[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6565643,"mediaKeyId","3216776-8e9b2c40061683f52f02ae3b51d77428","parentId",3216776,"title","Kensington residents press council on alley lighting, land-bank sales, addiction and youth services","audioSeconds",169,"startMs",1514000,"endMs",1683000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3216776-8e9b2c40061683f52f02ae3b51d77428&start=1514&end=1683","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3216776-8e9b2c40061683f52f02ae3b51d77428/thumbnail_1514000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6565643/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/Kensington-residents-press-council-on-alley-lighting-land-bank-sales-addiction-and-youth-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565643-285a7e1b1c8ea22bca1fc7e2fe80571f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181636&Signature=mPgVnSjivMiOv7wD6rznX4csPx2Tgc7Wt7ohRZ3UC8CDICvP3bOw9d-d5ouMiPMP-SVIRbB-sTXxtGHSP8B~SvM1kcn4~dY3FTjSNs14HlpMonfR8ZId538izfhmKARvHNiYylTj3jdzmDFu~W54eIj6hkjEZ6GttRyGbHpqvZg6uflvekxAF-zNUj2~34BOtCis01Yq3oBg3MHMwmN-j85Qcmm0cfaYPjCuOnsGKBYhaP5qENBrxB27C-d9oRvwd2eN2d~l9em1R~PEgwC-YqRYP17jkjM9kBQdczvYCRJChu8jdvgX6cYcI~EAzj7~htmDC2q6lF-iHK1QY-ebzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Philadelphia City Council","date","2025-05-07T19:19:44.69Z","article","Residents from Kensington used the town-hall public-comment period to press council members on a set of neighborhood quality-of-life issues: matching a state RCAP grant for a pedestrian/roadway project, adding alley lights, reversing land-bank sales they say displace longtime neighbors, and expanding youth substance-abuse prevention and recovery programs.

A representative for the 1600 block of North 30th Street said the neighborhood had been awarded an RCAP grant of about a half‑million dollars for work under a pedestrian walkway and asked how the city could match that money so the project can proceed. Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. replied, \"If that money is there from the state, we're gonna figure out a way to match that money because we can't let that money sit, and go, nowhere.\" He said the streets department and council staff would look for appropriate city funds and that some mayoral proposals include sidewalk and infrastructure money that could be used as matches.

On alley lighting, council members and staff said a proposed program in the budget includes $1.5 million for new street lights and that a new light can cost roughly $15,000 to install, depending on circumstances. Council staff and members said they would follow up with block captains and residents to identify sites where new lights or pole repairs could be prioritized.

Residents also criticized land bank sales and rising development costs. Longtime community leader Carlos Matos urged the council to prevent displacement, saying many new developments are priced out of reach for local residents and that land-bank and sheriff-sale activity has accelerated investor purchases. Council members acknowledged longstanding displacement concerns and said they are pursuing housing-preservation and neighborhood-parking options through the land bank and other city programs.

Addiction and youth services were another major focus. Soleiman Hassan of Soldiers for Recovery and other speakers asked what the city will invest to reach young people affected by substance use and to expand education about vaping. Council members cited funds included in the administration's proposal for violence-prevention and nonprofit supports (the presentation noted $25 million in anti-violence grants) and said council is pursuing mental-health supports in schools and additional out-of-school-time programming. Councilmember Nina Ahmad noted pending legislation and enforcement efforts aimed at retailers who sell vaping products to minors, saying in the hearing context that the city is pursuing stronger accountability and education efforts. \"All you got to do is not sell to minors,\" Ahmad said during discussion about retail accountability and vaping.

