Philadelphia Mayor and 2016 Fels Institute of Government graduate Cherelle Parker discusses her goals and plans for 2025 at her State of the City event on Dec. 20, 2024.
Credit: Chenyao LiuPhiladelphia Mayor and 2016 Fels Institute of Government graduate Cherelle Parker hosted her first State of the City event at Temple University on Dec. 20, 2024.
Parker delivered a speech laying out her plans and goals for 2025, as well as her administration's accomplishments from her first year in office. The event drew a large crowd of city employees, students, and administration officials, and covered topics including rent and housing, public safety, and education.
In her speech, Parker outlined the public safety progress made over the past year, citing the decline of homicide and shooting rates in Philadelphia.
“A recent report from the Center for American Progress shows violent crime is down in big cities — with the steepest rate of decline in Philadelphia," Parker said.
She also emphasized the need for high school and college students to receive a “world-class education” and a “path to self sufficiency,” noting that her administration had increased both before-school and after-school enrichment programs in 25 schools through the free Extended Day/Extended Year city-sponsored program.
Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia Tony Watlington said that the school district felt honored to partner with Mayor Parker to offer new opportunities to students, families, and school communities. He said their goal was to “become the fastest improving, large urban school district.”
While Parker has employed over 200 police officers in the city, she cautioned the crowd about policing violence.
“Let me be clear: We cannot and will not police our way out of our problems.” she said. “My public safety strategy is anchored by P.I.E. — prevention, intervention, and enforcement — and it’s working.”
Parker's proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Budget — which went into effect on July 1, 2024 — included significant provisions addressing affordable housing and decreasing property taxes for low-income earners. The proposal raised the city’s Homestead Exemption from $80,000 to $100,000, which could allow thousands of residents to pay lower property taxes in the coming years. She also pledged an additional $19 million in rental assistance spending.
In University City, Parker’s budget allocated $14 million towards redeveloping the University City Townhomes, a former complex of affordable apartments in West Philadelphia, and to fund the construction of 70 permanent affordable housing units.
The start of demolition in March 2024 — which put 70 families at risk of displacement — ignited legal battles over the property. A settlement agreement reached in April 2023 allowed the City of Philadelphia to acquire the property and begin redevelopment of the apartments.
The budget also allocated funding to hire 40 new police officers in 2025 and add $4.8 million to violence prevention grants.
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