia on the world's stage. The big events begin this year with the 2025 FIFA cup, World Cup this summer, followed by homecoming 250 honoring or veterans and celebrating the finding of the United States Navy and the Marine Corp. Founded right here in Philadelphia. Next year is the 2026 FIFA World Cup, MLB All Star week and America 250 celebrations that will remind the world where this democracy started. So as of last month the Parker Administration in partnership with Council President Johnson and this council have committed more than $30-million for partner and event preparations, along with nearly $28-million new investments for public safety to date. So with the mid year transfer, along with the funding proposed in this FY '26 budget, that will bring a total investment in 2026 to over $100-million. ) This means community events and programming, investments in our commercial corridors and cleaning and beautifying Philadelphia citywide. This is important. When we clean up areas along Interstate 95 and I-76, these are the areas that guests from all over the country and the world will see first as they arrive in Philadelphia. Sometimes I think some people forget that preparing for 2026 means that we must get our own house in order and that's what we must do. We're also investing transportation infrastructure with the Philadelphia International Airport as our global gateway and SEPTA as the artery to move these hundreds of thousands of people around the city and the region. Now, for the record, the airport alone, and I haven't read this anywhere. The airport alone has been putting to use $500-million for capital projects to manage spikes in traveler volume and to ensure a top class guest experience. Atif Saheed, we are counting on you and the airport execs to make this happen. Thank you so very much. We're also investing in both out world renowned cultural institutions as well as the local treasuries that people will discover as they explore our city. Val Gay, I'm so proud we have you on our team and we need you. This will be an exciting year and I hope y'all are ready.
I know that Michael Neumis, our director of 2026, and Jazelle Jones, our great city representative and director of special events, they are ready. Please give Michael Neumis and Jezelle a round of applause. ) Now on to tax investments. At the beginning of my remarks I spoke of the city's fiscal health and our fiscal responsibility today will help free up more money tomorrow for us to invest in services for our residents. I also said when it comes to economic opportunities, we have done well, but we need to be laser focused on creating jobs for all Philadelphians. The only way to create access to opportunity for every Philadelphian is to grow the economic pie. To attract and grow businesses that will create jobs that pay family sustaining wages. But doing this require that we finally address a tax structure that's hindered growth and stunted the job creation that we need. Now, I know this isn't a new challenge and it's not an easy one. So I'm grateful to Council President Kenyatta Johnson for his wisdom and approach to this issue carefully in collaboration with my administration. This is also why we made no changes to tax rates last year And we caught a whole lot of heat for making that decision, too. Instead, we focused with this council on making deep, historic investments in city's services. Two-billion dollars worth to making our neighborhoods safer and cleaner as an important inducement for businesses to locate here and grow. In the meantime, the tax reform commission reconvened by this council studied pathways we can take together. Thank you to co-chairs, Richard Vague and Matt Stitt and all of the commission members for their service and to our friends in the African-American Chamber, Hispanic Chamber, Asian Chamber, Independent Business Alliance and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. For our part I directed my team to move forward with these guiding principals. First, the changes we make should be significant and unprecedented in scope. Big opportunities warrant big changes from status quo. Second, we must be fiscally responsible. Nothing is more important than our cities fiscal health. And third, we should take advantage of the fact that finally Philadelphia's pension Fund will soon be fully funded, dramatically reducing costs that have sat on us for decades. This last point is extremely critical. When the pension fund reaches full funding status in fiscal year 2033, pension costs will decrease by more than $430-million per year. This creates an opportunity to set Philadelphia on a different course. One of steady growth and creation of jobs that sustained families and neighborhoods. If we work together there is nothing we cannot accomplish for Philadelphia. It is time to reform or business tax structure now, right now. ) Why? Because Philadelphia is a tax outlier on how we tax businesses. The business income and receipts tax targets both gross receipts and net income. That means both the revenue businesses generating for itself and profits. Now, Philadelphians if you to been to our budget briefing and town hall meetings, I want you to think about your own pay check in Philadelphia and put this in prospective. Right now every Philadelphian pay taxes on the gross amount you earn. The gross amount, the total you make. Fair enough. Social security, Medicare and other things, that's fair. But here, if you were a business in this city, we're taxing the whole amount you earn and your net. What you have left after paying your bills and daily expenses. That's like a double tax. And our administration, quite frankly, is finally going to address it in partnership with Council President Johnson and this council.
