Philadelphia City Council\u2019s agenda is hitting home in the new year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the first day of legislative session in 2026, the legislative body gave the go-ahead on a measure that stipulates how bond funding will move forward for Mayor Cherelle Parker\u2019s broader housing initiative.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Soon after receiving legislative approval, Parker held a press conference with council members and local officials to celebrate the $2 billion investment plan and tout her housing-related announcements this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we\u2019re going to compete with any of our counties in the region, and people are choosing where they\u2019re going to become a nurse, a teacher, a firefighter, a government employee \u2026 now we\u2019ve given people a reason to choose our city,\u201d Parker said to kick off Thursday\u2019s press conference. \u201cI know it\u2019s a lot and we couldn\u2019t do it all at once, but I hope you see the comprehensive nature of our plan and that we are not afraid to do what has never been done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Housing Day Pt. III<\/p>\n
A week of housing news was capped off with Council moving forward with the financing of the H.O.M.E., approving the issuance of the first round of bonds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After ending the year pushing back<\/a> against the mayor\u2019s plan, Council unanimously approved an ordinance to authorize the issuance of $800 million in city bonds to fund her H.O.M.E. initiative.<\/p>\n \u201cI think this is a win-win for the residents here in the City of Philadelphia when you talk about the issue of housing equity,\u201d Council President Kenyatta Johnson told reporters Thursday. \u201cThis is only the first phase, but nevertheless, it gives us an opportunity to start borrowing the necessary funding that\u2019s needed to start our program.\u201d<\/p>\n The move comes during a week awash with housing news: The Parker administration unveiled plans for two separate housing plans<\/a>, including the redevelopment of a senior housing complex in West Philadelphia and the proposal to create a modular housing manufacturing facility in North Philadelphia.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been three days of magnificence,\u201d a laudatory state Sen. Vincent Hughes said during Thursday\u2019s press conference. \u201cI want people to truly understand and place an appropriate perspective on what is being done today: $2 billion of new money \u2013 not money that was already moving through the system \u2013 new money to address every level of the crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n Trash talk<\/p>\n