City Council’s first session prepares for a fall full of hearings

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia City Council returned from its three-month summer break Thursday.

In its first session of the fall, the council passed several resolutions, hoping to hold hearings examining a wide range of topics in the coming months.

Councilman Isaiah Thomas wants to look into splitting the Law Department into separate departments covering the legislative and executive branches, to avoid what he has long suspected to be a bias toward the administration when there is conflict between the council and the mayor.

He also wants to hold hearings on the net income section of the Business Income & Receipts Tax (BIRT). A spokesman said Thomas is looking for ways to give relief to small businesses that gross less than $100,000 a year, after they lost their exemption from paying the BIRT at the beginning of 2026, to help keep them competitive.

Councilman Jeffrey Young had a bone to pick with the Philadelphia Parking Authority. His constituents were disproportionately affected by restrictions during the FIFA fan fests earlier in the summer.

He introduced resolutions to hold hearings on parking enforcement during the summer’s FIFA festivities, as well as “reforms” that would return the PPA — which became a state agency 25 years ago — to local control.

Councilman Anthony Phillips wants to take another look at the “ticket-to-tow” rule that reined in predatory tow trucks. He believes the process now takes too long.

“It’s about bringing people affected by it to the table and determining how Philadelphia can better protect both consumers and private property rights,” Phillips said. “Property owners and businesses should be able to address unauthorized vehicles on their property through a process that is timely and effective.”