8 percent within seven years of the pension fund reaching 100 percent funded status in FY 2023. I know, tax investment is not sexy, y'all. Over the same time period we will eliminate the gross receipts portion of the tax entirely. 5 percent in FY '30. With that said, an existing exclusion of the first $100,000 in gross receipts is going away. Not because this Administration is taking it away, like you may have read. It's not going away because we're taking it away. It's going away because of legal challenges to it Constitutionally. And, Mr. President, I have to digress, when I was a member of this legislative body, I would never introduce a piece of legislation that wasn't approved by the law department that they said they could defend wholeheartedly for us because I would always be afraid that some decision that we made could have a negative economic impact on our city, and this is affirmation of why the law department in proofing and working through legislation is so important. Now, this is unfortunate because this exclusion that you just heard me reference saved thousands of neighborhood-based businesses from even having to file a BIRT return with the city. But we are not going to turn our backs on these businesses. The Commerce Department is ready to move forward with the new Jump Start Business Program with $30-million a year in this five-year plan that can help impacted businesses with technical assistance and grants. And I have to give credit to the tax reform commission for their signal that jump starting businesses and jobs is our overarching goal. Now, as for the wage tax. Successive administrations have made small, but consistent reductions. This should continue, too, and we will be restarting reductions in FY '26. 39 percent in FY 2030. Now while tax investments are never exciting, Philadelphia, I want you to know that this is really a big deal. In fact, no mayor or City Council have stood together to reduce both sides of the BIRT and the wage tax at the same time in 17 years. Thank you for your leadership, Mr. President. In 17 years. These $212-million in tax reform investments are historic and unprecedented. And I'm proud to stand behind them and I hope that you are, too. Now, listen, this is a part we have to get to because even before I could get in the building today I started to getting some messages from people saying this is not enough. So, Mr. President, I want to state, for the record, that I know we're going to have some nay-sayers, but this is what we can do can afford do. And I shall not be moved on this delicate balance of enacting business/tax reform while protecting the fiscal stability as a city. We will not. This proposal will spur businesses to grow and new ones to locate here allowing our residents more and better opportunities to get a good paying job. And that means I hope out of this effort to see more SCIU and Unite Here jobs being created for Philadelphians because we deserve every Philadelphian to earn a living wage, health care and retirement security. Now, if you want to talk to businesses that here today, if you ask them what they need, they will tell you more than anything, they need certainty. That's why we're codifying these historic reductions beyond this five-year plan. So don't just listen to what we say, business community, watch what we do. Philadelphia is open for business and we welcome you right now. Our business community. Now, however, business community and chambers, we have some expectations of you, too. As I said during my chamber speech, we need the business community to help us lobby Harrisburg to enact a $15 minimum wage for our Commonwealth.
And I want to say to the business community, if that doesn't appear to be possible in Harrisburg, then I want to publicly make an appeal to you today that you stand shoulder to shoulder to with me, Council President Johnson and members of this council in fighting for the Pennsylvania General Assembly to give Philadelphia, as the only city of the first class in the Commonwealth, to enact the authority our own $15 minimum wage. That's what you can do. ) Now, I'm sorry to start telling your age here, but I'm going to look and glance at you, Chairman Hughes. I want to give some direction because I only spent a couple of years up there. But when I say we need your help, we don't simply need a letter or rally. What I learned from my few years in Harrisburg is that when the business community speaks up with the heavy weight tone that only the business community can use, both Democrats and Republicans listen. Philadelphia, the time is now for a $15 minimum wage. Our people deserve it. Now, let's talk about East Market Street. After getting through the shock and awe of learning that our 76ers were going stay in Philadelphia, no one could deny that this was a good decision for our city. As a matter of fact, it's a win, win, win for our city, the Sixers and Comcast. The new joint venture between Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment and Comcast, it will lead to a state of art arena and that mixed use development in Philadelphia building out that vision for the battery. Comcast you should have never taken me to see your headquarters and to visit that battery. I'm in love. And Philadelphia, we can build out a battery that no one has ever seen before, and I'm excited about that potential. But closest to my heart, especially when I was member of this body, is a venture -- this venture, this joint venture that will take Philadelphia one step closer to having its own WNBA team. That I'm excited about. And, yes, this will help us to revitalize the historic Market Street East corridor. I welcome Comcast to this partnership and I am so grateful that they are here. Councilmember Squilla, you know that this is why right now we're investing in the planning study to carefully determine our course going forward. And within the next month, I will formally establish the Market East Revitalize Task Force chaired by Jerry Sweeney. Jerry could not be here with us today. He's got a business to run, but he sends his regards to everyone and he is all in on this assignment. Please give Jerry Sweeney a thank you round of applause. Thank you, Jerry. You should know that, yes, we'll include representatives from Chinatown and the rest of Center City. It will also include those who own land and property along the corridor, as well as the Sixers and Comcast, who remain committed to revitalizing Market East. Now, as for the new arena in South Philly, we can now leverage all of the work already being done especially on how to ensure economic opportunity for local residents and businesses to make sure that this project benefits the city as a whole. I want to be very clear. Nothing about our intent and our goals changes. A project of this magnitude has to have a positive benefit for the entire city and these efforts will lay out the foundation for that next exciting round of work. I want you to know that I feel really good about the fact that a woman, who -- I don't know anybody who works harder than her or who's smarter than her. My chief of staff, Tiffany Thurmon, thank you. And I am so grateful that you will lead this effort. Tiffany manages all things related to our efforts and I'm grateful, Tiffany, for your help. Now, here's what everybody's been waiting for.
