Philly's City Council is keeping it busy with a slew of bills and resolutions, one recently spotlighting the fight to clean up the city's act—literally. In their second fall session, a bill aiming to end the incineration of the city's trash, called "Stop Trashing Our Air Act," was introduced by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier. According to the source report, the bill targets a whopping 37% of Philly's refuse currently ending up in flames, with a third of that smoked at a single facility in Chester, which handles 3,500 tons of waste daily. Talk about taking out the trash.
With an eco-friendly shift, the council is looking to slap a 15-cent fee per paper bag at spots like grocery stores to drive patrons to bring reusable alternatives seriously. Councilmember Mark Squilla introduced Bill #250773, aiming to nudge the city toward a greener future. Meanwhile, Councilmember Rue Landau is pushing to refine the definition of what constitutes a fair criminal record screening with Bill #250373, set for a final vote later this month.
Philly's doing more than just cleaning up its environmental act, they're also restoring honor to historical sites and figures. Take the unanimous approval of Resolution #250776, which calls out efforts to scrub the nation's history of its slavery-related past. Council President Kenyatta Johnson condemned the "efforts to whitewash, suppress, and rewrite American history," particularly regarding the President's House site's contributions to teaching about President George Washington's enslaved individuals.
On a social note, Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Rue Landau are demanding action on reproductive rights, loudly protesting cuts to healthcare funding. Brooks stated that these cuts make it significantly more challenging for residents to access necessary healthcare. Joining in the fray, there's action going down to charge up some grassroots initiatives, like the push for constructing a new Carousel House and unmasking the increasing costs due to inflation as articulated by Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. Jones has vowed the rebuild will happen, with a planned bid for construction set to soar by summer 2026.
And let's not miss the cultural beat, as the City Council kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month with a vibrant art display featuring contributions from local Hispanic artists, ranging from paintings to papier-mâché, celebrating their take on the theme "From 215 Con Mucho, Mucho Amor." Looking past the canvas, the streets themselves are set to honor civil rights icon Donald "Ducky" Birts with a ceremonial renaming this September 20, according to Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr.
Lastly, for a more kinetic display of Philly pride, the re-emergence of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic is gearing up to race back into the city's heart in August 2026, thanks to joint efforts by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, former Mayor Michael Nutter, and several City Council members. The event promises to be a multi-day shindig that champions not just sportsmanship, but also neighborhoods and schools across the city.
