Moves on the Board: October 5-9, 2026

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CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

Parker Administration

Mayor Cherelle Parker kicked off the week at the National Constitution Center by opening the 42nd Annual Maximizing Economic Development (MED) Week Kickoff Breakfast & Awards. Addressing local entrepreneurs and civic leaders under the theme "Advancing Economic Opportunity for All," Mayor Parker reaffirmed her administration's commitment to expanding opportunities for minority, women, and disabled-owned business enterprises across Philadelphia. Later in the day, the Mayor attended a community tree-planting ceremony at Lemon Hill, officially launching legacy capital and play space investments to commemorate the incredibly successful 2026 FIFA World Cup Fan Fest celebration.

On Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Parker gathered with community leaders at City Hall to unveil the expanded schedule for One Philly HBCU Week 2026. The flagship initiative elevates the city's annual celebration into a multi-game college football showcase at Lincoln Financial Field, paired with regional job fairs, marching band competitions, and community events highlighting the legacy and impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

On Wednesday, Mayor Parker joined City Council members, community organizers, and clergy at 6th and Lombard streets for a historic street renaming ceremony designating the street as "Bishop Richard Allen Way." The dedication honors the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and Mother Bethel AME Church, celebrating Allen’s foundational role in Philadelphia’s religious and civil rights history.

Philadelphia City Council 

Council held committee meetings Monday through Wednesday, followed by its regular legislative session on Thursday, October 8. Philadelphia City Council’s activity this week focused on transportation and street design, transit access for students, and municipal financing. 

Thursday’s agenda included a zoning-map amendment affecting properties bounded by Ridge Avenue, Spring Lane, Hagy’s Mill Road, Port Royal Avenue, River Road, and the Montgomery County line. The zoning item highlights Council’s ongoing role in land-use decisions and the regulation of development through amendments to the Philadelphia Zoning Map. Such measures can have implications for the types of uses permitted on specific parcels and for future development in the affected area. 

City Council honored the Philadelphia Education Fund with a proclamation recognizing its contributions to public education and its longstanding commitment to supporting Philadelphia students, educators, and schools. The recognition highlights the organization’s work to expand educational opportunities, strengthen the city’s education system, and help students prepare for college and career success. 

The hearing for the resolution regarding the Academy of Natural Sciences investigation, which had been adopted by Council on September 17 was postponed this week. It will now be discussed during the October 26 oversight hearing. Please see other bills and resolutions of note below. 

• Ordinances 

  • Bill 260829 (Councilmember Ahmad) Proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to create the Office of Food and Nutrition Security and the Food and Nutrition Security Advisory Commission.

• Resolutions

  • Resolution 260836 (Councilmember Thomas) Honoring Black Male Educators.

  • Resolution 260838 (Councilmember Landau) Celebrating the Fringe Festival in Philadelphia.

  • Resolution 260839 (Councilmember Landau) Authorizing the Committee on Technology and Information Services to hold hearings to examine the use of emerging technologies in the grocery industry.

  • Resolution 260840 (Councilmember Lozada) Authorizing the Committee on Education to hold public hearings to examine the state of charter education in Philadelphia.

Next Week’s Moves

• Coming Up: 

  • Wednesday, October 14, The Committee on Commerce & Economic Development will hold a hearing on the process of starting a microbusiness or pop-up shop in Philadelphia.

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Shapiro Administration

On Monday, Governor Shapiro opened the week at the Governor's Residence by presenting the 2026 Keystone First Responder Award to the surviving families of nine fallen Pennsylvania heroes. Established through bipartisan legislation signed by Governor Shapiro, the annual award recognizes police officers, firefighters, and emergency personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Joined by state public safety leadership, Governor Shapiro honored awardees from the Northern York County Regional Police Department, Walnuttown Fire Company, Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, and Central Berks Regional Police Department, reaffirming the Commonwealth’s commitment to supporting first responders and their families.

On Wednesday, Governor Shapiro and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn visited Swatara Crossings Park in Dauphin County to announce $81 million in new Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) grants. Supporting 306 conservation and recreation projects across 60 counties, the funding package delivers $35.5 million for local park facilities, $10.7 million for trail expansions, and millions more for land conservation and watershed restoration. Highlighting Pennsylvania’s $20.4 billion outdoor recreation economy, Governor Shapiro emphasized how these investments strengthen local communities, improve public health, and expand outdoor access across the Commonwealth.

ThursdayGovernor Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis announced a $21.7 million expansion project by CP Industries in McKeesport. Backed by a $3.9 million Commonwealth investment package—including low-interest PIDA loans and workforce training grants—the gas pressure vessel manufacturer will build a new 25,000-square-foot facility to expand composite cylinder production for clean energy and alternative transportation. Beating out offers from other states, the initiative will create 78 new jobs and retain 115 existing full-time positions in the Mon Valley, advancing the administration’s 10-year Economic Development Strategy for Pennsylvania manufacturing.

Closer to home, the Shapiro Administration announced the award of a Main Street Matters Designation for Lansdowne, Delaware County. This enables the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation to apply for up to $225,000 in supportive grant funding for revitalization efforts in the Delaware County borough.  In the 2026-27 state budget, Governor Shapiro secured $20M for the ongoing investment in the Main Street Matters program.

Pennsylvania General Assembly

Pennsylvania’s legislative activity this week included House and Senate floor votes, committee action on public safety and consumer regulation, and continued debate over rising electricity costs and the expansion of data centers. With a limited number of remaining voting days in the legislative session, several policy areas are facing a narrowing window for legislative action.

Two issues stood out: the House’s unanimous passage of legislation regulating kratom products, and continued efforts to address the electricity costs associated with large data center developments. Data center regulation also remained a focus of public advocacy, with demonstrators calling for a statewide moratorium on new projects.

Next Week’s Moves

• Coming Up: 

  • The House and Senate will not be in session next week. They are both scheduled to be back in session on October 19-21.