PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia City Council passed dozens of bills and resolutions Thursday in its last meeting of 2025, including a budget for Mayor Cherelle Parker’s affordable housing HOME initiative.
The passage of the budget came despite the administration’s request that city council hold off until it could also pass the bond authorization for the program, which will happen next year.
Council President Kenyatta Johnson said he wanted to keep the program moving.
“We want to get shovels in the ground, we want to get these programs up and running for the population that’s most in need here in the city of Philadelphia,” he said.
Parker also wanted more of the money for the program to go to those with moderate incomes, but the measure passed by council reserves almost all the money for those with low incomes.
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier thought that council did the right thing.
“It was critical, particularly in this moment, that we prioritize the Philadelphians who need our help the most,” she said.
Council President Johnson said he and Parker continue to have a good relationship despite council defying her on the HOME budget.
Among the dozens of other measures passed Thursday, council is also challenging Parker’s new approach to diversity in city contracts, passing a resolution that calls for hearings on the new policy.
In other action, council approved more limits on mobile service providers in the Kensington area, new training requirements for security guards, and a referendum asking voters to approve creation of retirement savings accounts for workers whose employers don’t offer them.