City Hall
Mayor Parker Strikes Deal with DC 33
Trash collectors and other frontline City workers will return to work after the Parker administration reached a deal with AFSCME District Council 33 early Wednesday morning. The three-year contract includes an annual 3% raise for workers and the establishment of a fifth pay threshold in the union pay scale, projected to lift veteran and DC 33 salaries by an additional 2%.
Around Town
HBSE, Comcast Purchase Multiple Market East Properties
Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment (HBSE)—which owns the Philadelphia 76ers—and Comcast purchased multiple properties along two sections of East Market Street, signaling a joint commitment to revitalize the area.
Penn’s Landing Park Over I-95 Begins to Take Shape
Construction of a 12-acre park over I-95 at Penn’s Landing is well underway, with the first section nearly complete and the full cap expected by 2029. The park—which will feature green space, a playground, and an amphitheater—is on track to open in 2030 and will reconnect Old City with the Delaware River waterfront.
Jefferson to Renovate ER with $28M Kimmel Family Gift
Jefferson Health will use a $28 million donation from the Kimmel family to renovate its Center City emergency department with a new 30-bed unit and fund medical research at Sidney Kimmel Medical College.
School District Eyes Major School Closures Amid Push for Equity, Efficiency
The Philadelphia School District is preparing to close, consolidate, or reconfigure schools as part of a sweeping facilities plan aimed at addressing under-enrollment and aging infrastructure. Last week, School District officials publicized a four-pronged schematic designed to determine what happens to each location, which includes providing scores for school building structure, program evaluation, capacity and utilization, and neighborhood vulnerability.
SEPTA Prepares for 20% Service Cuts
SEPTA is preparing two fall schedules—one with normal service and another with deep cuts starting August 24—should the General Assembly fail to allocate sufficient funding to public transit in the FY26 state budget. The agency is warning riders, updating systems, and planning widespread changes that could significantly affect transit access and Philadelphia’s downtown economy.
Waymo to Begin Testing Self-Driving Cars in Philadelphia
Waymo is launching manual test drives of its autonomous vehicles in Philadelphia to familiarize its technology with the city. While public rides are not yet available, the move signals a potential future expansion as the company awaits approval for autonomous testing in Pennsylvania.
Temple’s Projected Enrollment Increases for First Time Since 2017
Having lost approximately 10,000 students from its 2017 enrollment peak, Temple University appears to have made inroads in its incoming class. According to Temple University President John Fry, first-year deposits increased by 10% from last year.
Two Mass Shootings Rock South Philly
Police are investigating two mass shootings that occurred last weekend, one of which left eight people wounded in South Philadelphia and another which killed three and injured 10 in Grays Ferry early Monday morning.
Election Update
Rep. Rabb Announces Congressional Candidacy
Progressive State Representative Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) announced his campaign for the 3rd congressional district, aiming to fill the seat of retiring U.S. Representative Dwight Evans.
Suburban Spotlight
KOP Rental Market Hits New High
Contesting the conventional suburban vision, King of Prussia joins a growing trend of suburban centers that boast more renters than single-family homeowners, according to Point2Homes.
