Moves on the Board: Week of Juy 28 - August 1
♟️CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Parker Administration
The Parker administration notched a few public wins this week. On Monday, the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority gave Mayor Parker’s One Philly 2.0 Budget an official stamp of approval on Monday with all board members present voting in support of the Mayor’s budget. The administration announced Vinnie Magwell as the winning artist selected to design the city’s new Sadie T. M. Alexander Statue. The Sadie T. M. Alexander Statue will be installed at the Thomas Paine Plaza outside of the Municipal Services Building. The Municipal Services Building, known as city employees as MSB, has undergone a massive renovation, which will culminate in a new park outside of the building at Thomas Paine Plaza.
Mayor Parker announced 10 new appointees to her leadership team this week. Many new administration members have been in their roles for several weeks. Here’s who joined the team:
The City of Philadelphia’s ban on bump stocks, switches, and firearm acceleration devices triumphed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on Thursday. The court dismissed the complainant's case, paving the way for the city to enforce this 2024 law. The complainants — gun owners who believe the city’s law is unconstitutional — are appealing the Court’s decision.
The Parker administration’s Office of Public Safety announced grant recipients of the 2025 Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund. The fund distributed $2.2 million to grassroots organizations working to combat the opioid epidemic.
Philadelphia City Council
Council President Johnson amplified workforce development by spotlighting Bellevue Strategies’ client OIC Philadelphia’s upcoming Career Training Programs beginning August 25. The free Green Jobs and Behavioral Health Technician programs prepare residents for high-demand, well-paying careers in sustainability and mental health.
Councilmember Jeffery Young joined Bellevue Strategies’ client Mural Arts to unveil a new mural honoring Paul “Unk P” Gripper in North Philadelphia. The newest addition to Philly’s 3,000-plus mural collection is by artist Nilé Livingston and commemorates Unk P’s legacy of mentorship and community impact through basketball. Councilmember Mike Driscoll highlighted Mural Arts’ upcoming First Friday Craft Supply Giveaway at Tacony LAB Art Center.
Councilmembers Rue Landau, Curties Jones, JRr, Cindy Bass, and Jamie Gauthier attended a celebration commemorating Muslim Day at City Hall, advocating alongside Muslim Philadelphians for religious and cultural equity. Advocates amplified the community’s policy priorities, which included protections for religious attire, access to halal food, prayer spaces in schools, Eid recognition, and immigrant family safety.
♟️COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Shapiro Administration
Governor Josh Shapiro joined 22 other states in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for unlawfully blocking money to Planned Parenthood. President Trump’s reconciliation package signed into law earlier this month cuts Medicaid funding to nonprofit health care organizations that specialize in family planning and reproductive health. Since the legislation’s criteria are narrow enough to target Planned Parenthood, Shapiro and others are calling this a violation of the organization’s First Amendment right.
Governor Shapiro and U.S. Senator Dave McCormick announced they will return to Pittsburgh for another an AI summit in the Steel City early this fall. Government and business leaders will convene AI Horizons 2025 on Thursday, September 11, and Friday, September 12; a full itinerary of speakers will be released in the coming weeks.
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Randy Padfield unveiled plans to update the Pennsylvania Integrated Flood Warning and Observation System. This system provides real-time weather alerts to emergency managers, meteorologists, and the public.
📰 Updates from the Governor’s Newsroom
♟️PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly was not in Harrisburg for legislative session this week, but House Republicans and Senate Democrats held Policy Committee meetings in Southeastern PA.
The House Republican Policy Committee met at Upper Bucks Technical School on Tuesday, July 29, to discuss the state of childcare in the Commonwealth. Representatives Joe Hogan and Shelby Labs discussed their forthcoming legislation that will permit high school students to concurrently pursue an associate's degree in early childhood education so that they can enter the childcare workforce upon graduation. Testimony was provided by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, Allentown YMCA, the United Way of Bucks County, and other organizations. The Committee additionally discussed restrictive overregulation and the looming staffing crisis in the field.
The Senate Democratic Policy Committee met at the West Earl Township Municipal Building on Wednesday, July 30, to discuss emergency services and first responder recruitment in the Commonwealth. Testimony was provided by representatives from the Ephrata Police Department, the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, Garden Spot Fire Rescue, East Petersburg Fire Company, and East Hempfield Fire Company. The Committee discussed the benefits of regionalization of police departments, such as recruitment and cost efficiency. Both elected officials and the testifiers acknowledged that the growing costs associated with emergency services are limiting the capabilities of local departments. Both Senator Tim Kearney and Senator John Kane discussed the ongoing EMS and healthcare crisis in Delaware County since Crozer Hospital closed earlier this year; Senator Kearney stated that since then, the County has lost four acute care ambulances. The Senator suggested regionalization as a possible solution to the County’s dearth of emergency services.
Next Week’s Moves
The House and Senate are not scheduled for legislative session next week. Legislators remain on-call and will return to Harrisburg when a budget agreement is reached.
♟️On The Trail: Pennsylvania’s 2026 Elections
State Races
State Senate District 36
State Representative Tom Jones (R-Lancaster), announced his bid to run for the State Senate seat in District 36. Jones is a Lancaster native, small business owner, and has served in the State House for two terms. The Senate seat is currently held by Senator James Malone (D), who recently flipped the open seat in a special election this year. Former Senator Ryan Aument previously held the seat but resigned to serve as US Senator Dave McCormick’s Pennsylvania State Director.