Gilmore Richardson Calls for Hearing; Revision of Realty Tax
Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson introduced a resolution “authorizing the Committee on Law and Government to hold a hearing on the process to resolve a tangled title in the City of Philadelphia.”
A “tangled title” occurs when the occupant of a home is not the person named as the owner on the deed. Typically, this occurs when a home is passed down from a parent to a child, or from one family member to another, but the deed has not been updated. This can cause serious issues when purchasing homeowners’ insurance and can lead to other legal entanglements.
According to the resolution, there were 10,407 unresolved tangled cases in the city, of which 2769 have been resolved. Over $1.1 billion in property is affected in Philadelphia, with tangled titles disproportionately impacting Black Philadelphians. Without assistance, a Pew study found that the cost to resolve a tangled title can exceed $ 9,200.
In another home transfer-related piece of legislation, Gilmore Richardson introduced a bill that would change the realty transfer tax by removing liens or other encumbrances from consideration in calculating the tax.
Currently, if heirs assume the mortgage on the family home, they are technically assuming a debt from the estate, which would trigger a higher Realty Transfer Tax. According to a factsheet distributed by Gilmore Richardson’s office, a transferred home with a $100,000 mortgage would generate a $ 4,578 tax bill to record the new deed.
Young Seeks Council Authority to Remove School Board Members
Councilmember Jay Young introduced a proposal to change the city charter to allow for Philadelphia City Council to remove Members of the Board of Education
If approved, the following language would be added to the city charter:
(a) the Mayor, provided before removing any appointed member from the Board, the Mayor shall, at least ten (10) days before the date of removal, provide written notice to the Board member, with copies to the President of City Council and the Chief Clerk of City Council, that the Mayor intends to remove the member from the Board and providing the reasons therefor, which reasons shall be stated with specificity and demonstrate the member’s unfitness to serve;
(b) a vote of three-fourths of all members of City Council for reasonable cause after due notice and full hearing by said Council. Council specifically reserves the right to hear directly the testimony of any or all witnesses it desires at any time prior to the removal vote and may allow public comment. Judgment in such matter shall not extend further than to the removal of such members from the Board; or
(c) if later there be an elective Board, elected members may be removed as provided by law.
Members of City Council have had concerns regarding Mayor Parker’s school board choices, particularly the strange reappointment of former board chair Joyce Wilkerson that was never actually approved by the council.
Ahmad Introduces Charter Change
Councilmember Nina Ahmad introduced legislation to amend the city charter and create the Community Child Welfare Commission.
The commission would be an independent body “empowered to advise both City agencies and City Council (to) bridge the gap between administrative policy and the realities faced by children and families in Philadelphia.”
If approved by the voters via ballot referendum, as all charter changes must be, the commission would be composed of 15 members constituted as follows:
The Commission shall consist of fifteen (15) members, as follows:
Six (6) representatives from the Impacted Community—parents, caregivers, or adults with lived experience in the child welfare system;
Four (4) members from the Advocacy and Expert Community—individuals with demonstrated and effective experience in child welfare advocacy, research and praxis, or legal/community work who have not been named parties in a personal capacity in litigation against the City’s Department of Human Services (DHS); and
Five (5) ex officio members: the Youth Ombudsperson or their designee, an appointee from the Philadelphia School District, an appointee from DHS, an appointee from the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), and an appointee from the Department of Public Health (DPH).
No current employees or direct contractors from the represented City Agencies, other than the ex officio representatives, shall serve as Commissioners.
Ahmad also introduced a resolution “authorizing the Committee of Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings examining the current state of Philadelphia’s reproductive health care system, the current federal landscape affecting reproductive policy, and the City’s response to protect reproductive freedom.”
According to the resolution, Philadelphians experience challenges accessing abortion care due to “financial challenges, an increase in patient volume, and provider safety concerns.” Recent data from the PA Department of Health following the overturn of Roe vs. Wade, abortions increased to 35,412 in 2023. 30% of these occurred in Philadelphia.
