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City Cast Philly

defends its decision to pass the School District’s facilities master plan

, not everyone believes that closing 17 schools is necessary. Members of City Council disrupted the vote on April 30 in a last-ditch effort to halt the closures and have promised to withhold funding and 

Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, who also chairs City Council’s education committee, spoke with City Cast Philly to explain the council’s response to the master plan. Here’s an excerpt from that conversation.

“ A lot more could have been done. We offer compromises. We say, ‘Hey, how about this? How about that?’ We offered a number of suggestions. [The School District of Philadelphia] took a position that they weren't gonna negotiate anymore, and they weren't gonna be open to dialogue.

“So as a legislator who's responsible for funding the school district, how is it fair that you come to us and ask us for money, but then tell us we gotta put up the money, but don't get no input and don't get no say. And the things that we're advocating for is reflective of what the people we represent are asking for.”

Why did [the April 30 board meeting] get so heated?

“ How do you prefer a civil disobedience take place? What do you suggest happen when blind children at 

Lankenau [Environmental Science Magnet High School]

 and deaf children at Lankenau all now have to find new schools? Is that worth getting heated for to you?

“If I'm not gonna get heated over Black children being displaced from their neighborhood, then what should I get heated over? Why do you want me representing you? Why do you want me as the education chair? In the city of Philadelphia, when we went through this before in 2013 and [had] seen how detrimental it was to our kids, why do you want me in charge if I'm not gonna get heated over that? And if I'm not gonna get heated over that, then what else will I stand for? At some point, we have to say enough is enough.”

Who's gonna come up with some ideas [to fund the school district]?

“ I have plenty of ideas, but I'm not gonna communicate ideas around a plan that I don't agree with, that doesn't make sense. As lawmakers and legislators, our job is to constantly think about revenue: revenue for the city, revenue for the district, and other quasi-government agencies.

“Revenue is our life. Revenue is our job. But you're basically asking me to come up with revenue ideas to fund a plan that I don't agree with, that I don't think is the right way to go about governing in the city of Philadelphia.

“ I honestly don't think the constituents in the city of Philadelphia are gonna be okay with watching schools close and raising their taxes at the same time. I think that's a tough pill for people to swallow.”

 on today’s episode of City Cast Philly.

Councilmember Thomas said the logic behind the closures in the facilities master plan doesn’t match the accomplishments of the schools set to shutter.

Councilmember Isaiah Thomas Has Lingering Questions After School Closures Vote

Council Member on School Closures: ‘Probably the Worst Decision I’ve Seen as an Elected Official’

What's being decided in Philadelphia City Hall and why it matters. We monitor local elections, political news, and Philadelphia City Council. 

Philly Election and City Hall News

Local Civics

Siani Colón

Each election cycle, you’re likely to see questions on your ballot asking you to vote on changes to the Home Rule Charter. Similar to the federal government, which has the U.S. Constitution guiding its functions, Philadelphia has its own document setting the rules for how our government operates.

, broke down how the powerful document is working out 75 years after its creation and why Philadelphians should recognize its importance.

What functions of the city’s charter impact our day-to-day lives?

“When the charter was adopted…it really shifted a lot of authority from state to local government. It established a strong-mayor form of government in the city, allowing our mayor to have two terms, allowing our mayor to appoint department heads, and to propose the city's budget.

“The Home Rule Charter dictates the powers that the mayor has, the powers that the city council has, and it actually defines a lot of the roles and responsibilities for different departments, different positions, and how some of our government bodies operate.”

In the first 50 years, only four charter changes were passed. Since 2000, we have seen a dramatic increase. What were the initial changes in those early stages, and why did changes increase in the modern era?

“The Home Rule Charter really outlines pretty much everything for city governance. So if you want to make small changes to certain things, it likely needs to be done through an amendment process. The types of amendments have covered a pretty wide range of things that include creating or modifying offices. It includes providing details for certain city positions, the fiscal health of the city, and creating various funds.

“But it also includes things such as non-binding amendments, like referendums on public opinion, using gender-neutral language within the charter itself when referring to council members. The types of amendments have really run the gamut in recent years. And because the charter covers so much about city operations, if you're gonna change anything, you're likely going to have to go through a process to amend the charter in order to do it.”

What have been some of the most influential or most controversial amendments throughout these 75 years?

“The ‘Rule of Two’ limited hiring managers in the city to choosing from the two candidates for a city job that happened to score highest on the civil service exam, which really limited managers' abilities to hire for that role. [It] also limited accessibility, potentially, to government roles for Philadelphians seeking to work for their government. That was repealed several years ago and has really opened up opportunities for more and different types of candidates to work for the city.