Ending: Council members committed to follow-up: staff will collect details from residents about the RCAP grant and alley-light locations, council members said they will explore matching funds where possible, and public-safety and youth-service follow-ups were promised by relevant offices.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Your City, Your Budget - FY26 Budget Town Hall Meetings - April 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the Kensington town hall residents sought city matching funds for a state RCAP grant to rebuild a pedestrian walkway, asked for new alley lights and raised long-running concerns about land-bank sales, addiction services and youth programming; council members outlined possible funding sources and follow-ups.","taxTitle","Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County , Pennsylvania","taxId",80615,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6565647,"Tenants press council to fund $10M for proactive L&I inspections and back Safe and Healthy Homes Act",0,3410000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3216776-8e9b2c40061683f52f02ae3b51d77428&start=3410&end=3410","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3216776-8e9b2c40061683f52f02ae3b51d77428/thumbnail_3410000.jpg","/articles/6565647/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/Tenants-press-council-to-fund-10M-for-proactive-LI-inspections-and-back-Safe-and-Healthy-Homes-Act","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565647-f75ced1e9a0d6d8c727d717a35bfbdda/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181636&Signature=mPRwLJ8beRQGCTn6xumzAiVQHzvOm1S8tWHBDQDxgrrW0NukE32UJR1XSIS71fQQZoHvWiE1el1yYGIpbUpLDT23D1S4KLLflhNyqoftOtUGlo44c9j3OaSbqwNMLBDUJexPe3q7YCHccavNocI1oVD-CN3C8CmRqH~AMtLdae6p0o8K79ou1RTXoLpVuOKDYMwczy62KXHYW8AEtCW6lTQnM06ADHV1oV7NHNZUWE81E7D8xqOeuJJsHucLqPGwGhILsQlXIGKxSEo3GiZF95p4wH~JX-FJBLt6lgjrh~Xxj8hunwYs1n94vX~XBfUjgqi7dW0ha19e-i8nIwQo~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tenant advocates and individual renters used the Kensington town hall to press City Council for stronger enforcement of housing standards and more funding for programs that preserve or repair affordable housing.

\"We hope you'll push for and vote for a budget that includes increased funding for programs that create and preserve affordable homes for those who need them most,\" said Stacy Moore, a volunteer with the Women's Community Revitalization Project, as she listed specific funding requests from the Philadelphia Coalition for Affordable Communities.

Why it matters: Residents and housing advocates said city spending must prioritize housing production, basic systems repair and tenant protections to prevent displacement and unsafe living conditions.

Advocates' requests and figures presented at the meeting included increasing annual rental housing production funding from $78 million to $100 million; raising the Basic Systems Repair Program from $32 million to $40 million; increasing adaptive modification funding (to aid accessibility) from $6.6 million to $8 million; and boosting the shallow rent program from $2.6 million to $4 million. Several speakers also asked council to add $10 million to License & Inspection (L&I) for proactive inspections and enforcement; advocates cited 14,784 violations across council districts in the last year as evidence of enforcement needs.

Tenant-group speakers included representatives from 1 PA Renters United and other coalition groups. \"That will give us a better picture of who was doing what in one's apartment,\" said Tyrese Rogers of 1 PA Renters United describing the purpose of proactive inspections for documenting unit conditions at move-in and move-out.

Council members' responses at the meeting were mixed but engaged. Council President Kenyatta Johnson and others said they support holding landlords accountable while also supporting legitimate small landlords who maintain affordable units. Councilman Jeffrey J. Young said his office is seeking ways to help landlords who want to renovate properties to bring them up to code, while still holding bad actors accountable. Councilwoman rue Landau (referred to during the meeting) reminded the audience that state and city rules require landlords to provide heat from mid-October through mid-April and that remedies exist for tenants when landlords fail to meet that obligation.

No formal council vote occurred at the town hall. Council members repeatedly invited tenant groups to continue submitting detailed proposals and documentation so council staff can identify line items and possible offsets during budget negotiations.

Ending: Tenant groups said they will continue to press council to include the $10 million inspection request and increases to housing preservation funds during the formal budget process and public hearings.","Tenant groups and renters asked council members to add $10 million for proactive inspections to the FY26 budget and urged support for the Safe and Healthy Homes Act; council members said they are listening and described possible funding and enforcement avenues.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6565652,"Council hears mayor’s FY26 budget proposal; residents press for housing, public safety and transit funding",310,394000,704000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3216776-8e9b2c40061683f52f02ae3b51d77428&start=394&end=704","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3216776-8e9b2c40061683f52f02ae3b51d77428/thumbnail_394000.jpg","/articles/6565652/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/Council-hears-mayors-FY26-budget-proposal-residents-press-for-housing-public-safety-and-transit-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565652-90bbb399a7c176da02219ecd936bff66/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181636&Signature=YJe6MocWdfZmAsgaa-0MSQEq9trr~qub-J1jhdLh6vfAFqipUtZW2CFnUiBApsqaMZFxcsCYT04-9iSXX8joOTR6Ln29jnDDYF-z89w~PJcEv9Kc80PaLhFRDMjZf~jAKs8hyTsH2N83HY2j3TieVzG6QsMjU1-gmH1cz0USsTmRHTWLOoK-547QoPlnATh6I-LJzpu40kwt9F6OxmydEDZwz5IVboqppipfALLSUCQKxW13cryiea0Ga-w0U61NRJoqDMJ4CVfrd785QYkDUDC0I42x-Me-IMea~mmuNfieI-EC8R7~QdCLvvaODdJYm0NXB2s5RkOPVoXDTdjMxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Philadelphia City Council members and city finance staff presented an overview of the mayor’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal and answered neighborhood questions at a \"Your City, Your Budget\" town hall in Kensington. Council President Kenyatta Johnson and Helen Lawhead, the council chief financial officer, described the proposal as an administration plan that council will negotiate.