It's nice to hear you talk about all those investments, but now you're going to tell us how you're going to pay for it. And that's important because I've never been one who can tell you how to spend some money, but not how we going to raise the money to pay for what we want. The first answer, the biggest answer is from the dramatic savings we're going to see from lower pension payments once the pension fund reaches 100 percent funding. But we're also going to make adjustments in this proposed budget and five-year plan to make ends meet. First, a small increase to the realty transfer tax will generate $173million over the next 5 years. When we need to build and preserve 30,000 units of housing, this revenue will help us to get there. And don't forget, and this is when, Philadelphia, we should celebrate ourself because we have what not a whole lot of other cities have. We have Philly First Home, our program that provides closing costs and down payment assistance. And I'm not sure how many people paid attention to Wells Fargo Neighborhood Lift Program, to also help with housing costs and down payments. This plan also proposes -this is the second phase of this, this plan proposes increasing the parking rate in Center City from $3 to $4 per hour. This would be -this would be and I didn't know this until we were going through these rates. This will be the first parking rate increase since 2014 and will provide revenue to both the School District and the city's General Fund. And lastly, we'll increase housing transfer function of the document recording fee by $3 and use the revenue to help cover, Councilmember Katherine GilmoreRichardson, our tangled title work as a part of our housing plan. Tangled title work, important for housing in the city of Philadelphia. I don't take lightly any proposal or raise -- to raise a fee or a tax, we don't take any of it lightly and we took no such action during our first year in office. But I also know we did big things, bold things. And by working together and thinking creatively and acting decisively, these new revenues and the savings from a healthy pension fund will make the big things possible. From housing and fair contracts to tax reform and wellness, these investments in the long run will make our city the safest, cleanest and greenest big city in America with access to economic opportunity for all. Nothing about our vision, goals or objectives have changed. We remain laser focused on our mission to deliver a government that people can see, touch and feel. And I don't know about you, but no matter where I am in the city of Philadelphia, people will tell me that they feel that something different is happening in neighborhoods across the city. And I'm glad we don't promise perfection, but just to do the best that we can. And I'm happy they know that we are making good on our promises. In closing, I want you to know my name is Cherelle L. Parker and I am the 100th Mayor and first woman to lead Philadelphia in 341 years. 0 budget to the City Council of Philadelphia with historic investments in public safety, clean and green education, housing, fair contracts for city workers and tax investment and job growth and I do wholeheartedly approve this message. Today is just the beginning of this process. I'm coming soon to a neighborhood near you for a budget briefing or housing town hall meeting. Let's work together with collaboration, diligence and purpose towards its passage and implementation for Philadelphia with a shared goal. A safer, cleaner and greener city with economic opportunity for all. Together, I pray and believe -- everybody put your ones in the air for me right now. Oh, that's not nice. Everybody put your ones in the air.
Let me hear you all say, One Philly, a united city. They're recording this, you have to do it louder. Repeat after me. One Philly, a united city. Let's go, Philly. Let's go. )
Please clear the floor. Members, please take your seats. Are there any speeches on behalf of the minority? Are there any speeches on behalf of the majority? The Chair recognizes -seeing none, the Chair now recognizes for a motion to adjourn Councilmember Isaiah Thomas.