Furthermore, the maternal mortality rate in Philadelphia is nearly 40% higher than the national average, with a rate of 8.1 deaths per 1000 live births. Nationally, the rate is 5.8 deaths per 1000. Black women are particularly vulnerable, accounting for 43% of births by 73% of pregancy related deaths.
Dept. of Interior Removes Historical Markers
On Thursday, the Department of the Interior began removing historical exhibits about slavery from Independence Hall. This follows an executive order issued by President Trump to remove any exhibit that “disparages” the history of the United States. Condemnation was swift, with the Parker Administration preparing a lawsuit, and terse statements from elected officials, including the following from Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson:
“I am deeply disturbed by the actions of the National Park Service and the Trump Administration to remove the slavery exhibit at Independence National Historical Park. This move tramples the tireless work of Philadelphians who fought to ensure that the history of the nine people enslaved by George Washington during the nation’s founding was told accurately and honestly.
This unnecessary action seeks to undermine and erase the true history of this country. I fully support the lawsuit filed by the City of Philadelphia against Doug Burgum, Jessica Bowron and the National Park Service, as well as the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition as they continue their advocacy to honor this critical history and carry out next steps. Last year, I enthusiastically supported Resolution 251075 authored by our Council President, which paid tribute to the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition and its founder, Michael Coard, Esq., in recognition of the 15th anniversary of the site’s grand opening.
Despite denying it on the campaign trail, Donald Trump and his administration are now carrying out Project 2025 in full, point by point. Removing these exhibits adds to a troubling pattern of racist and bigoted actions that sow division, perpetuate hatred, and betray the very values our nation claims to uphold. In a year when Philadelphia will stand on the world stage to mark America’s 250th Anniversary, we have a duty to defend truth, not deny it.”
Legislation Passed on January 23rd, 2026
Bill No. 250303
INTRODUCED BY: Councilmember Thomas
Resolution honoring The Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Service Center School celebrating its 20th bi-annual “Carpe Diem” honoring all the judges and students who participate in this remarkable and beneficial event.
Bill No. 250986
INTRODUCED BY: Councilmember Jones
An Ordinance amending Section 14-500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Overlay Zoning Districts” by creating Section 14-545, entitled, “/WFS, West Fairmount Sports Area Overlay District,” all under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 251025
INTRODUCED BY: Councilmember Driscoll
An Ordinance regulating the direction of movement of traffic on Ryan Avenue between Leon Street and Frankford Avenue. City
Bill No. 250990
INTRODUCED BY: Councilmember Ahmad
An Ordinance amending Chapter 9-1100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Fair Practices Ordinance: Protections Against Unlawful Discrimination,” to add protections against employment discrimination on the basis of human trafficking victim status, all under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 251065
INTRODUCED BY: Councilmember Gauthier for Council President Johnson
An Ordinance amending Bill No. 250568 (approved June 13, 2025), entitled “An Ordinance Authorizing and approving the execution and delivery of a Service Agreement between The City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority relating to the financing of a Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) Plan which includes housing production and preservation, home affordability, home owner and renter assistance, related contractor training and support, blight and vacant property reduction, urban beautification, neighborhood infrastructure, and other related programs; approving the issuance by the Authority of bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (including reimbursement obligations related to lines or letters of credit) in one or more series to finance or refinance such plan and authorizing and approving the obligation of The City of Philadelphia to pay in full when due the Service Fee and other amounts payable under the Service Agreement; authorizing certain City officers to take certain actions required to issue such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness; covenanting that The City of Philadelphia will make necessary appropriations in each of the City’s fiscal years to provide for, and will make timely payments of, the Service Fee and other amounts due under the Service Agreement; requiring an annual program statement and budget to be approved by Council, and other requirements; and authorizing and approving the Director of Finance of the City and other City officials to take other necessary or appropriate actions to effectuate the purposes of this ordinance; all under certain terms and conditions,” in order to expand on the H.O.M.E programs and provide further process concerning spending, all under
certain terms and conditions.
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