Moves on the Board: Week of September 1 - 5, 2025
Denotes a Bellevue Strategies client.
A special callout for our client, Upper Darby Township!
Upper Darby Township was awarded $6.5 million from the federal government for flood mitigation in the Township. This FEMA grant will help to prevent flooding in areas of the Township that have been susceptible to large floods over the years. Many of these areas lie within the 100-year floodplain, but with stronger and more frequent storms, these areas of the Township continue to experience adverse impacts. Upgrades to stormwater and green infrastructure will help to address flooding for those located in these areas of the Township.
♟️CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
Parker Administration
Mayor Parker kicked off a busy Labor Day weekend by joining OIC Philadelphia's 3rd Annual Alumni & Community Block Party. The Mayor was joined by Congressman Dwight Evans, Senator Sharif Street, and Councilmember Jeffrey Young, Jr. to celebrate OIC alumni and Philadelphia's hardworking labor community. Mayor Parker maintained a packed schedule through Labor Day, joining local labor leaders at their annual parade in South Philadelphia before an active week of announcements.
Mayor Parker and Governor Shapiro participated in a roundtable discussion on technical education hosted by the Center for American Progress (CAP) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Additionally, Mayor Parker joined Councilmember Jeffrey Young Jr., the Police Department, and the Capital Program Office to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new 22nd District Police Station and Police Athletic League Center.
The Parker administration announced several new initiatives this week, including:
‘Ring It On! One Philly, A United Celebration,’ a comprehensive effort to beautify commercial corridors ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. The announcement highlights over $100 million in investments focused on neighborhood ABC’s Activation, Beautification, and Celebration.
As part of America250PA's “Bells Across PA” program, Mural Arts Philadelphia will collaborate with local artists to design approximately 20 large replica Liberty Bells commemorating the country’s Semiquincentennial. The bells will be installed along commercial corridors and in public parks, creating what officials describe as a “treasure map” for residents and visitors exploring the city's neighborhoods.
Mayor Parker announced a new regulation spearheaded by the Department of Records that would require a verification check to combat deed fraud as part of the administration’s H.O.M.E. initiative. Deed fraud is a scheme in which criminals attempt to steal a home by exploiting deceased homeowners’ identities.
Philadelphia City Council
As the summer season comes to a close, City Council is shifting from community events and back-to-school initiatives to the start of its fall legislative session.
Next Week’s Moves
City Council will return on Thursday, September 11, for its first meeting after the legislative body’s summer break. The fall calendar is already filling up with several committee hearings, including:
The Special Committee on Kensington will meet on September 16 for a hearing focused on the opioid epidemic’s impact on neighborhood children’s development and quality of life
The Committee on Rules and the Committee on Public Health and Human Services will meet for meetings on September 22, respectively.
♟️COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Shapiro Administration
Governor Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Education Secretary Carrie Rowe visited Philadelphia on Tuesday for an engaging roundtable discussion. The conversation centered on the Shapiro administration's efforts to bring more career and technical education programs to schools across the state. Shapiro was enthusiastic about sharing how schools are already benefiting from the $2 billion in K-12 education funding he helped secure.
State budget negotiations remain deadlocked despite the Governor's ongoing efforts to reach an agreement.
📰 Updates from the Governor’s Newsroom
♟️PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
While legislative leaders continued quiet negotiations over a state budget this week, the General Assembly’s Policy Committees hosted hearings across the Commonwealth. Here are the highlights:
House Democrats met in Pittsburgh for two meetings, focusing on waterfront development and the intersection of the state’s energy and manufacturing sectors
Senate Democrats hosted a meeting in Scranton to discuss the local impact of data centers and policy considerations for economic development.
Senate Republicans convened in Lycoming County to discuss higher education and workforce development.
The Senate’s Veterans Affairs and Emergency Management Committee held a hearing on Wednesday, September 3, to reflect on lessons from Tropical Storm Debby one year after making landfall.
Next Week’s Moves
Coming Up: The House and Senate are scheduled to come back into session later this month. Click to check out session dates for the House and the Senate which are both subject to change.
♟️On The Trail: Pennsylvania’s 2026 Elections
State Races
Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair
Eugene DePaquale, former candidate for Pennsylvania Attorney General, is running for Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair to replace State Senator Sharif Street after he announced he would step down as chair to focus on running for Congress. The State Committee meets for a special election on Saturday, September 6.
State Senate District 36
Former Rapho Township Supervisor Jere Swarr announced he will run for the Republican nomination to defeat Democratic State Senator James Malone in Lancaster County. Senator Malone recently flipped the seat blue after filling a vacant seat in a special election this year. At this point, Swarr will face State Representative Tom Jones in the primary.
Federal Races
PA Congressional District 3
State Representative Morgan Cephas announced she is entering the Democratic primary to succeed retiring Congressman Dwight Evans. Representative Cephas, a West Philadelphia native and the current chair of the Philadelphia Delegation, joins a crowded primary field that includes other notable candidates, such as State Senator Sharif Street and State Representative Chris Rabb.
PA Congressional District 7
Ryan Crosswell, a lawyer who formerly worked for the Department of Justice, announced his campaign to run in the Democratic primary, hoping to beat Republican Incumbent Congressman Ryan Mackenzie. Crosswell notably left the DOJ after President Trump asked them to drop the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Crosswell will face Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure and community leader Carol Obando-Derstine in the primary.
PA Congressional District 8
Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti announced her plans to run in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District. Cognetti has served as Mayor since 2020, and has previously served in the Obama Administration for the U.S. Treasury Department. If she wins the primary, she will face Republican Congressman Ryan Bresnahan, who was recently elected to the seat in 2024, flipping it from blue to red. Additionally, Francis McHale, a licensed attorney who previously worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, announced his plans to run against Cognetti in the primary.