Moves on the Board: May 25 - 29, 2026
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♟️CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Parker Administration
We're back with the weekly Bellevue Bulletin following last week's primary election recap. If you missed it, you can find it here.
The week opened on Memorial Day, with Mayor Parker joining veterans and community members at the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors in Logan Square — a solemn tribute to those who gave their lives in service to the nation.
On Tuesday, Parker hosted the 3rd Annual Philly Service Impact Award Ceremony in the Mayor's Reception Room, honoring students whose projects made a meaningful difference in their schools and communities.
The mayor then joined Val Gay and other civic leaders at Dilworth Park for a public concert celebrating the 19th Amendment. The event featured the premiere of Unfinished Chorus, a new performance exploring the history of women's suffrage, voting rights, and political representation.
Wednesday was a full day. Parker joined the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and Mural Arts Philadelphia to unveil the Gateways to Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti & Highway Beautification Project along I-76. The initiative aims to beautify key entry points into the city and includes an America 250-themed mural on Spring Garden Street — part of a broader effort to welcome the wave of visitors expected in Philadelphia this year.
Also on Wednesday, the Parker administration announced a tentative agreement with representatives of Philadelphia's hotel industry on a revised tax proposal. Under the deal, the originally proposed 2 percent hotel tax would be reduced to 0.6 percent, paired with a 6 percent tax on short-term rentals. The agreement includes a five-year sunset provision and, if adopted, would generate an estimated $75 million over that period — revenue the administration has earmarked for addressing homelessness.
Philadelphia City Council
This week, the Committee on Law and Government met to discuss a bill to create a Child Welfare Commission. They also discussed Bill 260264, which would create a permanent CreativePHL office in the City of Philadelphia. The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance shared testimony about the importance of the Creative Economy in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia City Council convened this week to continue discussions on key legislative and budget priorities impacting residents across the city. Council members considered measures related to the PEA board, redevelopment authority, and honorary resolutions, while also advancing conversations surrounding city services and community investment. As budget negotiations move forward, Council remains focused on addressing quality-of-life concerns and supporting initiatives that strengthen Philadelphia’s communities and drive economic growth.
Resolutions
Resolution 260570 (Councilmember Phillips) Authorizing the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to hold public hearings on the condition of the City’s public park system.
Resolution 260580 (Councilmember Thomas) Honoring the Philadelphia Federation of Teacherson their 85th anniversary.
Resolution 260582 (Councilmember Jones) Adopting the 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan as the official hazard mitigation plan of the City of Philadelphia.
Next Week’s Moves
Coming Up:
On Monday, June 1, the Committee on Streets and Services will discuss many bills relating to the designation of bicycle lanes, sidewalk cafés, farmer’s market locations, and many other related bills.
On Monday, June 1, the Committee on Public Health and Human Services will discuss adding new language to the Philadelphia Code establishing a new chapter on U-Visa and T-Visa certifications.
On Monday, June 1, the Committee on Public Property and Public Works will examine legislation related to public property, development, and city operations.
On Tuesday, June 2, the Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities is reviewing proposed legislation that would allow for reductions in customer water bills resulting from defective or inaccurate water meters and revise income eligibility standards for water and sewer rate discounts and installment payment agreements. Additional bills focus on aviation and transportation initiatives, including authorizing property and easement acquisitions tied to Philadelphia International Airport operations.
On Wednesday, June 3, the Committee of the Whole is expected to hold a budget hearing. We expect that this will be recessed until Thursday, June 4 before the regular council session.
On Wednesday, June 3, the Committee on Finance will discuss fiscal oversight, economic development, public infrastructure, and city operations. The bills and resolutions will address tax policy, municipal financing, housing and community development initiatives, public utilities, workforce and employee-related matters, and ongoing investments in City facilities and services.
On Wednesday, June 3, the Committee on Rules will review several bills related to zoning designations and mixed-use affordable housing developments.
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Shapiro Administration
On Tuesday, Governor Shapiro and DCED Secretary Rick Siger visited small businesses in West Reading to announce $17.2 million in funding for 56 community projects statewide through the Main Street Matters program, which aims to revitalize downtowns and support small businesses. Shapiro used the event to press the Legislature to preserve the program's roughly $20 million in funding in the final 2026-27 budget.
On Wednesday, the Governor unveiled the Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Standards — accountability guardrails for data center development across the state. The voluntary program asks developers to adhere to four priorities: protecting energy affordability, promoting transparency and community engagement, supporting workforce and economic development, and strengthening environmental protections.
Earlier this week, Department of Education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe announced more than $510,000 in grants to 26 schools through the Developing Future Special Educators program, giving more than 800 Pennsylvania high school students early exposure to special education careers and the opportunity to earn college credits before graduation.
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis called for sustained investment in community violence prevention, highlighting the Administration's Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) grants administered by PCCD and advocating for continued funding in the state budget. PCCD approved 177 projects through its VIP and BOOST programs, investing more than $65 million across the state. Davis also noted that during FY 2024-25, the Administration directed more than $1 billion to small businesses for the second consecutive year — including a 45 percent increase in spending with Black- and Latino-owned businesses over the prior two years.
Updates from the Governor’s Newsroom
Pennsylvania General Assembly
Committee News:
The House Republican Policy Committee held two public hearings this week to discuss ways to expand access to homeownership throughout the Commonwealth. This concluded a series of public policy hearings that were held throughout the Commonwealth focused on increasing homeownership. The Committee heard testimony from builders, realtors, housing officials, local elected officials, and nonprofit leaders. The Committee analyzed the rising costs associated with housing throughout a house's lifecycle. The legislators discussed the financial burden of increased permitting and regulatory compliance on homebuilders and contractors renovating or converting houses. These costs, when combined with rising labor and material costs, create thin margins for homebuilders and significantly contribute to the high prices of newly constructed houses. The Committee also discussed ways in which to expand the available housing stock through accessory dwelling units and zoning reform.
Next Week’s Moves
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Senate will return to Harrisburg for a joint voting session from Monday, June 1, through Wednesday, June 3.