\"This is only a proposal from the administration. This is the mayor's vision,\" Council President Kenyatta Johnson said at the start of the meeting. Helen Lawhead said, \"The budget is the city of Philadelphia's yearly plan that shows how much money will be spent on different programs and services.\"

Why it matters: The council must approve the final FY26 budget after hearings and negotiations with the mayor's office. Residents used the town hall to press for specific investments — especially in housing, tenant enforcement and transit — that they said affect everyday life in neighborhoods such as Kensington.

Key numbers and priorities described by Lawhead: the proposal shows roughly $6.7 billion in operating spending for FY26 and about $7.2 billion on the capital side. City staff said the plan projects $360 million in new operating spending and $340 million in new capital investments for the year. The presentation noted a projected revenue figure (about $6.3 billion) and a budgeted gap covered by the city's fund balance (a reserve cited as about $514 million). Lawhead also flagged ongoing fiscal pressures including federal uncertainty, rising debt service and upcoming union contract negotiations.

Major program highlights in the administration proposal cited at the meeting include: significant operating and capital investments directed at public safety (Lawhead cited roughly $186 million allocated to public safety in the operating request), $67 million over five years for a new forensic science center, $25 million for anti-violence grants to community organizations, Vision Zero street safety projects, and expanded cleaning/beautification work. On housing, the proposal includes a major initiative the administration called \"Housing Opportunities Made Easy,\" which Lawhead said would direct about $800 million to create and expand housing opportunities. The proposal also sets aside funds (described as $550 million) to help cover costs tied to renegotiating union contracts.

Tax and revenue changes described in the presentation include proposed reductions in the city’s business income and receipts tax and the wage tax, removal of the exemption for the first $100,000 of business tax liability (as presented), elimination of the construction impact tax, increases to the realty transfer tax and document recording fees, and a proposal to increase the portion of real estate tax routed to the school district beginning in a later fiscal year. Lawhead said part of the revenue proposal directs new money toward small-business technical support and grant programs; she noted a proposal that would provide roughly $30 million per year for small-business support as part of the package.

Transit and events: Council members and residents raised SEPTA funding and the city's planned investments tied to major upcoming events. Council members said the city has budgeted $135 million for transit support in the current package and that Philadelphia will continue to lobby state officials in Harrisburg for additional support; they also noted a separate $100 million city commitment to events associated with 2026 and additional investments planned by other public agencies (for example, the airport's separate commitments).

What council members said about next steps: Council members repeatedly reminded the audience that the mayor had presented a proposal and that council will review and negotiate line items. Johnson and other members encouraged residents to attend additional hearings and to submit specifics on priorities they wanted the council to elevate during negotiations.

Ending: The town hall moved into a long public-comment period during which residents pressed for more detailed commitments on housing production, tenant enforcement, transit stability and neighborhood infrastructure. Council members said they will pursue follow-up meetings and hearings and that the final budget will reflect negotiations between the mayor’s office and City Council.","At a Kensington \"Your City, Your Budget\" town hall, City Council members heard the mayor's FY26 proposal overview — including a $6.7 billion operating plan and proposed tax changes — and fielded resident requests for more housing, tenant protections and transit funding.","actionData","errors"]

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Kensington residents press council on alley lighting, land-bank sales, addiction and youth services

Tenants press council to fund $10M for proactive L&I inspections and back Safe and Healthy Homes Act

Council hears mayor’s FY26 budget proposal; residents press for housing, public safety and transit funding