“One that I think is most controversial would be the 

. The rule was included in the original charter and at least twice in the past, has reached the ballot to propose either eliminating or modifying the Resign to Run rule…Both of those times, voters voted it down and wanted to keep the Resign to Run Rule.

“I do anticipate that that's one that we’ll continue to see debated moving forward.”

How successful has the charter been in its mission to curb corruption?

“The charter emerged after decades of political turmoil with the goal of [curbing corruption] and being a good governance effort. … [By] establishing merit-based hiring, [it] reduced nepotism and political patronage. It also strengthened the oversight of city finances and departments.”

“There have been efforts over its 75 years to improve upon that foundation and continue that through amendments that are voted on by the people of Philadelphia. One example being the establishment of the independent 

… which is a body that enforces lobbying, campaign finance, and conflict of interest policies and regulations.

“It's a living, breathing document. I think the fact that Philadelphians are able to use it to voice their opinions and weigh in on the shape and direction of their city's governance also contributes to that.”

Was there anything in particular that had surprised you throughout your research?

“Learning more about the attempt in the 90s for more of a wholesale reform of the charter. That attempt, which included the development of a charter reform commission, proposed over 60 different changes within one full amendment to the charter. That effort wasn't successful. One of the main reasons is from our understanding, is that there really wasn't a clear message to residents about what those changes were trying to accomplish.

“Whether adjustments to the charter are made … or if there's an attempt at wholesale reform in the future — it's really important that residents understand what they're being asked to approve and…how it is for the betterment of the city. And that voters continue to be able to weigh in at the polls on whether the change is right for the city."

Do you think we could ever see a hard reboot of the city's constitution in our future?

“It remains to be seen. If it were to happen again, I think it's just really important to understand why. Why would the charter need to be reformed, and in what ways would that be for the betterment of the city?

“Make sure that the folks who it would impact, which is essentially the residents of Philadelphia, understand it and agree with it, and that they're able to weigh in on whether it should happen.”

read the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter in full here

click here to read Pew’s research on the document’s legacy

The document detailing how Philly’s government operates has had more than 80 amendments since 2000. 

What Does Philadelphia’s City Charter Actually Do?

Why This 75-Year-Old Document Is Foundational to Philadelphia

We’re a month away from Pennsylvania’s primary election, when voters will decide who will appear on November’s ballot, including candidates for key positions like the 

Before casting your vote on May 19, make a plan. Here are the important deadlines to remember as Election Day approaches.

The deadline to register to vote or update your registration before the primary is 

, calling 1-877-VOTESPA, or reaching the Philadelphia County Voter Registration office at 215-686-1590.

. You can also register in person at 520 N. Columbus Blvd. 5th floor (Voter Registration Office), City Hall Room 402 (Philadelphia County Board of Elections), or a 

If you prefer to use mail, print an application online or grab one at the post office, the Free Library of Philadelphia, state liquor stores, or certain government offices. 

You’ll need to update your registration if you have moved or changed your name since the last time you voted.

deadline is also your last chance to update your party affiliation before the election. Pennsylvania is a closed primary state, meaning that you can only vote for candidates in the same political party as you, Democrat or Republican. Independent or nonaffiliated voters cannot vote for a candidate during this election, but you can vote on the 

. These voters can fully participate in November's general election.

If you cannot physically make it to the polls, you can request either an absentee ballot or a mail-in ballot by 

. The Philadelphia County Board of Elections must receive your application by 

 by people who will be away from the city on Election Day or are in the military. In the case of an emergency, 

last-minute absentee ballots can be requested

. Mail-in ballots are available to all eligible voters. You can also decide if you want a one-time mail-in ballot or apply to be an 

 is Election Day. The county election board must receive your mail-in ballot or civilian absentee ballot on this day by 

If you are voting in person, polls are open from 

Make sure you’re set to participate in this May’s election by following this list.


Register To Vote Before the 2026 Pennsylvania Primary Election

Your 2026 May Primary Checklist

On May 19, Philadelphia voters will choose from a list of candidates vying to become their next governor, lieutenant governor, congressperson, state senator, and state representative. This vote dictates who will advance to November’s general election. Philadelphians will also consider two ballot measures that could change the 

Despite Pennsylvania being a closed primary state, ballot questions will be visible to all voters, even to those unaffiliated with a party. Here's a breakdown of the questions Philly will consider.

Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for the creation of the Philadelphia Retirement Savings Board to oversee a defined contribution retirement program for the benefit of eligible private-sector workers, and to authorize City Council to determine the composition, powers and duties of the board?

 receive retirement income, according to the AARP.

 to establish a retirement savings program known as PhillySaves. This program allows anyone working in the private or nonprofit sector for a Philadelphia-based employer (who does not provide a retirement plan) to be automatically enrolled in the city’s initiative.

The program is modeled after state-run auto-IRA programs, which allow employees to invest via payroll deductions. Although Pennsylvania does not have an auto-IRA program, 

. Philadelphia would not be the first municipality to attempt such a program. New York City and Seattle both passed similar initiatives, but later folded them into their respective state programs.

For PhillySaves, eligible employees would contribute 3% to 6% of their wages to the IRA, and have the option to change their contributions or opt out entirely.

A board of nine appointees would oversee the program. The mayor and City Council President each select four members, while the City Controller chooses one.

If voters vote “yes,” this will approve the creation of the Philadelphia Retirement Savings Board as an independent entity within city government.

Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for the creation of the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson to improve the safety and quality of services for youth placed in juvenile justice, child welfare, and behavioral health residential care facilities, and to authorize City Council to determine additional powers and duties of the Youth Ombudsperson as needed to carry out this mission?

An ombudsperson is a government official designated as a neutral party who advocates on behalf of residents experiencing issues with government-provided services.

 by then-mayor Jim Kenney, but it is not a permanent office. Its formation is one of several recommendations made by the 

 that teens of color were disproportionately being put in residential placement, and their rights to safety and education were not being protected.

Since its creation, its duties include responding to complaints regarding the care of youth in placement, evaluating the quality of care, and providing know-your-rights trainings.

If the majority of voters vote “yes”, this will amend the charter to make it a permanent office for the city.

The city charter requires any city official to resign from their post before campaigning for public office. The only exemption is if they’re running for their current office.

, when six members of City Council, including now-Mayor Cherelle Parker, resigned to run.

officials, and not state and federal officials. For example, 

 was running for the 3rd Congressional District seat until she dropped out at the end of March. She did not have to resign from her post in the State House and is running for reelection in that role this May.

Attempts to amend this rule have failed twice in the voting booth. Councilmember Isaiah Thomas 

 to the legislation: City officials would not resign to run for a state or federal position, but would still be required to resign to campaign for mayor.

Despite support in City Council, Thomas moved to 

 at the end of March, as he's no longer confident in voters’ support of the measure.

Eligible voters can vote in person on May 19 or 

Voters will decide on changes to the city’s charter.

These Are the Ballot Questions Appearing in Philly’s 2026 Primary Election

It’s that time of year again: budget season. In February, Gov. Josh Shapiro made his 

 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, while Mayor Cherelle Parker proposed a 

 for Philadelphia earlier this month. This kicks off a series of closed-door talks and public hearings leading up to the summer, when both budgets must be passed.

While those tax dollars are usually committed to some fixed costs — like pension funds — there’s still a significant amount of money waiting to be allocated. The question is, to what and how much? Here’s how you can follow and get involved in the budgeting process for the city and state.

You will want to know how the government hopes to spend funds before you form your opinions. Documents for Parker’s budget are 

. The House Appropriations Committee has an 

 that breaks things down all in one place. Fair warning, these documents can be 

If you prefer to listen to the whole thing, you can watch Parker’s entire 

. She appears around the 1:52:00 mark. Shapiro’s budget address can be 

Getting these budgets passed is a matter of negotiations between the governor and lawmakers at the state level, and the mayor and City Council at the municipal level. And as we saw last year with Pennsylvania’s state budget, 

interests by reaching out to them. Write them an email or a letter, or call and leave a voicemail. Not sure what to say? 

 on writing to your elected official. Be straightforward, but share how you’d be personally impacted if certain initiatives or departments receive less funding.

You can find a list of City Councilmembers and their 

City Council gives three opportunities for community members to voice their thoughts on the record about the budget proposal. The upcoming hearings are:

If you are interested in providing public comment you must register to speak by 3 p.m. the day before the session you wish to attend. Sign up by calling 215-686-3407 or email 

 with your full name, whether you support or oppose a particular bill or resolution, phone number, and email address. If you’re signing up on the day of, register at the front desk in Room 400 in City Hall.

At the state capital, public interest groups will rally in support or opposition to a particular cause. If you can make the trip to Harrisburg, you can join these groups to amplify your budget priorities. 

Although there are only three public testimony dates, city offices and departments present testimony to advocate for their agencies at several public hearings. Find a full schedule

. If you cannot attend in person, hearings are 

 live. The Democrats and Republicans run their own Appropriations Committee sites, where you can find videos of past hearings with each department and other documents.

