Chief Clerk Elizabeth McCollum during her swearing-in ceremony
The 2025 spring session of the Philadelphia City Council began amid uncertainty regarding the Trump Administration’s impending actions. Despite, and perhaps because of those concerns, two of the most significant pieces of legislation of the spring session likely occurred this week.
Before we get into the last week in council, Hall Monitor would like to congratulate newly appointed Chief Clerk of Council Elizabeth McCollum. Ms. McCollum had held the title of Interim-Clerk since last February. We at Hall Monitor appreciate her efforts over the last year, and wish her continued success in her role.
Landau Holds Hearing on Possible Trump-Era Effects
At the behest of Councilmember Rue Landau, the Philadelphia City Council Committee on Law and Government held a hearing to hear testimony from various agencies and stakeholders regarding the city’s readiness for impending actions that the incoming Trump Administration could take.
Mainly focusing on the immigrant and LGTBQ communities, Landau said the city was facing a crisis.
“With the new presidential administration determined to roll back the hard court rights and protections of immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, and so many other marginalized communities…today is not just another policy discussion, it’s a collective call to defend the dignity, safety, and very existence of those who too often have been pushed to the edges of society,” Landau said.
City Solicitor Renee Garcia provided a list of protections the city already has in place, including the following (taken directly from Solicitor Garcia’s testimony):
The Fair Protections Ordinance protects people from adverse action in employment, housing, or a place of public accommodation on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, reproductive health, autonomy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information, or domestic or sexual violence victims’ status.
Executive Order 0809 ensures access to all city services regardless of immigration status. It prohibits city employees from suing people about their immigration status unless that information is required to utilize the service.
Executive order 0516 affirms Philadelphia will only honor federal judicial warrants, not detainer requests from immigration enforcement agencies.
Several bills passed recently by the City Council protect reproductive health autonomy, including Bills Nos. 220664, 220665, and 220666. According to Commonwealth statutes, abortion is protected for up to 24 weeks.
Representatives from the School District of Philadelphia provided testimony on LGTBQ protections already in place, which prohibit discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
However, questions arose when asked how the district would handle ICE agents attempting to raid a school.
Dr. Natalie Nuree, Chief of Special Education and Diverse learners, said the school district is examining Trump’s executive orders. Staff have been trained, and clear guidelines have been developed on how ICE agents on school grounds should be handled.
However, beyond notifying district legal counsel, the district was unclear on what happened after district leadership was notified.
Jones Introduces Millage Hearing Resolution
To help ameliorate the effects of property tax increases on Philadelphia residents, Councilmember Curtis Jones introduced a resolution “authorizing City Council’s Committee of the Whole to conduct hearings to assess the implementation of a mandatory millage rate adjustment review in response to city-wide property assessments conducted by the Office of Property Assessment, to maintain revenue neutrality to alleviate increasing tax burdens on Philadelphia taxpayers.”
According to the resolution, in 2013, the city introduced the Actual Value Initiative (AVI), designed to assess properties based on their actual market value. Although the AVI was implemented to make the property tax system more equitable, taxes have increased for many residents who cannot afford them.
The resolution proposes a “mandatory millage rate adjustment review,” which the City Council would conduct.
Every other county in the commonwealth has a similar process, which is intended to keep residents’ tax burden reasonable while still maintaining suitable revenue for county functions.
Brooks Introduces Detainer Resolution
Councilmember Kendra Brooks introduced a resolution “authorizing the Committee on Legislative Oversight to hold a hearing on detainer policy in the City of Philadelphia, and calling on the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania to provide an overview of its policies and practices regarding detainer issuance on individuals with post-trial probation and parole sentences.”
A detainer is a request made by a law enforcement agency to a jail or other containment facility to detain someone beyond the amount of time they would ordinarily be detained so the issuing agency can “assume custody” of the individual. The US Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) commonly uses this tactic.
According to the resolution, Philadelphia has one of the highest rates of incarceration in the United States, which disproportionately affects Black and Brown communities.
The hearings would include the city court system, which would “provide an overview of its policies and practices regarding detainer issuance on individuals with post-trial probation and parole sentences.”
