Since the Kenney Administration announced its priorities for the second term in January 2020, the combination of a global pandemic, an escalating economic recession, and unrest tied to systemic racism and police brutality have all taken a toll on Philadelphia. To address these issues, we released revised priorities for Mayor Kenney’s second term, Philadelphia Forward: Our Commitment to True and Lasting Equity.
The Mayor’s goal of lifting 100,000 people out of poverty over a decade remains, despite the perilous state of the nation’s economy, but it will only be possible if we rebuild with equity and fight for an economy that protects workers, raises wages, and invests in training and education.
We aim to make historic strides through the remainder of this Administration by focusing on four key pillars:
- Quality education for all
- A safer and more just Philadelphia
- Health equity for all
- An inclusive economy and thriving neighborhoods
We will lead with racial equity across all our priorities, implementing Executive Order 1-20, which embeds racial equity as an explicit governing principle—a lens all City departments and agencies will use to assess how their operations, policies, and procedures impact all Philadelphians, including people of color. Our priorities and reforms will also be informed and shaped by the Pathways to Reform, Transformation, and Reconciliation Committee established in June 2020.
We will maintain core services for residents and businesses and support the City’s fiscal health for a smart and safe COVID-19 response and recovery. We will be more inclusive as we make budgetary decisions in order to advance our key priorities, while remaining careful stewards of public dollars to ensure we can deliver the quality municipal services that our residents and businesses rely on daily.
We will reallocate resources to invest in communities and reimagine the economy to generate income and build wealth in communities of color, creating greater prosperity for all. This will include investments that prepare youth and adult residents for the jobs of the future and encourage equitable growth in neighborhoods without displacement, including better access to home and business ownership.