The city hosts Budget Town Halls across each council district to present an overview of the proposed budget. Afterwards, guests can ask questions and provide feedback on the proposal. You can also leave written feedback. As of now, dates haven't been released for this year's town halls.

This article will be updated as more information on budget town halls and hearing schedules is released.

Budget season is officially in full swing at the municipal and state levels. Here’s how you can have a say in where your tax dollars go. 

How To Follow Philly and Pennsylvania’s Budget Process

How Should Philly and Pennsylvania Spend Your Money?

City Cast Philly staff

 that could dramatically impact neighborhoods in our city. District officials say this is all in an effort to address lower enrollment, dilapidated buildings, and overcrowded classrooms. But are the concerns of parents, students, and teachers being heard?

, bureau chief at Chalkbeat Philadelphia, sat down with City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri to explain all the shifting parts of the school district's plan. This is a lightly edited excerpt from that conversation.

Last month, the school district came out with a tentative plan to close 20 [later amended to 18] of Philly's public schools by 2027. … This is all part of a larger plan that needs to be approved by the Philadelphia Board of Education. Can you give us an overview? How did we get here?

“This is a long time coming, and a long process to get to where we are today. … It’s reflective of what's been happening both in Philadelphia and across the country as well. The district has lost about 17,000 students over the last decade. So enrollment declines have really hit Philly public schools hard. A lot of that is due to a declining birth rate, but also the rise of charter schools and cyber charter schools in particular, and just an overall shift in the way that people are using and attending our public schools.

“And that means that we've got a lot of really old, big buildings that are half empty and cost a lot to maintain and upkeep. It also means that in some regions of the city — the Northeast, especially — there are classrooms that are bursting at the seams and schools that are not big enough to hold all of the students and give them the opportunities that they need. … District Superintendent Tony Watlington has been clear that to him this is a chance to sort of reorganize and reset. He's called it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sort of design the district that best fits the needs of the students that we currently have.”

What about teachers and education advocates? What have you heard from them?

“It's pretty resoundingly, 'No, don't close our schools.' It's pretty loud and clear on that front. … The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers union president, Arthur Steinberg, called the plan an abomination. He has said — and folks from the other unions have said — it's gonna force people to look elsewhere for jobs. It creates this feeling of instability that our schools could be ripped out from underneath us at any point. It's harder to sell working in the public school system in our city as a good and stable job. And the unions have said it's really gonna tank morale. ... [But] Watlington has said he doesn't anticipate people will be losing positions from this.”

It's not just the closures either, right? Because some of the schools are going to be merging and some of the schools are supposed to get upgrades. So there's no one that's excited for this?

“I'm sure there are folks who are excited about the modernizations. I'm sure there are aspects of this plan — things like, the Academy at Palumbo might get new bathrooms, I've covered the state of how awful their bathrooms are before — so there are aspects of this plan that people genuinely do need and do want. So I don't want to cast the whole thing as a big negative. But the closures themselves are sort of the big looming shadow over everything that is sucking up a lot of the air in the room. And people for very good reasons do not want them to take their schools away, do not want the district to close their schools.

“And so right now that is where a lot of this energy is. It's not so much looking forward to the changes that could benefit folks, as the superintendent has pointed out. But there's a lot of fears and concerns about what this is going to do to the community. [They say things like:] ‘I love my school. I love the community that we've built. It has meant a lot to myself, to my kids, to my family members. We've got generations of legacies here in Philadelphia.’ Folks do not want to go quietly into the night on this.”

🎧 This is an excerpt from a conversation with Sitrin. 

The purpose of the plan is to close decrepit buildings and modernize other facilities, but it involves student and staff displacement. 

School Board Considers $2.8 Billion Schools Makeover

What’s the Big School Closures Plan All About?

The Philadelphia Police Department has recent success to point to. The city had 220 homicides in 2025, 

, and the rate of crime in several categories — including gun robbery and retail theft — dropped from the prior year.

Looking to the future, the PPD developed its first ever 

 to steer the department’s priorities and shift how it polices our community. Last week it launched a 

, which runs through Feb. 11, so Philadelphians can comment on the plan before it’s finalized.

David Zega, executive director for strategic planning for the department, spoke to us about how to get involved in the planning process.

[The strategic plan] was developed in part based on results of a survey that the public took. How many people participated and what were some of the things that they said?

“ Over the past 10 months, 200 individuals from across Philadelphia have come together to build the strategic plan component by component.

“ We had thousands of responses to a survey we put out to get some initial input as well. [We] did 20 listening sessions across the city, six listening sessions internally with our police divisions across the city. All that went into the final draft that is now out for public comment.

