Before City Council’s regular Thursday meeting, Councilmember Rue Landau held a press conference highlighting her proposed updates to the city’s Fair Chance Hiring laws.
The original legislation, passed 14 years ago, banned employers from asking applicants about their criminal history.
“The last 14 years have shown us how much people can change, and our city needs to reflect that in our laws,” Landau said. “Barriers are still in place, but I’m hopeful this law will evolve alongside our understanding of recidivism and reentry.”
According to information provided by Landau’s office, more than 300,000 Philadelphians have a criminal record. Amongst other things, the amendments shorten the period of time which employers can review potential applicants misdemeanor convictions from seven years to four years.
Other updates include:
Clarification that the law applies to ALL uses of criminal history
Clarification of what is required of employers who make individualized assessments of criminal records
Changes how employers can consider different types of convictions to align with research on recidivism risk and with state law
Protect people who exercise their fair chance hiring rights from retaliation
Landau, chair of the City Council Technology Committee, also introduced a pair of resolutions related to technology issues.
The first recognizes October 6th to October 10th as Digital Inclusion Week in Philadelphia.
The week-long event highlights challenges faced by individuals regarding digital inclusion, digital equity, digital resources, and lack of digital devices.
The second resolution “recognizes October 2025 as Cybersecurity Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia, and acknowledging the importance of empowering individuals and organizations to prevent and recognize online threats, providing resources to protect sensitive data, and fostering a culture of digital safety by educating the public on best practices.”
Lozada Updates Curfew Bill
Councilmember Quetcy Lozada introduced an amendment to her business curfew legislation which allows exemptions for pharmacies.
The existing legislation limits hours of operations for certain businesses in the 7th and 8th Ditricts, and parts of the 1st District. The purpose of the restrictions are to limit the operations of “nuisance businesses” in Kensington that attract people engaging in problematic activities. This is part of a push by City Council to address these businesses; Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson and 9th District Councilmember Anthony Phillips have introduced similar bills this session.
The updated language is as follows: his Section shall not apply to any: Food Establishment with a Restaurant Liquor License; Food Establishment that serves customers exclusively from a drive-through window; vehicle fueling station; or premises where a permit to conduct a pharmacy has been issued under Section 4 of the Pharmacy Act, 63 P.S. § 390-4 (or any subsequent provision), by the State Board of Pharmacy.
Brooks Recognizes Senior Centers
Councilmember Kendra Brooks introduced a resolution “recognizing September as National Senior Center Month in the City of Philadelphia, honoring the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) and the
City’s senior centers for their exceptional service and support to older adults, and uplifting this year’s National Council on Aging theme, “Powering Possibilities: Flip the Script.”
According to the resolution, PCA “provided 337,540 instances of service to oler adults.” These services consist of meals, wellness classes, social programs, and counseling. PCA provided 1,634,306 meals alsone in 2024.
The “Powering Possibilities: Flip the Script” prgram is aimed at challenging perceptions of the aging and shines a light “on senior centers as dynamic, empowering hubs for creativity, social connection, health, ecomoic security, and independence.”
This article is a part of Every Voice, Every Vote, a collaborative project managed by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. The William Penn Foundation provides lead support for Every Voice, Every Vote in 2024 and 2025 with additional funding from The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Comcast NBC Universal, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Henry L. Kimelman Family Foundation, Judy and Peter Leone, Arctos Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, 25th Century Foundation, Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation, and Philadelphia Health Partnership. To learn more about the project and view a full list of supporters, visit www.everyvoice-everyvote.org. Editorial content is created independently of the project’s donors.
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