The Latest Breaking News from Philadelphia City Council

Philly’s City Council turned down a new rental inspection program − studies show that might harm tenants’ health

As Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s US$2 billion housing plan moves forward, heated debates continue about another set of municipal housing proposals that could transform Philadelphia tenants’ rights.

The Conversation · Jul 17, 2025

Philly mayoral candidates are distancing themselves from 'defund' and say police staffing is a key priority

It wasn't that long ago that Philadelphia City Council members, under pressure from racial-justice protesters, voted to cancel a proposed $19 million increase in funding to the police and move millions more to another department.

The Philadelphia Inquirer · Mar 17, 2023

'Ya Fav Trashman' was a viral sensation, then a rising public figure. Now he admits he mishandled campaign funds.

PHILADELPHIA — Terrill Haigler, a former city sanitation worker who gained Instagram fame under his alter ego "Ya Fav Trashman," ended his campaign for Philadelphia City Council this week, telling his thousands of social media followers he did not get enough signatures to appear on the ballot.

The Philadelphia Inquirer · Mar 10, 2023

Can abortion be legislated at the local level? Three Philly Council members are pressing for new protections

PHILADELPHIA — A trio of progressive Philadelphia City Council members will introduce a package of abortion-related bills this week that would strengthen privacy rules and make it harder for patients and doctors to face trouble under laws passed by other states.

The Philadelphia Inquirer · Sep 14, 2022

‘People get killed in broad daylight’: Philly teens awaiting curfew change suspect teens will find a way around it, understand council’s motivations

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia City Council is poised to change the curfew for teens from midnight to 10 p.m., but for kids like Musa Kane, that’ll change very little.

The Philadelphia Inquirer · Jun 21, 2022

Philadelphia could rehire retired cops, other employees to address staffing shortages under a new proposal

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia City Council is considering a proposal that would allow the city to fill vacancies — including in the Police Department — with retired employees who could continue receiving pension payments while also earning a paycheck.

The Philadelphia Inquirer · May 27, 2022

Mike Sielski: The City Council resolution honoring Joel Embiid was silly, but not for the reasons you think

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia City Council did a silly thing Thursday, passing a resolution honoring Joel Embiid as the “Most Valuable Philadelphian,” and calling the resolution silly is the best thing you can say about it. Embiid had finished second in the voting for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award to…

The Philadelphia Inquirer · May 22, 2022

Philadelphia City Council names Joel Embiid Most Valuable… Philadelphian

The Sixers ended their season in embarrassing fashion last week, stringing back-to-back uninspired efforts together to end their season in Round 2. Philadelphia City Council may have just managed to up the ante on how humiliating the season's finish ...

USA Today Sports Media Group · May 19, 2022

Feds vow to retry Philly Councilman Kenyatta Johnson and his wife on bribery charges after hung jury results in a mistrial

PHILADELPHIA — The federal bribery trial of Philadelphia City Council member Kenyatta Johnson ended in a mistrial Tuesday, offering an ambiguous conclusion that left prosecutors vowing to retry the case and did little to clarify his future in elected office.

The Philadelphia Inquirer · Apr 20, 2022

A bought politician or bribery scheme invented by prosecutors? In Philadelphia Councilman Kenyatta Johnson’s trial, a jury will now decide

PHILADELPHIA — There was one point upon which lawyers on opposite sides of Kenyatta Johnson’s federal bribery trial agreed in their final pitches to jurors Tuesday: There is no smoking gun to prove the Philadelphia City Council member accepted nearly $67,000 in bribes disguised through a consulting contract with his…

The Philadelphia Inquirer · Apr 13, 2022