Writer: Esteban Pages
3 min read November 2023 — Stepping in to lead the city as Philadelphia’s 100th mayor, Cherelle Parker has made history by being the first woman to do so and carries ambitious plans for her hometown.
Set to be sworn into Philadelphia’s highest office on Jan. 2, 2024, mayor-elect Parker aims to make Philly the “safest, cleanest, greenest big city in the nation, with access to economic opportunity for all,” as stated during an interview with CBS News.
On the public safety front, the Parker administration will be the first to operate with a chief public safety director. The change was enacted via an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, approved back in March 2023. Reporting directly to the mayor, the person in this position will oversee police, fire, prisons, recreation, and emergency management departments. Moreover, mayor-elect Parker is intent on continuing to implement the different facets of the Neighborhood Safety and Community Policing Plan. During her campaign, public safety was considered the No. 1 issue as a What Philly Wants poll showed crime was the top concern among surveyed residents.
Regarding clean energy and green commitments, mayor-elect Parker plans to scale the success of her PHL Taking Care of Business (PHL TCB) program launched during her City Council tenure. The program draws from Center City District’s street and sidewalk cleaning program, with an added twist. The program recruits local community members to clean commercial corridors’ streets and sidewalks in exchange for a decent wage and teaching soft skills.
Economic opportunity is another high-priority area for Parker. Raising the $7.25 per hour minimum wage to $17.53 per hour and subsequently being tied to inflation is a part of that effort. To foster job creation in the city, Parker will rely on enhancing the Power Up Your Business program. Created in partnership with the Community College of Philadelphia, the program teaches basic business skills to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
The proposed Sixers Center City arena has taken center stage amid the pipeline of projects Parker is expected to work on with key stakeholders. Proponents of the project say it will generate $1 billion in tax revenue over its 30-year lease term, while the opposition has raised concerns over the impact of decreased foot traffic and higher property values in the surrounding area. Parker has yet to settle on the issue but will rely on “Mayor’s Community Councils,” gathering local residents’ concerns, perspectives and data around the arena to help guide a decision. These community councils are expected to be held in every City Council district for residents to be able to bring forth their concerns to her office on the issues pertaining to each district.
According to Capital Analytics’ Q3 Northern Business Sentiment Survey (CABSS), there’s an overall positive outlook heading into the new year. Sixty-one percent of respondents viewed their local economy in a better position compared to 2Q23’s 57%. In parallel, 64% of responding business leaders anticipated revenues to increase in the coming six months, a 10% increase from 2Q23, while 54% were looking to hire more workers within the same period. On the flip side, only 39% of participating decision-makers considered government policies and initiatives to be supporting the growth and success of businesses in the region.
For more information, please visit:
https://www.phila.gov/departments/mayor/
https://www.cherelleparker.com/