Thank you, Council President. I just want to take a moment to thank all of the support staff and all of the Sergeant of Arms and all the great people who made today a huge success. And, of course, Council President, thank you for your leadership today and making today smooth. And with that being said, I make a motion that council stands adjourned until Thursday, March 20th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
m. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it. The motion carries. Thank you very much and happy St. Patty's Day. ) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the notes taken by me of the above case, and this copy is a correct transcript of the same. _______________ Samanda J. m. C. m. com. S. l unharmed 64:21 vibrate 33:5 65:12 visitors 125:11 2:15 67:13 9:20 unpreced V vicinity 74:5 unhoused vital ented 34:5 ultimate 153:17, vacant 67:24 133:23 46:23 122:11 24 56:6 96:6 143:20 unimagin 103:22 victims 127:13 unapolog 161:15 able 128:10 97:2 etic 167:14 voice 100:17 96:13 129:3 vienedos 3:8 unseated 121:11 Union vague 35:24 73:11 volume unapprov 144:14 71:4 Village 158:8 unsparin 161:4 153:3 ed unions gly voted 45:15 110:9 Val Vincent 8:14 3:8 144:4 63:3 89:8 uncertai untying vulnerab 152:21 158:19 vindicat nties 3:18 le 109:5 Unite valuable ion 155:3,5 update 126:7 168:15 4:7 uncertai 45:16 nty united Vanessa violatio updating W 108:5,8 108:14 139:15 ns 41:18 wage 164:15 156:6 vary 129:10 upgrade 18:6 180:2,5 51:11 violator unconsti 109:21 23:17 tutional units vehicles s 138:8 55:16 131:17 103:17 47:12 144:23 Stated Meeting 51 03/13/2025 166:16, watch weeks Whip wisdom word 58:17 96:11 5:20 160:8 3:4 5:3 167:8 99:21 weight 26:18 wishing 93:12 168:18 169:5 170:19 36:21 51:15 149:16 169:15 watching 43:9 words welcomin withdraw 170:5, 93:11 74:13 11:13 g 8:15 82:18 69:5 water 93:15 WNBA wages 90:24 99:19 20:19 well- 172:7 159:23 91:2 40:3 attended work 92:17, woefully wait 146:14 150:10 59:2 18,20 65:17 13:23 watered 63:17 135:4 wellness wholehea woman 84:4 4:23 65:24 rtedly 92:3 152:11 94:15, waters 113:8, 113:12 174:9 waited 24 4:24 10,16, 165:12 178:23 64:22 95:19 Watlingt 20,22 179:8 women 106:21 waiting on 149:10, wide 93:7 115:12, 174:19 106:13 11 107:9 145:6 20 walking 138:19 151:8, 157:9 won 117:19 101:6 139:23 20 widow 58:3 123:18, 117:17 147:19 152:4 122:8 140:24 19 wanted 153:2, ways 141:8 125:4, wife 38:6 145:16 13 154:16 37:20 wonderfu 75:19 weapons 128:22 177:22 Wiley l 76:2 56:17 130:13 Wells 57:2 58:23 140:13 132:13, website 176:6 59:24 wonderin wanting 18 107:7 61:9,10 g 154:23 Welsh 135:2 week 2:20 Williams 133:8 136:10 war 53:8 56:10 3:3 14:5 Wood 137:7 54:8,9, 128:3 34:7,12 138:11, warm Wendy 10,13 14,17 141:7 wills Woodhous 64:7 66:2 139:18 West 14:13 e warrant 113:21 141:15, 26:11 Wilson 26:9 55:11 131:2 21,24 80:9 98:23 57:7 114:3 156:10 142:16 119:13 58:15 161:16 weekend win 144:22 126:6 59:9,13 60:17 171:9 146:16 Washingt 63:12 Wharton winning 147:10 on weekly 80:7, 41:3 57:21 151:7, 67:16 130:19 14,19 70:2 81:6 24 Stated Meeting 52 03/13/2025 152:4, 148:19 63:3 18 24:8 30:10 149:19 67:2 100:15 25:14 33:17, 154:4 151:6 www. 102:7 38:23 18 162:15 153:20 phila/ 105:7, 57:9 46:5,8 173:16 165:18 22 58:2,17 48:10, ccme.