Harrity Calls for Review of Soda Tax
Councilmember Jim Harrity introduced a resolution “authorizing the Committee on Labor to Hold Hearings Exploring the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax and its Impact on Philadelphia Businesses, Trades, and Consumers.”
The tax, implemented in 2017, helps pay for pre-kindergarten seats for city children and the Rebuild Initiative. It adds $0.015 per ounce of sweetened beverages, raising the price of each beverage by 32 percent, according to the resolution.
The resolution further states the tax has contributed to the following:
PepsiCo reporting layoffs of 80-100 employees and a 40 percent decrease in sales
Coca-Cola laying off 40 employees and a 32 percent decrease in sales
The American Beverage Association reported an 1192-employee layoff with a 29 percent decrease in sales
Food retail stores passing 137 percent of the tax onto consumers
Supermarket owners reporting a 25% decline in business, which has been linked to the closing of stores
Teamsters Local 830 reported a 43 percent drop in sweetened beverage sales, while sales in a five-mile radius of the city increased by 20 percent.
Thomas to Hold Hearings on “Rubber Rooms”
Councilmember Isaiah Thomas introduced a resolution “authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings on the existence, purpose, use and procedures surrounding the School District of Philadelphia’s reassignment rooms – sometimes called the rubber room.”
Thomas’ resolution says the School District “maintains separate reassignment rooms for teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals,” to which “several hundred school district employees are sent” every year. Some employees have been in these “rubber rooms” for years.
The hearing will consist of testimony from School District officials, staff, and Department of Human Services officials who investigate the complaints.
City Council Bills and Resolutions Passed and Adopted at the January 23rd, 2025 Session:
Resolution calling upon the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to strengthen enforcement against
illegal activity in merchants that impact neighborhoods throughout the City of Philadelphia.
Resolution honoring Central High School for Winning the 2024 PIAA District 12 AAA Team Title
for the fourth consecutive year and celebrating their impressive sweep of team, singles, and
doubles championships.
Resolution honoring Imhotep Charter High School for winning the 2024 Public League 6A and
PIAA District 7 Football Championships and celebrating their legacy of excellence.
Resolution a Resolution commemorating the 60th anniversary of the V oting Rights Act of 1965,
recognizing its pivotal role in securing equal voting rights for African Americans and other
marginalized groups, and advancing civil rights in the United States.
Resolution a resolution celebrating the life, legacy, and unwavering commitment of Rabbi
Solomon Isaacson, leader of Congregation Beth Solomon and dedicated advocate for Jewish as
well as broader faith-based and social services communities.
Resolution No. 250012
Resolution recognizing January 2025 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the City of
Philadelphia.
Resolution honoring the African American Children’s Book Project on the Occasion of its 33rd
Annual African American Children’s Book Fair.
Resolution honoring and congratulating School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Tony
Watlington for being recognized as Superintendent of the Year by the District Administration
Leadership Institute.
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings on the existence, purpose, use
and procedures surrounding the School District of Philadelphia’s reassignment rooms – sometimes
called the rubber room.
Resolution requesting the Mayor to return to Council Bill No. 240817, entitled “Providing for the
submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a
Resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter
relating to the creation of the Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board; and authorizing the
appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election; all under
certain terms and conditions” for the purpose of reconsideration by the Council of the vote by
which said bill passed Council.
Resolution authorizing City Council’s Committee of the Whole to conduct hearings to assess the
implementation of a mandatory millage rate adjustment review in response to city-wide property
assessments conducted by the Office of Property Assessment, with the goal of maintaining revenue
neutrality to alleviate increasing tax burdens on Philadelphia taxpayers.
Resolution congratulating the Temple University men’s basketball team for winning their 2,000th
game.
Resolution honoring the Life and Legacy of President Jimmy Carter.
Resolution honoring and congratulating Jackie Pettyjohn, the “First Lady of SEPTA,” on her retirement after forty years as SEPTA’s first female train engineer.
Resolution honoring the work of The Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition and The Salvation
Army to raise awareness of victims and survivors of human trafficking during National Human
Trafficking Prevention Month.
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Labor to Hold Hearings Exploring the Sugar-Sweetened
Beverage Tax and its Impact on Philadelphia Businesses, Trades, and Consumers.
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