The public comment period for the plan is now open and ends February 11th. What does that involve, and what kind of feedback do you want to hear from Philadelphians?

. On the left-hand side, you'll see a blue public comment button. You can click that and read the plan and provide some input and feedback.

”There's some specific questions that we are asking specifically around how we're prioritizing a few different things in the plan. And then a series of open-ended questions where residents or employees in the city of Philadelphia and the department are welcome to submit comment as well.

“We want to consider it all, review it all. After that, we'll be finalizing the plan and publishing it in advance of the mayor’s budget address in March.”

Doing the things that we said we were going to do right and doing them well. Continuing to see the outcomes that we’re seeing in Philadelphia with homicide rates dropping and shooting clearances increasing. Those are the numbers we wanna see. But also internally, how are we measuring success, as the commissioner said, for the men and women who work here? How is their health and wellness? What’s the morale of the department?

​​ ”Making sure that we're tracking those indicators, if we’re on track or off track, and then making those adjustments that are needed along the way.”

🎧 This is an excerpt from a conversation with Zega and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. 

Listen to the full version of today’s episode

The purpose of the plan is to create a model for how to be a better police department at all levels. 


Philly Police Soliciting Public Comment on Draft 5-Year Strategic Plan

Philly Police Wants YOU To Give Input On Its Strategic Plan

, we dug into the city’s unusual political practice of “councilmanic prerogative.” This unwritten rule gives district councilmembers the authority to green-light or halt developments within their district. At the center of the most recent debate over the practice is Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr., and the increased tensions between him and North Philly residents over his refusal to move forward with the reconstruction of the aging Cecil B. Moore Library.

 covers parts of North Philly, the River Wards, and Center City, spoke with City Cast Philly to make his case for why he believes councilmanic prerogative is ultimately positive for his constituents.

You said that this issue over the library, specifically the Cecil B. Moore Library, has ‘sparked strong feelings’, and you said you wanted to see a commitment to equality…Why is it sparking such strong feelings?

“It was almost close to $5 million that was allocated…It's a rehab of that library would have taken place, but again, it does not provide us with the things that we need for the future. And understanding how government works with very, very limited resources, we would have been stuck with that same footprint, that same library for that community for another 60 years.

“That library was built in 1961, which means today my 7- or 8-year-old is gonna be using the same facility that a 7- or 8-year-old used back in 1961. Now you know how technology moves and how things are. This is a totally different world now, and to use that same space, we'll just continue to set our Black and brown kids behind in that community.”

If you don't want something to happen in a district, like bike lanes or zoning changes, then all of City Council will go along with what you say…Do you think that this idea of councilmanic prerogative is a good thing?

“ When folks talk about prerogative, I really believe that it's council members giving deference to their colleagues who represent that area 一 who should best know what the people on the ground in that particular area want to see, want to do. They’re directly held responsible and liable to those people that they represent.

“I don't see many of the negatives that folks claim to exist with the practice of giving your colleagues deference for an area that they know they're an expert on, essentially.”

Do you think that [councilmanic prerogative] stops progress in any way?

“I don’t think it stops progress at all. It adds a community voice to progress.

“If something is stopped, that’s because that’s within the best interest of the community.”

🎧 This is a preview of our conversation with Councilmember Young. 

 for the full interview with the councilmember and City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri.

Councilmember Young believes fellow councilmembers are giving decision-making power to those considered experts in their district. 

Critics Are Wrong, Says Councilmember Young, ‘Councilmanic Prerogative’ is Actually Positive

The Pennsylvania Senate’s education committee 

advanced a bill Tuesday that would forbid cell phone use

 on school campuses, with limited exceptions. The bipartisan bill passed through the committee with a unanimous vote, though some revisions were suggested.

A bipartisan bill to restrict phone usage across Pennsylvania is now up for consideration for the full Senate. But should they pass it?

Local Civics

Council Member on School Closures: ‘Probably the Worst Decision I’ve Seen as an Elected Official’

Why This 75-Year-Old Document Is Foundational to Philadelphia

Your 2026 May Primary Checklist

Latest articles

These Are the Ballot Questions Appearing in Philly’s 2026 Primary Election

How Should Philly and Pennsylvania Spend Your Money?

What’s the Big School Closures Plan All About?

Philly Police Wants YOU To Give Input On Its Strategic Plan

Critics Are Wrong, Says Councilmember Young, ‘Councilmanic Prerogative’ is Actually Positive

Pennsylvania Is One Step Closer to Banning Cell Phones in School

Q&A with State Senator Anthony H. Williams